Program segments (e.g., the code segment) must be loaded into contiguous memory.

Consecutive memory locations are required because the compiler generates code for "sequential statements":

• sequential statements
• "if statments"
• "loops" that generate jump or branch instructions to addresses

all expect instructions to be stored in consecutive memory locations.

In particular, when an instruction is fetched from the memory address in the PC register (%eip on Intel IA32), the PC is then incremented. This assumes that the next instruction is in the next memory address.