In computer architecture, what term describes the shared pathways that carry data between components?

• A. Clocks
• B. Caches
• C. Registers
• D. Buses

Answer: (D)

Shared data pathways in a computer are called a bus. A bus is a set of electrical lines that connect major components such as the processor, memory, and I/O devices, allowing them to transfer data, addresses, and control signals over the same wiring. The width of the bus determines how many bits can move in parallel, influencing overall data throughput. Clocks carry timing signals to synchronize operations, not the actual data; caches are small, fast memory used to speed up data access, and registers are tiny storage locations inside the CPU. The bus is the mechanism that enables communication between components through a common channel.