Abstract: A processor is disclosed for use in a computer system for comparing a number of bytes simultaneously in order to locate a control character in a string of data. The processor includes a register for holding the data bytes, a register for storing the control characters, a comparison circuit for simultaneously comparing the bytes of the first register with the bytes of the second register, and a circuit for generating indicator bits when a match has been found between the two registers. Microcode instructions cause the system to branch to a predetermined memory location when the control character has been located and to branch to a second predetermined memory location when no control character is found in the data string. The parallel string processor includes a circuit which finds the indicator bits generated from the circuit which have a predetermined characteristic and thus identifies the position of a particular byte (e.g.

Abstract: A processor is disclosed for use in a computer system for comparing a number of bytes simultaneously in order to locate a control character in a string of data. The processor includes a register for holding the data bytes, a register for storing the control characters, a comparison circuit for simultaneously comparing the bytes of the first register with the bytes of the second register, and a circuit for generating indicator bits when a match has been found between the two registers. Microcode instructions cause the system to branch to a predetermined memory location when the control character has been located and to branch to a second predetermined memory location when no control character is found in the data string.In another aspect, a parallel string processor for a minicomputer for searching portions of text or binary bit strings for the presence of desired words or bit strings.