Software for MS-DOS or {Microsoft Windows} which originally ran on the 16-bit {Intel 8088} and 80286microprocessors.These used a {segmented address space} to extend the range of addresses from what is possible with just a 16-bit address.Programs with more than 64 kilobytes of code or data therefore had to waste time switching between segments.Furthermore, programming with segments is more involved than programming in a {flat address space}, giving rise to {warts} like {memory models} in {C} and C++.Compare 32-bit application.(1996-04-06)