Q. How are comparisons done in 8086 assembly language?

There is a compare instruction CMP. Though this instruction just sets the flags on comparing two operands (both 16 bits and 8 bits). Compare instruction just subtracts value of source from destination without storing result however setting the flag at the time of the process. Normally only 3 comparisons are more important. These are:

Result of comparison    Flag(s) affected

Destination < source    Carry flag = 1

Destination = source    Zero flag = 1

Destination > source    Carry = 0, Zero = 0

Let us look at 3 illustration which show how flags are set when numbers are compared. In illustration 1 BL is less than 10 so carry flag is set. In illustration 2 the zero flag is set since both operands are equal. In illustration 3 the destination (BX) is greater than source so both zero and carry flags are clear.

Example 1: 

 MOV BL, 02h 

 CMP BL, 10h; Carry flag = 1

Example 2:

 MOV AX, F0F0h

 MOV DX, F0F0h

 CMP AX, DX; Zero flag = 1

Example 3:

MOV BX, 200H

CMP BX, 0; Zero and Carry flags = 0