Programmable test for memories

A programmable built in self test, BIST, system for testing a memory, comprises an instruction register formed in the same chip as the memory; a circuit for loading the register by successive instructions, each instruction comprising at least one address control field, a first number (m) of operation fields, a number-of-operations field specifying a second number t+1, with t+1≦m; a circuit controlled by the address control field to determine successive addresses; and a cycle controller for executing, for each successive address, the second number (t+1) of successive operations, each of which is determined by one of the t+1 first operation fields