Word mark (computer hardware)

In computer hardware, a word mark or flag is a bit in each memory location on some early variable word length computers (e.g., IBM 1401, 1410, 1620) used to mark the end of a word.[1] Sometimes the actual bit used as a word mark on a given machine is not called word mark, but has a different name (e.g., flag on the IBM 1620, because on this machine it is multipurpose).[2]

The term word mark should not be confused with group mark or with record mark, which are distinct characters.

## References

1. ↑ IBM (April 1962). IBM 1401 Data Processing System: Reference Manual. p. 20. A24-1403-5. http://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/1401/A24-1403-5_1401_Reference_Apr62.pdf. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
2. ↑ "IBM Archives: 1620 Data Processing System". 23 January 2003. https://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP1620.html.

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