xref: /netbsd-src/external/gpl3/binutils/dist/gas/doc/c-aarch64.texi (revision cb63e24e8d6aae7ddac1859a9015f48b1d8bd90e)
1@c Copyright (C) 2009-2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
2@c Contributed by ARM Ltd.
3@c This is part of the GAS manual.
4@c For copying conditions, see the file as.texinfo.
5@c man end
6
7@ifset GENERIC
8@page
9@node AArch64-Dependent
10@chapter AArch64 Dependent Features
11@end ifset
12
13@ifclear GENERIC
14@node Machine Dependencies
15@chapter AArch64 Dependent Features
16@end ifclear
17
18@cindex AArch64 support
19@menu
20* AArch64 Options::              Options
21* AArch64 Extensions::		 Extensions
22* AArch64 Syntax::               Syntax
23* AArch64 Floating Point::       Floating Point
24* AArch64 Directives::           AArch64 Machine Directives
25* AArch64 Opcodes::              Opcodes
26* AArch64 Mapping Symbols::      Mapping Symbols
27@end menu
28
29@node AArch64 Options
30@section Options
31@cindex AArch64 options (none)
32@cindex options for AArch64 (none)
33
34@c man begin OPTIONS
35@table @gcctabopt
36
37@cindex @option{-EB} command-line option, AArch64
38@item -EB
39This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
40be marked as being encoded for a big-endian processor.
41
42@cindex @option{-EL} command-line option, AArch64
43@item -EL
44This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
45be marked as being encoded for a little-endian processor.
46
47@cindex @option{-mabi=} command-line option, AArch64
48@item -mabi=@var{abi}
49Specify which ABI the source code uses.  The recognized arguments
50are: @code{ilp32} and @code{lp64}, which decides the generated object
51file in ELF32 and ELF64 format respectively.  The default is @code{lp64}.
52
53@cindex @option{-mcpu=} command-line option, AArch64
54@item -mcpu=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
55This option specifies the target processor.  The assembler will issue an error
56message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which will not execute
57on the target processor.  The following processor names are recognized:
58@code{cortex-a34},
59@code{cortex-a35},
60@code{cortex-a53},
61@code{cortex-a55},
62@code{cortex-a57},
63@code{cortex-a65},
64@code{cortex-a65ae},
65@code{cortex-a72},
66@code{cortex-a73},
67@code{cortex-a75},
68@code{cortex-a76},
69@code{cortex-a76ae},
70@code{cortex-a77},
71@code{cortex-a78},
72@code{cortex-a78ae},
73@code{cortex-a78c},
74@code{cortex-a510},
75@code{cortex-a520},
76@code{cortex-a710},
77@code{cortex-a720},
78@code{ares},
79@code{exynos-m1},
80@code{falkor},
81@code{neoverse-n1},
82@code{neoverse-n2},
83@code{neoverse-e1},
84@code{neoverse-v1},
85@code{qdf24xx},
86@code{saphira},
87@code{thunderx},
88@code{vulcan},
89@code{xgene1}
90@code{xgene2},
91@code{cortex-r82},
92@code{cortex-x1},
93@code{cortex-x2},
94@code{cortex-x3},
95and
96@code{cortex-x4}.
97The special name @code{all} may be used to allow the assembler to accept
98instructions valid for any supported processor, including all optional
99extensions.
100
101In addition to the basic instruction set, the assembler can be told to
102accept, or restrict, various extension mnemonics that extend the
103processor.  @xref{AArch64 Extensions}.
104
105If some implementations of a particular processor can have an
106extension, then then those extensions are automatically enabled.
107Consequently, you will not normally have to specify any additional
108extensions.
109
110@cindex @option{-march=} command-line option, AArch64
111@item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
112This option specifies the target architecture.  The assembler will
113issue an error message if an attempt is made to assemble an
114instruction which will not execute on the target architecture.  The
115following architecture names are recognized: @code{armv8-a},
116@code{armv8.1-a}, @code{armv8.2-a}, @code{armv8.3-a}, @code{armv8.4-a}
117@code{armv8.5-a}, @code{armv8.6-a}, @code{armv8.7-a}, @code{armv8.8-a},
118@code{armv8.9-a}, @code{armv8-r}, @code{armv9-a}, @code{armv9.1-a},
119@code{armv9.2-a}, @code{armv9.3-a} and @code{armv9.4-a}.
120
121If both @option{-mcpu} and @option{-march} are specified, the
122assembler will use the setting for @option{-mcpu}.  If neither are
123specified, the assembler will default to @option{-mcpu=all}.
124
125The architecture option can be extended with the same instruction set
126extension options as the @option{-mcpu} option.  Unlike
127@option{-mcpu}, extensions are not always enabled by default.
128@xref{AArch64 Extensions}.
129
130@cindex @code{-mverbose-error} command-line option, AArch64
131@item -mverbose-error
132This option enables verbose error messages for AArch64 gas.  This option
133is enabled by default.
134
135@cindex @code{-mno-verbose-error} command-line option, AArch64
136@item -mno-verbose-error
137This option disables verbose error messages in AArch64 gas.
138
139@end table
140@c man end
141
142@node AArch64 Extensions
143@section Architecture Extensions
144
145The tables below lists the permitted architecture extensions and architecture
146versions that are supported by the assembler, including a brief description and
147a list of other extensions that they depend upon.
148
149Multiple extensions may be specified, separated by a @code{+}.
150Extension mnemonics may also be removed from those the assembler
151accepts.  This is done by prepending @code{no} to the option that adds
152the extension.  Extensions that are removed must be listed after all
153extensions that have been added.
154
155Enabling an extension that depends upon other extensions (either directly or
156recursively) will automatically cause those extensions to be enabled.
157Similarly, disabling an extension that is required by other extensions will
158automatically cause those extensions to be disabled.
159
160@multitable @columnfractions .16 .22 .62
161@headitem Extension @tab Depends upon @tab Description
162@item @code{aes} @tab @code{simd}
163 @tab Enable the AES and PMULL cryptographic extensions.
164@item @code{b16b16} @tab @code{sve2}
165 @tab Enable BFloat16 to BFloat16 arithmetic for SVE2 and SME2.
166@item @code{bf16} @tab @code{fp}
167 @tab Enable BFloat16 extension.
168@item @code{chk} @tab
169 @tab Enable the Check Feature Status Extension.
170@item @code{compnum} @tab @code{simd}
171 @tab Enable the complex number SIMD extensions.  An alias of @code{fcma}.
172@item @code{crc} @tab
173 @tab Enable CRC instructions.
174@item @code{crypto} @tab @code{simd}
175 @tab Enable cryptographic extensions.  This is equivalent to @code{aes+sha2}.
176@item @code{cssc} @tab
177 @tab Enable the Armv8.9-A Common Short Sequence Compression instructions.
178@item @code{d128} @tab @code{lse128}
179 @tab Enable the 128-bit Page Descriptor Extension.  This implies @code{lse128}.
180@item @code{dotprod} @tab @code{simd}
181 @tab Enable the Dot Product extension.
182@item @code{f32mm} @tab @code{sve}
183 @tab Enable the F32 Matrix Multiply extension
184@item @code{f64mm} @tab @code{sve}
185 @tab Enable the F64 Matrix Multiply extension.
186@item @code{fcma} @tab @code{fp16}, @code{simd}
187 @tab Enable the complex number SIMD extensions.
188@item @code{flagm} @tab
189 @tab Enable Flag Manipulation instructions.
190@item @code{flagm2} @tab @code{flagm}
191 @tab Enable FlagM2 flag conversion instructions.
192@item @code{fp16fml} @tab @code{fp16}
193 @tab Enable Armv8.2 16-bit floating-point multiplication variant support.
194@item @code{fp16} @tab @code{fp}
195 @tab Enable Armv8.2 16-bit floating-point support.
196@item @code{fp} @tab
197 @tab Enable floating-point extensions.
198@item @code{frintts} @tab @code{simd}
199 @tab Enable floating-point round to integral value instructions.
200@item @code{gcs} @tab
201 @tab Enable the Guarded Control Stack Extension.
202@item @code{hbc} @tab
203 @tab Enable Armv8.8-A hinted conditional branch instructions
204@item @code{i8mm} @tab @code{simd}
205 @tab Enable the Int8 Matrix Multiply extension.
206@item @code{ite} @tab
207 @tab Enable the TRCIT instruction.
208@item @code{jscvt} @tab @code{fp}
209 @tab Enable the @code{fjcvtzs} JavaScript conversion instruction.
210@item @code{lor} @tab
211 @tab Enable Limited Ordering Regions extensions.
212@item @code{ls64} @tab
213 @tab Enable the 64 Byte Loads/Stores extensions.
214@item @code{lse} @tab
215 @tab Enable Large System extensions.
216@item @code{lse128} @tab @code{lse}
217 @tab Enable the 128-bit Atomic Instructions extension.
218@item @code{memtag} @tab
219 @tab Enable Armv8.5-A Memory Tagging Extensions.
220@item @code{mops} @tab
221 @tab Enable Armv8.8-A memcpy and memset acceleration instructions
222@item @code{pan} @tab
223 @tab Enable Privileged Access Never support.
224@item @code{pauth} @tab
225 @tab Enable Pointer Authentication.
226@item @code{predres} @tab
227 @tab Enable the Execution and Data and Prediction instructions.
228@item @code{predres2} @tab @code{predres}
229 @tab Enable Prediction instructions.
230@item @code{profile} @tab
231 @tab Enable statistical profiling extensions.
232@item @code{ras} @tab
233 @tab Enable the Reliability, Availability and Serviceability extension.
234@item @code{rasv2} @tab @code{ras}
235 @tab Enable the Reliability, Availability and Serviceability extension v2.
236@item @code{rcpc} @tab
237 @tab Enable the Load-Acquire RCpc instructions extension.
238@item @code{rcpc2} @tab @code{rcpc}
239 @tab Enable the Load-Acquire RCpc instructions extension v2.
240@item @code{rcpc3} @tab @code{rcpc2}
241 @tab Enable the Load-Acquire RCpc instructions extension v3.
242@item @code{rdma} @tab @code{simd}
243 @tab Enable rounding doubling multiply accumulate instructions.
244@item @code{rdm} @tab @code{simd}
245 @tab An alias of @code{rdma}.
246@item @code{rng} @tab
247 @tab Enable Armv8.5-A random number instructions.
248@item @code{sb} @tab
249 @tab Enable the speculation barrier instruction sb.
250@item @code{sha2} @tab @code{simd}
251 @tab Enable the SHA1 and SHA256 cryptographic extensions.
252@item @code{sha3} @tab @code{sha2}
253 @tab Enable the SHA512 and SHA3 cryptographic extensions.
254@item @code{simd} @tab @code{fp}
255 @tab Enable Advanced SIMD extensions.
256@item @code{sm4} @tab @code{simd}
257 @tab Enable the SM3 and SM4 cryptographic extensions.
258@item @code{sme} @tab @code{sve2}, @code{bf16}
259 @tab Enable the Scalable Matrix Extension.
260@item @code{sme-f64f64} @tab @code{sme}
261 @tab Enable SME F64F64 Extension.
262@item @code{sme-i16i64} @tab @code{sme}
263 @tab Enable SME I16I64 Extension.
264@item @code{sme2} @tab @code{sme}
265 @tab Enable SME2.
266@item @code{sme2p1} @tab @code{sme2}
267 @tab Enable SME2.1.
268@item @code{ssbs} @tab
269 @tab Enable Speculative Store Bypassing Safe state read and write.
270@item @code{sve} @tab @code{fcma}
271 @tab Enable the Scalable Vector Extension.
272@item @code{sve2} @tab @code{sve}
273 @tab Enable SVE2.
274@item @code{sve2-aes} @tab @code{sve2}, @code{aes}
275 @tab Enable the SVE2 AES and PMULL Extensions.
276@item @code{sve2-bitperm} @tab @code{sve2}
277 @tab Enable the SVE2 BITPERM Extension.
278@item @code{sve2-sha3} @tab @code{sve2}, @code{sha3}
279 @tab Enable the SVE2 SHA3 Extension.
280@item @code{sve2-sm4} @tab @code{sve2}, @code{sm4}
281 @tab Enable the SVE2 SM4 Extension.
282@item @code{sve2p1} @tab @code{sve2}
283 @tab Enable SVE2.1.
284@item @code{the} @tab
285 @tab Enable the Translation Hardening Extension.
286@item @code{tme} @tab
287 @tab Enable the Transactional Memory Extension.
288@item @code{wfxt} @tab
289 @tab Enable @code{wfet} and @code{wfit} instructions.
290@item @code{xs} @tab
291 @tab Enable the XS memory attribute extension.
292@end multitable
293
294@multitable @columnfractions .20 .80
295@headitem Architecture Version @tab Includes
296@item @code{armv8-a} @tab @code{simd}, @code{chk}, @code{ras}
297@item @code{armv8.1-a} @tab @code{armv8-a}, @code{crc}, @code{lse}, @code{rdma}, @code{pan}, @code{lor}
298@item @code{armv8.2-a} @tab @code{armv8.1-a}
299@item @code{armv8.3-a} @tab @code{armv8.2-a}, @code{fcma}, @code{jscvt}, @code{pauth}, @code{rcpc}
300@item @code{armv8.4-a} @tab @code{armv8.3-a}, @code{fp16fml}, @code{dotprod}, @code{flagm}, @code{rcpc2}
301@item @code{armv8.5-a} @tab @code{armv8.4-a}, @code{frintts}, @code{flagm2}, @code{predres}, @code{sb}, @code{ssbs}
302@item @code{armv8.6-a} @tab @code{armv8.5-a}, @code{bf16}, @code{i8mm}
303@item @code{armv8.7-a} @tab @code{armv8.6-a}, @code{ls64}, @code{xs}, @code{wfxt}
304@item @code{armv8.8-a} @tab @code{armv8.7-a}, @code{hbc}, @code{mops}
305@item @code{armv8.9-a} @tab @code{armv8.8-a}, @code{rasv2}, @code{predres2}
306@item @code{armv9-a} @tab @code{armv8.5-a}, @code{sve2}
307@item @code{armv9.1-a} @tab @code{armv9-a}, @code{armv8.6-a}
308@item @code{armv9.2-a} @tab @code{armv9.1-a}, @code{armv8.7-a}
309@item @code{armv9.3-a} @tab @code{armv9.2-a}, @code{armv8.8-a}
310@item @code{armv9.4-a} @tab @code{armv9.3-a}, @code{armv8.9-a}
311@item @code{armv8-r} @tab @code{armv8.4-a+nolor}
312@end multitable
313
314@node AArch64 Syntax
315@section Syntax
316@menu
317* AArch64-Chars::                Special Characters
318* AArch64-Regs::                 Register Names
319* AArch64-Relocations::	     Relocations
320@end menu
321
322@node AArch64-Chars
323@subsection Special Characters
324
325@cindex line comment character, AArch64
326@cindex AArch64 line comment character
327The presence of a @samp{//} on a line indicates the start of a comment
328that extends to the end of the current line.  If a @samp{#} appears as
329the first character of a line, the whole line is treated as a comment.
330
331@cindex line separator, AArch64
332@cindex statement separator, AArch64
333@cindex AArch64 line separator
334The @samp{;} character can be used instead of a newline to separate
335statements.
336
337@cindex immediate character, AArch64
338@cindex AArch64 immediate character
339The @samp{#} can be optionally used to indicate immediate operands.
340
341@node AArch64-Regs
342@subsection Register Names
343
344@cindex AArch64 register names
345@cindex register names, AArch64
346Please refer to the section @samp{4.4 Register Names} of
347@samp{ARMv8 Instruction Set Overview}, which is available at
348@uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.
349
350@node AArch64-Relocations
351@subsection Relocations
352
353@cindex relocations, AArch64
354@cindex AArch64 relocations
355@cindex MOVN, MOVZ and MOVK group relocations, AArch64
356Relocations for @samp{MOVZ} and @samp{MOVK} instructions can be generated
357by prefixing the label with @samp{#:abs_g2:} etc.
358For example to load the 48-bit absolute address of @var{foo} into x0:
359
360@smallexample
361        movz x0, #:abs_g2:foo		// bits 32-47, overflow check
362        movk x0, #:abs_g1_nc:foo	// bits 16-31, no overflow check
363        movk x0, #:abs_g0_nc:foo	// bits  0-15, no overflow check
364@end smallexample
365
366@cindex ADRP, ADD, LDR/STR group relocations, AArch64
367Relocations for @samp{ADRP}, and @samp{ADD}, @samp{LDR} or @samp{STR}
368instructions can be generated by prefixing the label with
369@samp{:pg_hi21:} and @samp{#:lo12:} respectively.
370
371For example to use 33-bit (+/-4GB) pc-relative addressing to
372load the address of @var{foo} into x0:
373
374@smallexample
375        adrp x0, :pg_hi21:foo
376        add  x0, x0, #:lo12:foo
377@end smallexample
378
379Or to load the value of @var{foo} into x0:
380
381@smallexample
382        adrp x0, :pg_hi21:foo
383        ldr  x0, [x0, #:lo12:foo]
384@end smallexample
385
386Note that @samp{:pg_hi21:} is optional.
387
388@smallexample
389        adrp x0, foo
390@end smallexample
391
392is equivalent to
393
394@smallexample
395        adrp x0, :pg_hi21:foo
396@end smallexample
397
398@node AArch64 Floating Point
399@section Floating Point
400
401@cindex floating point, AArch64 (@sc{ieee})
402@cindex AArch64 floating point (@sc{ieee})
403The AArch64 architecture uses @sc{ieee} floating-point numbers.
404
405@node AArch64 Directives
406@section AArch64 Machine Directives
407
408@cindex machine directives, AArch64
409@cindex AArch64 machine directives
410@table @code
411
412@c AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
413
414@cindex @code{.arch} directive, AArch64
415@item .arch @var{name}
416Select the target architecture.  Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
417for the @option{-march} command-line option.
418
419Specifying @code{.arch} clears any previously selected architecture
420extensions.
421
422@cindex @code{.arch_extension} directive, AArch64
423@item .arch_extension @var{name}
424Add or remove an architecture extension to the target architecture.  Valid
425values for @var{name} are the same as those accepted as architectural
426extensions by the @option{-mcpu} command-line option.
427
428@code{.arch_extension} may be used multiple times to add or remove extensions
429incrementally to the architecture being compiled for.
430
431@c BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
432@c CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
433
434@cindex @code{.cpu} directive, AArch64
435@item .cpu @var{name}
436Set the target processor.  Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
437those accepted by the @option{-mcpu=} command-line option.
438
439@c DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
440
441@cindex @code{.dword} directive, AArch64
442@item .dword @var{expressions}
443The @code{.dword} directive produces 64 bit values.
444
445@c EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
446
447@cindex @code{.even} directive, AArch64
448@item .even
449The @code{.even} directive aligns the output on the next even byte
450boundary.
451
452@c FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
453
454@cindex @code{.float16} directive, AArch64
455@item .float16 @var{value [,...,value_n]}
456Place the half precision floating point representation of one or more
457floating-point values into the current section.
458The format used to encode the floating point values is always the
459IEEE 754-2008 half precision floating point format.
460
461@c GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
462@c HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
463@c IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
464
465@cindex @code{.inst} directive, AArch64
466@item .inst @var{expressions}
467Inserts the expressions into the output as if they were instructions,
468rather than data.
469
470@c JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
471@c KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
472@c LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
473
474@cindex @code{.ltorg} directive, AArch64
475@item .ltorg
476This directive causes the current contents of the literal pool to be
477dumped into the current section (which is assumed to be the .text
478section) at the current location (aligned to a word boundary).
479GAS maintains a separate literal pool for each section and each
480sub-section.  The @code{.ltorg} directive will only affect the literal
481pool of the current section and sub-section.  At the end of assembly
482all remaining, un-empty literal pools will automatically be dumped.
483
484Note - older versions of GAS would dump the current literal
485pool any time a section change occurred.  This is no longer done, since
486it prevents accurate control of the placement of literal pools.
487
488@c MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
489
490@c NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
491@c OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
492
493@c PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
494
495@cindex @code{.pool} directive, AArch64
496@item .pool
497This is a synonym for .ltorg.
498
499@c QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
500@c RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
501
502@cindex @code{.req} directive, AArch64
503@item @var{name} .req @var{register name}
504This creates an alias for @var{register name} called @var{name}.  For
505example:
506
507@smallexample
508        foo .req w0
509@end smallexample
510
511ip0, ip1, lr and fp are automatically defined to
512alias to X16, X17, X30 and X29 respectively.
513
514@c SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
515
516@c TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
517
518@cindex @code{.tlsdescadd} directive, AArch64
519@item   @code{.tlsdescadd}
520Emits a TLSDESC_ADD reloc on the next instruction.
521
522@cindex @code{.tlsdesccall} directive, AArch64
523@item   @code{.tlsdesccall}
524Emits a TLSDESC_CALL reloc on the next instruction.
525
526@cindex @code{.tlsdescldr} directive, AArch64
527@item   @code{.tlsdescldr}
528Emits a TLSDESC_LDR reloc on the next instruction.
529
530@c UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
531
532@cindex @code{.unreq} directive, AArch64
533@item .unreq @var{alias-name}
534This undefines a register alias which was previously defined using the
535@code{req} directive.  For example:
536
537@smallexample
538        foo .req w0
539        .unreq foo
540@end smallexample
541
542An error occurs if the name is undefined.  Note - this pseudo op can
543be used to delete builtin in register name aliases (eg 'w0').  This
544should only be done if it is really necessary.
545
546@c VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
547
548@cindex @code{.variant_pcs} directive, AArch64
549@item .variant_pcs @var{symbol}
550This directive marks @var{symbol} referencing a function that may
551follow a variant procedure call standard with different register
552usage convention from the base procedure call standard.
553
554@c WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
555@c XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
556
557@cindex @code{.xword} directive, AArch64
558@item .xword @var{expressions}
559The @code{.xword} directive produces 64 bit values.  This is the same
560as the @code{.dword} directive.
561
562@c YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
563@c ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
564
565@cindex @code{.cfi_b_key_frame} directive, AArch64
566@item	@code{.cfi_b_key_frame}
567The @code{.cfi_b_key_frame} directive inserts a 'B' character into the CIE
568corresponding to the current frame's FDE, meaning that its return address has
569been signed with the B-key.  If two frames are signed with differing keys then
570they will not share the same CIE.  This information is intended to be used by
571the stack unwinder in order to properly authenticate return addresses.
572
573@end table
574
575@node AArch64 Opcodes
576@section Opcodes
577
578@cindex AArch64 opcodes
579@cindex opcodes for AArch64
580GAS implements all the standard AArch64 opcodes.  It also
581implements several pseudo opcodes, including several synthetic load
582instructions.
583
584@table @code
585
586@cindex @code{LDR reg,=<expr>} pseudo op, AArch64
587@item LDR =
588@smallexample
589  ldr <register> , =<expression>
590@end smallexample
591
592The constant expression will be placed into the nearest literal pool (if it not
593already there) and a PC-relative LDR instruction will be generated.
594
595@end table
596
597For more information on the AArch64 instruction set and assembly language
598notation, see @samp{ARMv8 Instruction Set Overview} available at
599@uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.
600
601
602@node AArch64 Mapping Symbols
603@section Mapping Symbols
604
605The AArch64 ELF specification requires that special symbols be inserted
606into object files to mark certain features:
607
608@table @code
609
610@cindex @code{$x}
611@item $x
612At the start of a region of code containing AArch64 instructions.
613
614@cindex @code{$d}
615@item $d
616At the start of a region of data.
617
618@end table
619