What feature allows microcontrollers to perform tasks in a programmed sequence?

The correct answer is memory because it enables microcontrollers to store and execute a sequence of programmed instructions effectively. Memory allows the microcontroller to retain the code that tells it how to operate, including the sequences for tasks and the data necessary for those tasks. Programmable routines are stored in non-volatile memory, which means they remain intact even when power is lost.

In this context, memory supports not just the immediate execution of tasks but also the overall functionality and programmability of the microcontroller, enabling it to run complex algorithms and respond to inputs in a logical progression. Without sufficient memory, a microcontroller would be unable to hold the instructions required to perform tasks in the intended sequence.

While sensors, communication ports, and power management are essential components of a microcontroller’s overall operation, they do not directly facilitate the sequential performance of tasks as memory does. Sensors serve to detect environmental conditions, communication ports allow for data exchange, and power management ensures the device runs efficiently, yet none of these elements specifically provide the capability to execute a pre-defined sequence of operations set by the program.