# Microsoft Macro Assembler

> x86 assembler that uses the Intel syntax for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows

**Wikidata**: [Q1756018](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1756018)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Macro_Assembler)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/microsoft-macro-assembler

## Summary
Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) is an x86 assembler that uses Intel syntax for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. Developed by Microsoft and originally released in 1981, it functions as a low-level programming language with a strong correspondence between its instructions and the architecture's machine code. It is classified as both a programming language and a specific instance of an x86 assembly language.

## Key Facts
*   **Developer:** Microsoft
*   **Inception:** 1981
*   **Function:** x86 assembler
*   **Syntax:** Intel syntax
*   **Target Platforms:** MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows
*   **Instance of:** Programming language, x86 assembly language, Assembler
*   **Aliases:** MASM, Masm32, Microsoft Assembler, Assembleur Microsoft
*   **Official Website:** http://www.masm32.com
*   **Identifiers:** GND ID 4206485-5; VIAF ID 186354604; Freebase ID /m/042m4d

## FAQs
### Q: What is Microsoft Macro Assembler used for?
A: Microsoft Macro Assembler is used to translate assembly language into machine code for x86 architectures. It is specifically designed for software development on MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows platforms.

### Q: Who developed Microsoft Macro Assembler?
A: Microsoft Macro Assembler was developed by Microsoft, the American multinational technology corporation founded in 1975.

### Q: What syntax does Microsoft Macro Assembler use?
A: Microsoft Macro Assembler uses the Intel syntax for communicating instructions to the machine.

### Q: When was Microsoft Macro Assembler created?
A: Microsoft Macro Assembler was originally created in 1981.

## Why It Matters
Microsoft Macro Assembler is a significant tool in the history of software development for the IBM PC compatible ecosystem. Originating in 1981, it provided developers a direct method to write low-level code for MS-DOS and later Windows, allowing for precise hardware control and optimization that high-level languages could not always deliver. By utilizing the Intel syntax, it standardized the way programmers interacted with x86 architecture, serving as a bridge between human logic and machine execution.

As a product of Microsoft, MASM played a foundational role in the early software industry, enabling the creation of operating systems, device drivers, and performance-critical applications. Its longevity—persisting through decades of Windows evolution—highlights its utility as a specialized tool for assembly language programming. It remains a referenced standard for x86 assembly on Microsoft platforms, supported by community resources and documentation.

## Notable For
*   **Longevity:** Inception dates back to 1981, making it one of the longest-standing tools in the Microsoft software ecosystem.
*   **Platform Specificity:** It is specifically tailored for the MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows environments.
*   **Architecture Support:** It serves as a dedicated x86 assembler, maintaining a strong correspondence with machine code instructions.
*   **Syntax Standard:** It utilizes Intel syntax, a standard in the industry for x86 architecture.

## Body
### Development and Creator
Microsoft Macro Assembler was created by Microsoft, an American multinational technology corporation founded on April 4, 1975. Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, United States, and operates within the technology and software development industries. The assembler is one of the company's longstanding developer tools, with its inception recorded in 1981.

### Technical Specifications
MASM is classified as an x86 assembler and a programming language. It falls under the category of assembly languages, which are defined as low-level programming languages where there is a very strong correspondence between the language instructions and the architecture's machine code instructions.
*   **Syntax:** The tool uses Intel syntax.
*   **Function:** It functions as an assembler, translating assembly code into machine-executable instructions.
*   **Use:** It is utilized for programming in assembly language.

### Platform and Environment
The software is designed for use on MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows operating systems. It supports the development of applications that run natively on these platforms, providing access to the underlying hardware capabilities of the x86 architecture.

### Identifiers and Aliases
Microsoft Macro Assembler is known by several aliases and identifiers across various databases and communities:
*   **Aliases:** MASM, Masm32, Assembleur Microsoft, Microsoft Assembler, Macro Assembler.
*   **Library Codes:** GND ID 4206485-5; VIAF ID 186354604; NL-HaNA ID ph526567.
*   **Community:** It has an active presence on developer platforms, including a dedicated Stack Exchange tag on Stack Overflow (stackoverflow.com/tags/masm).
*   **Resources:** The website http://www.masm32.com is associated with the resource.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013