Hello to everyone,
I am interesting to understand some thing on C low level programming.
I am reading for example NIC datasheet description of registers (Realtek)
I was wondering If anyone can explain me how a software programmer can use these information of a NIC registers:

Interrupt Status
(Offset 003Eh-003Fh, R/W)
Bit R/W Symbol Description
15 R/W SERR System Error: This bit is set to 1 when the RTL8169 signals a system error on the PCI bus.

The offset is referred to memory right? but how a software can use this?
The Bit field and the symbol how can an software developer use it?
The symbol is like a variable?
Drivers use these symbols to "talk" to the NIC?

thanks!

 

The Offset is relative to a base address of where the NIC is located in the memory or I/O map of a given processor.
The symbol in the datasheet may or may not be used directly in the software for this device. If it is then SERR would be a substitute for the value 15 in a bit type instruction.