Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Task state segment
open-in-new
<p>The task state segment (TSS) is a structure on <a href="/facts/X86/Kypq5fgu">x86</a>-based computers which holds information about a <a href="/facts/Task_(computing)/ghdT0IkM">task</a>. It is used by the <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> <a href="/facts/Kernel_(operating_system)/uEj4U3Rz">kernel</a> for task management. Specifically, the following information is stored in the TSS: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Processor_register/32RvbUdz">Processor register</a> state</li> <li>I/O port permissions</li> <li><a href="/facts/Protection_ring/27y4kjHs">Inner-privilege level</a> stack pointers</li> <li>Previous TSS link</li> <li>Debug state</li> <li><a href="/facts/Shadow_stack/mnQMEvou">Shadow stack</a> pointer</li></ul> <p>All this information should be stored at specific locations within the TSS as specified in Volume 3(a), Chapter 8 of the <a href="/facts/IA-32/7yTv1aHH">IA-32</a> manuals. </p>