title: How does the compiler know about the instruction set of my CPU?
body: <p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3831312/compiler-and-linker-difference?rq=1">I've read</a> that</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>The compiler converts code written in a human-readable programming language into a
    machine code representation which is understood by your processor.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>How does the compiler know about the instruction set of my CPU?</p>
  
  <p>Any reference to understand job of assembler, linker and loader would be helpful.</p>