run_dump_test replace PROG with DUMPPROG in gas and ld
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gas / doc / c-arm.texi
CommitLineData
219d1afa 1@c Copyright (C) 1996-2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
252b5132
RH
2@c This is part of the GAS manual.
3@c For copying conditions, see the file as.texinfo.
4
5@ifset GENERIC
6@page
7@node ARM-Dependent
8@chapter ARM Dependent Features
9@end ifset
10
11@ifclear GENERIC
12@node Machine Dependencies
13@chapter ARM Dependent Features
14@end ifclear
15
16@cindex ARM support
17@cindex Thumb support
18@menu
19* ARM Options:: Options
20* ARM Syntax:: Syntax
21* ARM Floating Point:: Floating Point
22* ARM Directives:: ARM Machine Directives
23* ARM Opcodes:: Opcodes
6057a28f 24* ARM Mapping Symbols:: Mapping Symbols
7da4f750 25* ARM Unwinding Tutorial:: Unwinding
252b5132
RH
26@end menu
27
28@node ARM Options
29@section Options
30@cindex ARM options (none)
31@cindex options for ARM (none)
adcf07e6 32
252b5132 33@table @code
adcf07e6 34
a05a5b64 35@cindex @code{-mcpu=} command-line option, ARM
92081f48 36@item -mcpu=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
252b5132
RH
37This option specifies the target processor. The assembler will issue an
38error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
03b1477f 39will not execute on the target processor. The following processor names are
34bca508 40recognized:
03b1477f
RE
41@code{arm1},
42@code{arm2},
43@code{arm250},
44@code{arm3},
45@code{arm6},
46@code{arm60},
47@code{arm600},
48@code{arm610},
49@code{arm620},
50@code{arm7},
51@code{arm7m},
52@code{arm7d},
53@code{arm7dm},
54@code{arm7di},
55@code{arm7dmi},
56@code{arm70},
57@code{arm700},
58@code{arm700i},
59@code{arm710},
60@code{arm710t},
61@code{arm720},
62@code{arm720t},
63@code{arm740t},
64@code{arm710c},
65@code{arm7100},
66@code{arm7500},
67@code{arm7500fe},
68@code{arm7t},
69@code{arm7tdmi},
1ff4677c 70@code{arm7tdmi-s},
03b1477f
RE
71@code{arm8},
72@code{arm810},
73@code{strongarm},
74@code{strongarm1},
75@code{strongarm110},
76@code{strongarm1100},
77@code{strongarm1110},
78@code{arm9},
79@code{arm920},
80@code{arm920t},
81@code{arm922t},
82@code{arm940t},
83@code{arm9tdmi},
7fac0536
NC
84@code{fa526} (Faraday FA526 processor),
85@code{fa626} (Faraday FA626 processor),
03b1477f 86@code{arm9e},
7de9afa2 87@code{arm926e},
1ff4677c 88@code{arm926ej-s},
03b1477f
RE
89@code{arm946e-r0},
90@code{arm946e},
db8ac8f9 91@code{arm946e-s},
03b1477f
RE
92@code{arm966e-r0},
93@code{arm966e},
db8ac8f9
PB
94@code{arm966e-s},
95@code{arm968e-s},
03b1477f 96@code{arm10t},
db8ac8f9 97@code{arm10tdmi},
03b1477f
RE
98@code{arm10e},
99@code{arm1020},
100@code{arm1020t},
7de9afa2 101@code{arm1020e},
db8ac8f9 102@code{arm1022e},
1ff4677c 103@code{arm1026ej-s},
4a58c4bd
NC
104@code{fa606te} (Faraday FA606TE processor),
105@code{fa616te} (Faraday FA616TE processor),
7fac0536 106@code{fa626te} (Faraday FA626TE processor),
4a58c4bd 107@code{fmp626} (Faraday FMP626 processor),
7fac0536 108@code{fa726te} (Faraday FA726TE processor),
1ff4677c
RE
109@code{arm1136j-s},
110@code{arm1136jf-s},
db8ac8f9
PB
111@code{arm1156t2-s},
112@code{arm1156t2f-s},
0dd132b6
NC
113@code{arm1176jz-s},
114@code{arm1176jzf-s},
115@code{mpcore},
116@code{mpcorenovfp},
b38f9f31 117@code{cortex-a5},
c90460e4 118@code{cortex-a7},
62b3e311 119@code{cortex-a8},
15290f0a 120@code{cortex-a9},
dbb1f804 121@code{cortex-a15},
ed5491b9 122@code{cortex-a17},
6735952f 123@code{cortex-a32},
43cdc0a8 124@code{cortex-a35},
4469186b 125@code{cortex-a53},
15a7695f 126@code{cortex-a55},
4469186b
KT
127@code{cortex-a57},
128@code{cortex-a72},
362a3eba 129@code{cortex-a73},
15a7695f 130@code{cortex-a75},
7ebd1359 131@code{cortex-a76},
62b3e311 132@code{cortex-r4},
307c948d 133@code{cortex-r4f},
70a8bc5b 134@code{cortex-r5},
135@code{cortex-r7},
5f474010 136@code{cortex-r8},
0cda1e19 137@code{cortex-r52},
b19ea8d2 138@code{cortex-m33},
ce1b0a45 139@code{cortex-m23},
a715796b 140@code{cortex-m7},
7ef07ba0 141@code{cortex-m4},
62b3e311 142@code{cortex-m3},
5b19eaba
NC
143@code{cortex-m1},
144@code{cortex-m0},
ce32bd10 145@code{cortex-m0plus},
246496bb 146@code{exynos-m1},
ea0d6bb9
PT
147@code{marvell-pj4},
148@code{marvell-whitney},
149@code{xgene1},
150@code{xgene2},
03b1477f
RE
151@code{ep9312} (ARM920 with Cirrus Maverick coprocessor),
152@code{i80200} (Intel XScale processor)
e16bb312 153@code{iwmmxt} (Intel(r) XScale processor with Wireless MMX(tm) technology coprocessor)
03b1477f 154and
34bca508 155@code{xscale}.
03b1477f
RE
156The special name @code{all} may be used to allow the
157assembler to accept instructions valid for any ARM processor.
158
34bca508
L
159In addition to the basic instruction set, the assembler can be told to
160accept various extension mnemonics that extend the processor using the
03b1477f 161co-processor instruction space. For example, @code{-mcpu=arm920+maverick}
34bca508 162is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=ep9312}.
69133863 163
34bca508 164Multiple extensions may be specified, separated by a @code{+}. The
69133863
MGD
165extensions should be specified in ascending alphabetical order.
166
34bca508 167Some extensions may be restricted to particular architectures; this is
60e5ef9f
MGD
168documented in the list of extensions below.
169
34bca508
L
170Extension mnemonics may also be removed from those the assembler accepts.
171This is done be prepending @code{no} to the option that adds the extension.
172Extensions that are removed should be listed after all extensions which have
173been added, again in ascending alphabetical order. For example,
69133863
MGD
174@code{-mcpu=ep9312+nomaverick} is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=arm920}.
175
176
eea54501 177The following extensions are currently supported:
ea0d6bb9 178@code{crc}
bca38921 179@code{crypto} (Cryptography Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp+simd}),
c604a79a 180@code{dotprod} (Dot Product Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp+simd}),
bca38921 181@code{fp} (Floating Point Extensions for v8-A architecture),
01f48020
TC
182@code{fp16} (FP16 Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp}),
183@code{fp16fml} (FP16 Floating Point Multiplication Variant Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp16}),
bca38921 184@code{idiv} (Integer Divide Extensions for v7-A and v7-R architectures),
69133863
MGD
185@code{iwmmxt},
186@code{iwmmxt2},
ea0d6bb9 187@code{xscale},
69133863 188@code{maverick},
ea0d6bb9
PT
189@code{mp} (Multiprocessing Extensions for v7-A and v7-R
190architectures),
b2a5fbdc 191@code{os} (Operating System for v6M architecture),
f4c65163 192@code{sec} (Security Extensions for v6K and v7-A architectures),
bca38921 193@code{simd} (Advanced SIMD Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp}),
34bca508 194@code{virt} (Virtualization Extensions for v7-A architecture, implies
90ec0d68 195@code{idiv}),
33eaf5de 196@code{pan} (Privileged Access Never Extensions for v8-A architecture),
4d1464f2
MW
197@code{ras} (Reliability, Availability and Serviceability extensions
198for v8-A architecture),
d6b4b13e
MW
199@code{rdma} (ARMv8.1 Advanced SIMD extensions for v8-A architecture, implies
200@code{simd})
03b1477f 201and
69133863 202@code{xscale}.
03b1477f 203
a05a5b64 204@cindex @code{-march=} command-line option, ARM
92081f48 205@item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
252b5132
RH
206This option specifies the target architecture. The assembler will issue
207an error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
34bca508
L
208will not execute on the target architecture. The following architecture
209names are recognized:
03b1477f
RE
210@code{armv1},
211@code{armv2},
212@code{armv2a},
213@code{armv2s},
214@code{armv3},
215@code{armv3m},
216@code{armv4},
217@code{armv4xm},
218@code{armv4t},
219@code{armv4txm},
220@code{armv5},
221@code{armv5t},
222@code{armv5txm},
223@code{armv5te},
09d92015 224@code{armv5texp},
c5f98204 225@code{armv6},
1ddd7f43 226@code{armv6j},
0dd132b6
NC
227@code{armv6k},
228@code{armv6z},
f33026a9 229@code{armv6kz},
b2a5fbdc
MGD
230@code{armv6-m},
231@code{armv6s-m},
62b3e311 232@code{armv7},
c450d570 233@code{armv7-a},
c9fb6e58 234@code{armv7ve},
c450d570
PB
235@code{armv7-r},
236@code{armv7-m},
9e3c6df6 237@code{armv7e-m},
bca38921 238@code{armv8-a},
a5932920 239@code{armv8.1-a},
56a1b672 240@code{armv8.2-a},
a12fd8e1 241@code{armv8.3-a},
ced40572 242@code{armv8-r},
dec41383 243@code{armv8.4-a},
e16bb312 244@code{iwmmxt}
ea0d6bb9 245@code{iwmmxt2}
03b1477f
RE
246and
247@code{xscale}.
248If both @code{-mcpu} and
249@code{-march} are specified, the assembler will use
250the setting for @code{-mcpu}.
251
252The architecture option can be extended with the same instruction set
253extension options as the @code{-mcpu} option.
254
a05a5b64 255@cindex @code{-mfpu=} command-line option, ARM
03b1477f
RE
256@item -mfpu=@var{floating-point-format}
257
258This option specifies the floating point format to assemble for. The
259assembler will issue an error message if an attempt is made to assemble
34bca508 260an instruction which will not execute on the target floating point unit.
03b1477f
RE
261The following format options are recognized:
262@code{softfpa},
263@code{fpe},
bc89618b
RE
264@code{fpe2},
265@code{fpe3},
03b1477f
RE
266@code{fpa},
267@code{fpa10},
268@code{fpa11},
269@code{arm7500fe},
270@code{softvfp},
271@code{softvfp+vfp},
272@code{vfp},
273@code{vfp10},
274@code{vfp10-r0},
275@code{vfp9},
276@code{vfpxd},
62f3b8c8
PB
277@code{vfpv2},
278@code{vfpv3},
279@code{vfpv3-fp16},
280@code{vfpv3-d16},
281@code{vfpv3-d16-fp16},
282@code{vfpv3xd},
283@code{vfpv3xd-d16},
284@code{vfpv4},
285@code{vfpv4-d16},
f0cd0667 286@code{fpv4-sp-d16},
a715796b
TG
287@code{fpv5-sp-d16},
288@code{fpv5-d16},
bca38921 289@code{fp-armv8},
09d92015
MM
290@code{arm1020t},
291@code{arm1020e},
b1cc4aeb 292@code{arm1136jf-s},
62f3b8c8
PB
293@code{maverick},
294@code{neon},
d5e0ba9c
RE
295@code{neon-vfpv3},
296@code{neon-fp16},
bca38921
MGD
297@code{neon-vfpv4},
298@code{neon-fp-armv8},
081e4c7d
MW
299@code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8},
300@code{neon-fp-armv8.1}
d6b4b13e 301and
081e4c7d 302@code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8.1}.
03b1477f
RE
303
304In addition to determining which instructions are assembled, this option
305also affects the way in which the @code{.double} assembler directive behaves
306when assembling little-endian code.
307
34bca508 308The default is dependent on the processor selected. For Architecture 5 or
d5e0ba9c 309later, the default is to assemble for VFP instructions; for earlier
03b1477f 310architectures the default is to assemble for FPA instructions.
adcf07e6 311
a05a5b64 312@cindex @code{-mthumb} command-line option, ARM
252b5132 313@item -mthumb
03b1477f 314This option specifies that the assembler should start assembling Thumb
34bca508 315instructions; that is, it should behave as though the file starts with a
03b1477f 316@code{.code 16} directive.
adcf07e6 317
a05a5b64 318@cindex @code{-mthumb-interwork} command-line option, ARM
252b5132
RH
319@item -mthumb-interwork
320This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
fc6141f0
NC
321be marked as supporting interworking. It also affects the behaviour
322of the @code{ADR} and @code{ADRL} pseudo opcodes.
adcf07e6 323
a05a5b64 324@cindex @code{-mimplicit-it} command-line option, ARM
52970753
NC
325@item -mimplicit-it=never
326@itemx -mimplicit-it=always
327@itemx -mimplicit-it=arm
328@itemx -mimplicit-it=thumb
329The @code{-mimplicit-it} option controls the behavior of the assembler when
330conditional instructions are not enclosed in IT blocks.
331There are four possible behaviors.
332If @code{never} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
333code and an error in Thumb-2 code.
334If @code{always} is specified, such constructs are accepted in both
335ARM and Thumb-2 code, where the IT instruction is added implicitly.
336If @code{arm} is specified, such constructs are accepted in ARM code
337and cause an error in Thumb-2 code.
338If @code{thumb} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
339code and are accepted in Thumb-2 code. If you omit this option, the
340behavior is equivalent to @code{-mimplicit-it=arm}.
e07e6e58 341
a05a5b64
TP
342@cindex @code{-mapcs-26} command-line option, ARM
343@cindex @code{-mapcs-32} command-line option, ARM
5a5829dd
NS
344@item -mapcs-26
345@itemx -mapcs-32
346These options specify that the output generated by the assembler should
252b5132
RH
347be marked as supporting the indicated version of the Arm Procedure.
348Calling Standard.
adcf07e6 349
a05a5b64 350@cindex @code{-matpcs} command-line option, ARM
077b8428 351@item -matpcs
34bca508 352This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
077b8428
NC
353be marked as supporting the Arm/Thumb Procedure Calling Standard. If
354enabled this option will cause the assembler to create an empty
355debugging section in the object file called .arm.atpcs. Debuggers can
356use this to determine the ABI being used by.
357
a05a5b64 358@cindex @code{-mapcs-float} command-line option, ARM
252b5132 359@item -mapcs-float
1be59579 360This indicates the floating point variant of the APCS should be
252b5132 361used. In this variant floating point arguments are passed in FP
550262c4 362registers rather than integer registers.
adcf07e6 363
a05a5b64 364@cindex @code{-mapcs-reentrant} command-line option, ARM
252b5132
RH
365@item -mapcs-reentrant
366This indicates that the reentrant variant of the APCS should be used.
367This variant supports position independent code.
adcf07e6 368
a05a5b64 369@cindex @code{-mfloat-abi=} command-line option, ARM
33a392fb
PB
370@item -mfloat-abi=@var{abi}
371This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should be
372marked as using specified floating point ABI.
373The following values are recognized:
374@code{soft},
375@code{softfp}
376and
377@code{hard}.
378
a05a5b64 379@cindex @code{-eabi=} command-line option, ARM
d507cf36
PB
380@item -meabi=@var{ver}
381This option specifies which EABI version the produced object files should
382conform to.
b45619c0 383The following values are recognized:
3a4a14e9
PB
384@code{gnu},
385@code{4}
d507cf36 386and
3a4a14e9 387@code{5}.
d507cf36 388
a05a5b64 389@cindex @code{-EB} command-line option, ARM
252b5132
RH
390@item -EB
391This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
392be marked as being encoded for a big-endian processor.
adcf07e6 393
080bb7bb
NC
394Note: If a program is being built for a system with big-endian data
395and little-endian instructions then it should be assembled with the
396@option{-EB} option, (all of it, code and data) and then linked with
397the @option{--be8} option. This will reverse the endianness of the
398instructions back to little-endian, but leave the data as big-endian.
399
a05a5b64 400@cindex @code{-EL} command-line option, ARM
252b5132
RH
401@item -EL
402This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
403be marked as being encoded for a little-endian processor.
adcf07e6 404
a05a5b64 405@cindex @code{-k} command-line option, ARM
252b5132
RH
406@cindex PIC code generation for ARM
407@item -k
a349d9dd
PB
408This option specifies that the output of the assembler should be marked
409as position-independent code (PIC).
adcf07e6 410
a05a5b64 411@cindex @code{--fix-v4bx} command-line option, ARM
845b51d6
PB
412@item --fix-v4bx
413Allow @code{BX} instructions in ARMv4 code. This is intended for use with
414the linker option of the same name.
415
a05a5b64 416@cindex @code{-mwarn-deprecated} command-line option, ARM
278df34e
NS
417@item -mwarn-deprecated
418@itemx -mno-warn-deprecated
419Enable or disable warnings about using deprecated options or
420features. The default is to warn.
421
a05a5b64 422@cindex @code{-mccs} command-line option, ARM
2e6976a8
DG
423@item -mccs
424Turns on CodeComposer Studio assembly syntax compatibility mode.
425
a05a5b64 426@cindex @code{-mwarn-syms} command-line option, ARM
8b2d793c
NC
427@item -mwarn-syms
428@itemx -mno-warn-syms
429Enable or disable warnings about symbols that match the names of ARM
430instructions. The default is to warn.
431
252b5132
RH
432@end table
433
434
435@node ARM Syntax
436@section Syntax
437@menu
cab7e4d9 438* ARM-Instruction-Set:: Instruction Set
252b5132
RH
439* ARM-Chars:: Special Characters
440* ARM-Regs:: Register Names
b6895b4f 441* ARM-Relocations:: Relocations
99f1a7a7 442* ARM-Neon-Alignment:: NEON Alignment Specifiers
252b5132
RH
443@end menu
444
cab7e4d9
NC
445@node ARM-Instruction-Set
446@subsection Instruction Set Syntax
447Two slightly different syntaxes are support for ARM and THUMB
448instructions. The default, @code{divided}, uses the old style where
449ARM and THUMB instructions had their own, separate syntaxes. The new,
450@code{unified} syntax, which can be selected via the @code{.syntax}
451directive, and has the following main features:
452
9e6f3811
AS
453@itemize @bullet
454@item
cab7e4d9
NC
455Immediate operands do not require a @code{#} prefix.
456
9e6f3811 457@item
cab7e4d9
NC
458The @code{IT} instruction may appear, and if it does it is validated
459against subsequent conditional affixes. In ARM mode it does not
460generate machine code, in THUMB mode it does.
461
9e6f3811 462@item
cab7e4d9
NC
463For ARM instructions the conditional affixes always appear at the end
464of the instruction. For THUMB instructions conditional affixes can be
465used, but only inside the scope of an @code{IT} instruction.
466
9e6f3811 467@item
cab7e4d9
NC
468All of the instructions new to the V6T2 architecture (and later) are
469available. (Only a few such instructions can be written in the
470@code{divided} syntax).
471
9e6f3811 472@item
cab7e4d9
NC
473The @code{.N} and @code{.W} suffixes are recognized and honored.
474
9e6f3811 475@item
cab7e4d9
NC
476All instructions set the flags if and only if they have an @code{s}
477affix.
9e6f3811 478@end itemize
cab7e4d9 479
252b5132
RH
480@node ARM-Chars
481@subsection Special Characters
482
483@cindex line comment character, ARM
484@cindex ARM line comment character
7c31ae13
NC
485The presence of a @samp{@@} anywhere on a line indicates the start of
486a comment that extends to the end of that line.
487
488If a @samp{#} appears as the first character of a line then the whole
489line is treated as a comment, but in this case the line could also be
490a logical line number directive (@pxref{Comments}) or a preprocessor
491control command (@pxref{Preprocessing}).
550262c4
NC
492
493@cindex line separator, ARM
494@cindex statement separator, ARM
495@cindex ARM line separator
a349d9dd
PB
496The @samp{;} character can be used instead of a newline to separate
497statements.
550262c4
NC
498
499@cindex immediate character, ARM
500@cindex ARM immediate character
501Either @samp{#} or @samp{$} can be used to indicate immediate operands.
252b5132
RH
502
503@cindex identifiers, ARM
504@cindex ARM identifiers
505*TODO* Explain about /data modifier on symbols.
506
507@node ARM-Regs
508@subsection Register Names
509
510@cindex ARM register names
511@cindex register names, ARM
512*TODO* Explain about ARM register naming, and the predefined names.
513
b6895b4f
PB
514@node ARM-Relocations
515@subsection ARM relocation generation
516
517@cindex data relocations, ARM
518@cindex ARM data relocations
519Specific data relocations can be generated by putting the relocation name
520in parentheses after the symbol name. For example:
521
522@smallexample
523 .word foo(TARGET1)
524@end smallexample
525
526This will generate an @samp{R_ARM_TARGET1} relocation against the symbol
527@var{foo}.
528The following relocations are supported:
529@code{GOT},
530@code{GOTOFF},
531@code{TARGET1},
532@code{TARGET2},
533@code{SBREL},
534@code{TLSGD},
535@code{TLSLDM},
536@code{TLSLDO},
0855e32b
NS
537@code{TLSDESC},
538@code{TLSCALL},
b43420e6
NC
539@code{GOTTPOFF},
540@code{GOT_PREL}
b6895b4f
PB
541and
542@code{TPOFF}.
543
544For compatibility with older toolchains the assembler also accepts
3da1d841
NC
545@code{(PLT)} after branch targets. On legacy targets this will
546generate the deprecated @samp{R_ARM_PLT32} relocation. On EABI
547targets it will encode either the @samp{R_ARM_CALL} or
548@samp{R_ARM_JUMP24} relocation, as appropriate.
b6895b4f
PB
549
550@cindex MOVW and MOVT relocations, ARM
551Relocations for @samp{MOVW} and @samp{MOVT} instructions can be generated
552by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower16:} and @samp{#:upper16}
b45619c0 553respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
252b5132 554
b6895b4f
PB
555@smallexample
556 MOVW r0, #:lower16:foo
557 MOVT r0, #:upper16:foo
558@end smallexample
252b5132 559
72d98d16
MG
560Relocations @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G0_NC}, @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G1_NC},
561@samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G2_NC} and @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G3_NC} can be
562generated by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower0_7:#},
563@samp{#:lower8_15:#}, @samp{#:upper0_7:#} and @samp{#:upper8_15:#}
564respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
565
566@smallexample
567 MOVS r0, #:upper8_15:#foo
568 LSLS r0, r0, #8
569 ADDS r0, #:upper0_7:#foo
570 LSLS r0, r0, #8
571 ADDS r0, #:lower8_15:#foo
572 LSLS r0, r0, #8
573 ADDS r0, #:lower0_7:#foo
574@end smallexample
575
ba724cfc
NC
576@node ARM-Neon-Alignment
577@subsection NEON Alignment Specifiers
578
579@cindex alignment for NEON instructions
580Some NEON load/store instructions allow an optional address
581alignment qualifier.
582The ARM documentation specifies that this is indicated by
583@samp{@@ @var{align}}. However GAS already interprets
584the @samp{@@} character as a "line comment" start,
585so @samp{: @var{align}} is used instead. For example:
586
587@smallexample
588 vld1.8 @{q0@}, [r0, :128]
589@end smallexample
590
591@node ARM Floating Point
592@section Floating Point
593
594@cindex floating point, ARM (@sc{ieee})
595@cindex ARM floating point (@sc{ieee})
596The ARM family uses @sc{ieee} floating-point numbers.
597
252b5132
RH
598@node ARM Directives
599@section ARM Machine Directives
600
601@cindex machine directives, ARM
602@cindex ARM machine directives
603@table @code
604
4a6bc624
NS
605@c AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
606
2b841ec2 607@ifclear ELF
4a6bc624
NS
608@cindex @code{.2byte} directive, ARM
609@cindex @code{.4byte} directive, ARM
610@cindex @code{.8byte} directive, ARM
611@item .2byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
612@itemx .4byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
613@itemx .8byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
614These directives write 2, 4 or 8 byte values to the output section.
2b841ec2 615@end ifclear
4a6bc624
NS
616
617@cindex @code{.align} directive, ARM
adcf07e6
NC
618@item .align @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]
619This is the generic @var{.align} directive. For the ARM however if the
620first argument is zero (ie no alignment is needed) the assembler will
621behave as if the argument had been 2 (ie pad to the next four byte
062b7c0c 622boundary). This is for compatibility with ARM's own assembler.
adcf07e6 623
4a6bc624
NS
624@cindex @code{.arch} directive, ARM
625@item .arch @var{name}
626Select the target architecture. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
54691107
TP
627for the @option{-march} command-line option without the instruction set
628extension.
252b5132 629
34bca508 630Specifying @code{.arch} clears any previously selected architecture
69133863
MGD
631extensions.
632
633@cindex @code{.arch_extension} directive, ARM
634@item .arch_extension @var{name}
34bca508
L
635Add or remove an architecture extension to the target architecture. Valid
636values for @var{name} are the same as those accepted as architectural
a05a5b64 637extensions by the @option{-mcpu} and @option{-march} command-line options.
69133863
MGD
638
639@code{.arch_extension} may be used multiple times to add or remove extensions
640incrementally to the architecture being compiled for.
641
4a6bc624
NS
642@cindex @code{.arm} directive, ARM
643@item .arm
644This performs the same action as @var{.code 32}.
252b5132 645
4a6bc624 646@c BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
0bbf2aa4 647
4a6bc624
NS
648@cindex @code{.bss} directive, ARM
649@item .bss
650This directive switches to the @code{.bss} section.
0bbf2aa4 651
4a6bc624
NS
652@c CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
653
654@cindex @code{.cantunwind} directive, ARM
655@item .cantunwind
656Prevents unwinding through the current function. No personality routine
657or exception table data is required or permitted.
658
659@cindex @code{.code} directive, ARM
660@item .code @code{[16|32]}
661This directive selects the instruction set being generated. The value 16
662selects Thumb, with the value 32 selecting ARM.
663
664@cindex @code{.cpu} directive, ARM
665@item .cpu @var{name}
666Select the target processor. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
54691107
TP
667for the @option{-mcpu} command-line option without the instruction set
668extension.
4a6bc624 669
34bca508 670Specifying @code{.cpu} clears any previously selected architecture
69133863
MGD
671extensions.
672
4a6bc624
NS
673@c DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
674
675@cindex @code{.dn} and @code{.qn} directives, ARM
f467aa98 676@item @var{name} .dn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
1f9bb1ca 677@itemx @var{name} .qn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
23753660
JB
678
679The @code{dn} and @code{qn} directives are used to create typed
680and/or indexed register aliases for use in Advanced SIMD Extension
681(Neon) instructions. The former should be used to create aliases
682of double-precision registers, and the latter to create aliases of
683quad-precision registers.
684
685If these directives are used to create typed aliases, those aliases can
686be used in Neon instructions instead of writing types after the mnemonic
687or after each operand. For example:
688
689@smallexample
690 x .dn d2.f32
691 y .dn d3.f32
692 z .dn d4.f32[1]
693 vmul x,y,z
694@end smallexample
695
696This is equivalent to writing the following:
697
698@smallexample
699 vmul.f32 d2,d3,d4[1]
700@end smallexample
701
702Aliases created using @code{dn} or @code{qn} can be destroyed using
703@code{unreq}.
704
4a6bc624 705@c EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
252b5132 706
4a6bc624
NS
707@cindex @code{.eabi_attribute} directive, ARM
708@item .eabi_attribute @var{tag}, @var{value}
709Set the EABI object attribute @var{tag} to @var{value}.
252b5132 710
4a6bc624
NS
711The @var{tag} is either an attribute number, or one of the following:
712@code{Tag_CPU_raw_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_arch},
713@code{Tag_CPU_arch_profile}, @code{Tag_ARM_ISA_use},
75375b3e 714@code{Tag_THUMB_ISA_use}, @code{Tag_FP_arch}, @code{Tag_WMMX_arch},
4a6bc624
NS
715@code{Tag_Advanced_SIMD_arch}, @code{Tag_PCS_config},
716@code{Tag_ABI_PCS_R9_use}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RW_data},
717@code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RO_data}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_GOT_use},
718@code{Tag_ABI_PCS_wchar_t}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_rounding},
719@code{Tag_ABI_FP_denormal}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_exceptions},
720@code{Tag_ABI_FP_user_exceptions}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_number_model},
75375b3e 721@code{Tag_ABI_align_needed}, @code{Tag_ABI_align_preserved},
4a6bc624
NS
722@code{Tag_ABI_enum_size}, @code{Tag_ABI_HardFP_use},
723@code{Tag_ABI_VFP_args}, @code{Tag_ABI_WMMX_args},
724@code{Tag_ABI_optimization_goals}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_optimization_goals},
725@code{Tag_compatibility}, @code{Tag_CPU_unaligned_access},
75375b3e 726@code{Tag_FP_HP_extension}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_16bit_format},
cd21e546 727@code{Tag_MPextension_use}, @code{Tag_DIV_use},
4a6bc624
NS
728@code{Tag_nodefaults}, @code{Tag_also_compatible_with},
729@code{Tag_conformance}, @code{Tag_T2EE_use},
cd21e546 730@code{Tag_Virtualization_use}
4a6bc624
NS
731
732The @var{value} is either a @code{number}, @code{"string"}, or
733@code{number, "string"} depending on the tag.
734
75375b3e 735Note - the following legacy values are also accepted by @var{tag}:
34bca508 736@code{Tag_VFP_arch}, @code{Tag_ABI_align8_needed},
75375b3e
MGD
737@code{Tag_ABI_align8_preserved}, @code{Tag_VFP_HP_extension},
738
4a6bc624
NS
739@cindex @code{.even} directive, ARM
740@item .even
741This directive aligns to an even-numbered address.
742
743@cindex @code{.extend} directive, ARM
744@cindex @code{.ldouble} directive, ARM
745@item .extend @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
746@itemx .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
747These directives write 12byte long double floating-point values to the
748output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
749or ABIs.
750
751@c FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
752
753@anchor{arm_fnend}
754@cindex @code{.fnend} directive, ARM
755@item .fnend
756Marks the end of a function with an unwind table entry. The unwind index
757table entry is created when this directive is processed.
252b5132 758
4a6bc624
NS
759If no personality routine has been specified then standard personality
760routine 0 or 1 will be used, depending on the number of unwind opcodes
761required.
762
763@anchor{arm_fnstart}
764@cindex @code{.fnstart} directive, ARM
765@item .fnstart
766Marks the start of a function with an unwind table entry.
767
768@cindex @code{.force_thumb} directive, ARM
252b5132
RH
769@item .force_thumb
770This directive forces the selection of Thumb instructions, even if the
771target processor does not support those instructions
772
4a6bc624
NS
773@cindex @code{.fpu} directive, ARM
774@item .fpu @var{name}
775Select the floating-point unit to assemble for. Valid values for @var{name}
a05a5b64 776are the same as for the @option{-mfpu} command-line option.
252b5132 777
4a6bc624
NS
778@c GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
779@c HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
e1da3f5b 780
4a6bc624
NS
781@cindex @code{.handlerdata} directive, ARM
782@item .handlerdata
783Marks the end of the current function, and the start of the exception table
784entry for that function. Anything between this directive and the
785@code{.fnend} directive will be added to the exception table entry.
786
787Must be preceded by a @code{.personality} or @code{.personalityindex}
788directive.
789
790@c IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
c921be7d
NC
791
792@cindex @code{.inst} directive, ARM
793@item .inst @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1f9bb1ca
AS
794@itemx .inst.n @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
795@itemx .inst.w @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
c921be7d
NC
796Generates the instruction corresponding to the numerical value @var{opcode}.
797@code{.inst.n} and @code{.inst.w} allow the Thumb instruction size to be
798specified explicitly, overriding the normal encoding rules.
799
4a6bc624
NS
800@c JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
801@c KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
802@c LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
803
804@item .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
805See @code{.extend}.
5395a469 806
252b5132
RH
807@cindex @code{.ltorg} directive, ARM
808@item .ltorg
809This directive causes the current contents of the literal pool to be
810dumped into the current section (which is assumed to be the .text
811section) at the current location (aligned to a word boundary).
3d0c9500
NC
812@code{GAS} maintains a separate literal pool for each section and each
813sub-section. The @code{.ltorg} directive will only affect the literal
814pool of the current section and sub-section. At the end of assembly
815all remaining, un-empty literal pools will automatically be dumped.
816
817Note - older versions of @code{GAS} would dump the current literal
818pool any time a section change occurred. This is no longer done, since
819it prevents accurate control of the placement of literal pools.
252b5132 820
4a6bc624 821@c MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
252b5132 822
4a6bc624
NS
823@cindex @code{.movsp} directive, ARM
824@item .movsp @var{reg} [, #@var{offset}]
825Tell the unwinder that @var{reg} contains an offset from the current
826stack pointer. If @var{offset} is not specified then it is assumed to be
827zero.
7ed4c4c5 828
4a6bc624
NS
829@c NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
830@c OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
7ed4c4c5 831
4a6bc624
NS
832@cindex @code{.object_arch} directive, ARM
833@item .object_arch @var{name}
834Override the architecture recorded in the EABI object attribute section.
835Valid values for @var{name} are the same as for the @code{.arch} directive.
836Typically this is useful when code uses runtime detection of CPU features.
7ed4c4c5 837
4a6bc624
NS
838@c PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
839
840@cindex @code{.packed} directive, ARM
841@item .packed @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
842This directive writes 12-byte packed floating-point values to the
843output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
844or ABIs.
845
ea4cff4f 846@anchor{arm_pad}
4a6bc624
NS
847@cindex @code{.pad} directive, ARM
848@item .pad #@var{count}
849Generate unwinder annotations for a stack adjustment of @var{count} bytes.
850A positive value indicates the function prologue allocated stack space by
851decrementing the stack pointer.
7ed4c4c5
NC
852
853@cindex @code{.personality} directive, ARM
854@item .personality @var{name}
855Sets the personality routine for the current function to @var{name}.
856
857@cindex @code{.personalityindex} directive, ARM
858@item .personalityindex @var{index}
859Sets the personality routine for the current function to the EABI standard
860routine number @var{index}
861
4a6bc624
NS
862@cindex @code{.pool} directive, ARM
863@item .pool
864This is a synonym for .ltorg.
7ed4c4c5 865
4a6bc624
NS
866@c QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
867@c RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
868
869@cindex @code{.req} directive, ARM
870@item @var{name} .req @var{register name}
871This creates an alias for @var{register name} called @var{name}. For
872example:
873
874@smallexample
875 foo .req r0
876@end smallexample
877
878@c SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
7ed4c4c5 879
7da4f750 880@anchor{arm_save}
7ed4c4c5
NC
881@cindex @code{.save} directive, ARM
882@item .save @var{reglist}
883Generate unwinder annotations to restore the registers in @var{reglist}.
884The format of @var{reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
885instruction.
886
887@smallexample
888@exdent @emph{core registers}
889 .save @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
890 stmfd sp!, @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
891@exdent @emph{FPA registers}
892 .save f4, 2
893 sfmfd f4, 2, [sp]!
894@exdent @emph{VFP registers}
895 .save @{d8, d9, d10@}
fa073d69 896 fstmdx sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
7ed4c4c5
NC
897@exdent @emph{iWMMXt registers}
898 .save @{wr10, wr11@}
899 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
900 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
901or
902 .save wr11
903 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
904 .save wr10
905 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
906@end smallexample
907
7da4f750 908@anchor{arm_setfp}
7ed4c4c5
NC
909@cindex @code{.setfp} directive, ARM
910@item .setfp @var{fpreg}, @var{spreg} [, #@var{offset}]
4a6bc624 911Make all unwinder annotations relative to a frame pointer. Without this
7ed4c4c5
NC
912the unwinder will use offsets from the stack pointer.
913
a5b82cbe 914The syntax of this directive is the same as the @code{add} or @code{mov}
7ed4c4c5
NC
915instruction used to set the frame pointer. @var{spreg} must be either
916@code{sp} or mentioned in a previous @code{.movsp} directive.
917
918@smallexample
919.movsp ip
920mov ip, sp
921@dots{}
922.setfp fp, ip, #4
a5b82cbe 923add fp, ip, #4
7ed4c4c5
NC
924@end smallexample
925
4a6bc624
NS
926@cindex @code{.secrel32} directive, ARM
927@item .secrel32 @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
928This directive emits relocations that evaluate to the section-relative
929offset of each expression's symbol. This directive is only supported
930for PE targets.
931
cab7e4d9
NC
932@cindex @code{.syntax} directive, ARM
933@item .syntax [@code{unified} | @code{divided}]
934This directive sets the Instruction Set Syntax as described in the
935@ref{ARM-Instruction-Set} section.
936
4a6bc624
NS
937@c TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
938
939@cindex @code{.thumb} directive, ARM
940@item .thumb
941This performs the same action as @var{.code 16}.
942
943@cindex @code{.thumb_func} directive, ARM
944@item .thumb_func
945This directive specifies that the following symbol is the name of a
946Thumb encoded function. This information is necessary in order to allow
947the assembler and linker to generate correct code for interworking
948between Arm and Thumb instructions and should be used even if
949interworking is not going to be performed. The presence of this
950directive also implies @code{.thumb}
951
33eaf5de 952This directive is not necessary when generating EABI objects. On these
4a6bc624
NS
953targets the encoding is implicit when generating Thumb code.
954
955@cindex @code{.thumb_set} directive, ARM
956@item .thumb_set
957This performs the equivalent of a @code{.set} directive in that it
958creates a symbol which is an alias for another symbol (possibly not yet
959defined). This directive also has the added property in that it marks
960the aliased symbol as being a thumb function entry point, in the same
961way that the @code{.thumb_func} directive does.
962
0855e32b
NS
963@cindex @code{.tlsdescseq} directive, ARM
964@item .tlsdescseq @var{tls-variable}
965This directive is used to annotate parts of an inlined TLS descriptor
966trampoline. Normally the trampoline is provided by the linker, and
967this directive is not needed.
968
4a6bc624
NS
969@c UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
970
971@cindex @code{.unreq} directive, ARM
972@item .unreq @var{alias-name}
973This undefines a register alias which was previously defined using the
974@code{req}, @code{dn} or @code{qn} directives. For example:
975
976@smallexample
977 foo .req r0
978 .unreq foo
979@end smallexample
980
981An error occurs if the name is undefined. Note - this pseudo op can
982be used to delete builtin in register name aliases (eg 'r0'). This
983should only be done if it is really necessary.
984
7ed4c4c5 985@cindex @code{.unwind_raw} directive, ARM
4a6bc624 986@item .unwind_raw @var{offset}, @var{byte1}, @dots{}
33eaf5de 987Insert one of more arbitrary unwind opcode bytes, which are known to adjust
7ed4c4c5
NC
988the stack pointer by @var{offset} bytes.
989
990For example @code{.unwind_raw 4, 0xb1, 0x01} is equivalent to
991@code{.save @{r0@}}
992
4a6bc624 993@c VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
ee065d83 994
4a6bc624
NS
995@cindex @code{.vsave} directive, ARM
996@item .vsave @var{vfp-reglist}
997Generate unwinder annotations to restore the VFP registers in @var{vfp-reglist}
998using FLDMD. Also works for VFPv3 registers
999that are to be restored using VLDM.
1000The format of @var{vfp-reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
1001instruction.
ee065d83 1002
4a6bc624
NS
1003@smallexample
1004@exdent @emph{VFP registers}
1005 .vsave @{d8, d9, d10@}
1006 fstmdd sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
1007@exdent @emph{VFPv3 registers}
1008 .vsave @{d15, d16, d17@}
1009 vstm sp!, @{d15, d16, d17@}
1010@end smallexample
e04befd0 1011
4a6bc624
NS
1012Since FLDMX and FSTMX are now deprecated, this directive should be
1013used in favour of @code{.save} for saving VFP registers for ARMv6 and above.
e04befd0 1014
4a6bc624
NS
1015@c WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
1016@c XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
1017@c YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
1018@c ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ee065d83 1019
252b5132
RH
1020@end table
1021
1022@node ARM Opcodes
1023@section Opcodes
1024
1025@cindex ARM opcodes
1026@cindex opcodes for ARM
49a5575c
NC
1027@code{@value{AS}} implements all the standard ARM opcodes. It also
1028implements several pseudo opcodes, including several synthetic load
34bca508 1029instructions.
252b5132 1030
49a5575c
NC
1031@table @code
1032
1033@cindex @code{NOP} pseudo op, ARM
1034@item NOP
1035@smallexample
1036 nop
1037@end smallexample
252b5132 1038
49a5575c
NC
1039This pseudo op will always evaluate to a legal ARM instruction that does
1040nothing. Currently it will evaluate to MOV r0, r0.
252b5132 1041
49a5575c 1042@cindex @code{LDR reg,=<label>} pseudo op, ARM
34bca508 1043@item LDR
252b5132
RH
1044@smallexample
1045 ldr <register> , = <expression>
1046@end smallexample
1047
1048If expression evaluates to a numeric constant then a MOV or MVN
1049instruction will be used in place of the LDR instruction, if the
1050constant can be generated by either of these instructions. Otherwise
1051the constant will be placed into the nearest literal pool (if it not
1052already there) and a PC relative LDR instruction will be generated.
1053
49a5575c
NC
1054@cindex @code{ADR reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1055@item ADR
1056@smallexample
1057 adr <register> <label>
1058@end smallexample
1059
1060This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
1061register. The instruction will evaluate to a PC relative ADD or SUB
1062instruction depending upon where the label is located. If the label is
1063out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file (and section) as
1064the ADR instruction, then an error will be generated. This instruction
1065will not make use of the literal pool.
1066
fc6141f0
NC
1067If @var{label} is a thumb function symbol, and thumb interworking has
1068been enabled via the @option{-mthumb-interwork} option then the bottom
1069bit of the value stored into @var{register} will be set. This allows
1070the following sequence to work as expected:
1071
1072@smallexample
1073 adr r0, thumb_function
1074 blx r0
1075@end smallexample
1076
49a5575c 1077@cindex @code{ADRL reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
34bca508 1078@item ADRL
49a5575c
NC
1079@smallexample
1080 adrl <register> <label>
1081@end smallexample
1082
1083This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
a349d9dd 1084register. The instruction will evaluate to one or two PC relative ADD
49a5575c
NC
1085or SUB instructions depending upon where the label is located. If a
1086second instruction is not needed a NOP instruction will be generated in
1087its place, so that this instruction is always 8 bytes long.
1088
1089If the label is out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file
1090(and section) as the ADRL instruction, then an error will be generated.
1091This instruction will not make use of the literal pool.
1092
fc6141f0
NC
1093If @var{label} is a thumb function symbol, and thumb interworking has
1094been enabled via the @option{-mthumb-interwork} option then the bottom
1095bit of the value stored into @var{register} will be set.
1096
49a5575c
NC
1097@end table
1098
252b5132
RH
1099For information on the ARM or Thumb instruction sets, see @cite{ARM
1100Software Development Toolkit Reference Manual}, Advanced RISC Machines
1101Ltd.
1102
6057a28f
NC
1103@node ARM Mapping Symbols
1104@section Mapping Symbols
1105
1106The ARM ELF specification requires that special symbols be inserted
1107into object files to mark certain features:
1108
1109@table @code
1110
1111@cindex @code{$a}
1112@item $a
1113At the start of a region of code containing ARM instructions.
1114
1115@cindex @code{$t}
1116@item $t
1117At the start of a region of code containing THUMB instructions.
1118
1119@cindex @code{$d}
1120@item $d
1121At the start of a region of data.
1122
1123@end table
1124
1125The assembler will automatically insert these symbols for you - there
1126is no need to code them yourself. Support for tagging symbols ($b,
1127$f, $p and $m) which is also mentioned in the current ARM ELF
1128specification is not implemented. This is because they have been
1129dropped from the new EABI and so tools cannot rely upon their
1130presence.
1131
7da4f750
MM
1132@node ARM Unwinding Tutorial
1133@section Unwinding
1134
1135The ABI for the ARM Architecture specifies a standard format for
1136exception unwind information. This information is used when an
1137exception is thrown to determine where control should be transferred.
1138In particular, the unwind information is used to determine which
1139function called the function that threw the exception, and which
1140function called that one, and so forth. This information is also used
1141to restore the values of callee-saved registers in the function
1142catching the exception.
1143
1144If you are writing functions in assembly code, and those functions
1145call other functions that throw exceptions, you must use assembly
1146pseudo ops to ensure that appropriate exception unwind information is
1147generated. Otherwise, if one of the functions called by your assembly
1148code throws an exception, the run-time library will be unable to
1149unwind the stack through your assembly code and your program will not
1150behave correctly.
1151
1152To illustrate the use of these pseudo ops, we will examine the code
1153that G++ generates for the following C++ input:
1154
1155@verbatim
1156void callee (int *);
1157
34bca508
L
1158int
1159caller ()
7da4f750
MM
1160{
1161 int i;
1162 callee (&i);
34bca508 1163 return i;
7da4f750
MM
1164}
1165@end verbatim
1166
1167This example does not show how to throw or catch an exception from
1168assembly code. That is a much more complex operation and should
1169always be done in a high-level language, such as C++, that directly
1170supports exceptions.
1171
1172The code generated by one particular version of G++ when compiling the
1173example above is:
1174
1175@verbatim
1176_Z6callerv:
1177 .fnstart
1178.LFB2:
1179 @ Function supports interworking.
1180 @ args = 0, pretend = 0, frame = 8
1181 @ frame_needed = 1, uses_anonymous_args = 0
1182 stmfd sp!, {fp, lr}
1183 .save {fp, lr}
1184.LCFI0:
1185 .setfp fp, sp, #4
1186 add fp, sp, #4
1187.LCFI1:
1188 .pad #8
1189 sub sp, sp, #8
1190.LCFI2:
1191 sub r3, fp, #8
1192 mov r0, r3
1193 bl _Z6calleePi
1194 ldr r3, [fp, #-8]
1195 mov r0, r3
1196 sub sp, fp, #4
1197 ldmfd sp!, {fp, lr}
1198 bx lr
1199.LFE2:
1200 .fnend
1201@end verbatim
1202
1203Of course, the sequence of instructions varies based on the options
1204you pass to GCC and on the version of GCC in use. The exact
1205instructions are not important since we are focusing on the pseudo ops
1206that are used to generate unwind information.
1207
1208An important assumption made by the unwinder is that the stack frame
1209does not change during the body of the function. In particular, since
1210we assume that the assembly code does not itself throw an exception,
1211the only point where an exception can be thrown is from a call, such
1212as the @code{bl} instruction above. At each call site, the same saved
1213registers (including @code{lr}, which indicates the return address)
1214must be located in the same locations relative to the frame pointer.
1215
1216The @code{.fnstart} (@pxref{arm_fnstart,,.fnstart pseudo op}) pseudo
1217op appears immediately before the first instruction of the function
1218while the @code{.fnend} (@pxref{arm_fnend,,.fnend pseudo op}) pseudo
1219op appears immediately after the last instruction of the function.
34bca508 1220These pseudo ops specify the range of the function.
7da4f750
MM
1221
1222Only the order of the other pseudos ops (e.g., @code{.setfp} or
1223@code{.pad}) matters; their exact locations are irrelevant. In the
1224example above, the compiler emits the pseudo ops with particular
1225instructions. That makes it easier to understand the code, but it is
1226not required for correctness. It would work just as well to emit all
1227of the pseudo ops other than @code{.fnend} in the same order, but
1228immediately after @code{.fnstart}.
1229
1230The @code{.save} (@pxref{arm_save,,.save pseudo op}) pseudo op
1231indicates registers that have been saved to the stack so that they can
1232be restored before the function returns. The argument to the
1233@code{.save} pseudo op is a list of registers to save. If a register
1234is ``callee-saved'' (as specified by the ABI) and is modified by the
1235function you are writing, then your code must save the value before it
1236is modified and restore the original value before the function
1237returns. If an exception is thrown, the run-time library restores the
1238values of these registers from their locations on the stack before
1239returning control to the exception handler. (Of course, if an
1240exception is not thrown, the function that contains the @code{.save}
1241pseudo op restores these registers in the function epilogue, as is
1242done with the @code{ldmfd} instruction above.)
1243
1244You do not have to save callee-saved registers at the very beginning
1245of the function and you do not need to use the @code{.save} pseudo op
1246immediately following the point at which the registers are saved.
1247However, if you modify a callee-saved register, you must save it on
1248the stack before modifying it and before calling any functions which
1249might throw an exception. And, you must use the @code{.save} pseudo
1250op to indicate that you have done so.
1251
1252The @code{.pad} (@pxref{arm_pad,,.pad}) pseudo op indicates a
1253modification of the stack pointer that does not save any registers.
1254The argument is the number of bytes (in decimal) that are subtracted
1255from the stack pointer. (On ARM CPUs, the stack grows downwards, so
1256subtracting from the stack pointer increases the size of the stack.)
1257
1258The @code{.setfp} (@pxref{arm_setfp,,.setfp pseudo op}) pseudo op
1259indicates the register that contains the frame pointer. The first
1260argument is the register that is set, which is typically @code{fp}.
1261The second argument indicates the register from which the frame
1262pointer takes its value. The third argument, if present, is the value
1263(in decimal) added to the register specified by the second argument to
1264compute the value of the frame pointer. You should not modify the
1265frame pointer in the body of the function.
1266
1267If you do not use a frame pointer, then you should not use the
1268@code{.setfp} pseudo op. If you do not use a frame pointer, then you
1269should avoid modifying the stack pointer outside of the function
1270prologue. Otherwise, the run-time library will be unable to find
1271saved registers when it is unwinding the stack.
1272
1273The pseudo ops described above are sufficient for writing assembly
1274code that calls functions which may throw exceptions. If you need to
1275know more about the object-file format used to represent unwind
1276information, you may consult the @cite{Exception Handling ABI for the
1277ARM Architecture} available from @uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.
91f68a68 1278
This page took 0.878536 seconds and 4 git commands to generate.