PURPOSE: To provide a method and device which predict the direction of a branch instruction of a programmed computer.

CONSTITUTION: The method and device to predict the result of the branch instruction are executed by a multi-processor digital computer. Pipelining is a general technique which increases the data processing speed of a current computer and especially an RISC architecture class of a work station. Accurate prediction of the branch instruction is important for effective use of pipelines; and if prediction is erroneous, it is necessary to drive out and reload all affected processor pipelines. Branch prediction is based on correlations between the history of preceding continuous branches and a specific branch instruction. In a preferable example, a branch prediction table 14 is generated. A field of the table 14 is derived and is updated thereafter based on a related combination between the result from the preceding branch and the branch address taken into consideration at present.