The generic term x86 architecture refers to the most commercially successful instruction set architecture in the history of personal computing. It derived from the model numbers, ending in "86", of the first few processor generations backward compatible with the original Intel 8086. Since then, many additions and extensions have been added to the x86 instruction set, almost consistently with full backwards compatibility. The architecture has been implemented in processors from Intel, Cyrix, AMD, VIA, and many others. Today, the x86 architecture is ubiquitous among desktop and notebook computers, as well as a growing majority among servers and workstations. A large amount of software supports the platform, including OSs such as MS-DOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, Solaris, and Mac OS X. The architecture is relatively uncommon in embedded systems and low-cost niches such as appliances and toys lack any significant x86 presence. Simpler 16-bit x86 chips are more common here, but the new Intel Atom is an example of 32-bit design used in this segment.

Source: Wikipedia.org: x86 architecture

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