xref: /netbsd-src/external/gpl3/binutils/dist/gas/doc/c-aarch64.texi (revision d909946ca08dceb44d7d0f22ec9488679695d976)
1@c Copyright (C) 2009-2015 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-a35},
59@code{cortex-a53},
60@code{cortex-a57},
61@code{cortex-a72},
62@code{exynos-m1},
63@code{qdf24xx},
64@code{thunderx},
65@code{xgene1}
66and
67@code{xgene2}.
68The special name @code{all} may be used to allow the assembler to accept
69instructions valid for any supported processor, including all optional
70extensions.
71
72In addition to the basic instruction set, the assembler can be told to
73accept, or restrict, various extension mnemonics that extend the
74processor.  @xref{AArch64 Extensions}.
75
76If some implementations of a particular processor can have an
77extension, then then those extensions are automatically enabled.
78Consequently, you will not normally have to specify any additional
79extensions.
80
81@cindex @option{-march=} command line option, AArch64
82@item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
83This option specifies the target architecture.  The assembler will
84issue an error message if an attempt is made to assemble an
85instruction which will not execute on the target architecture.  The
86following architecture names are recognized: @code{armv8-a},
87@code{armv8.1-a} and @code{armv8.2-a}.
88
89If both @option{-mcpu} and @option{-march} are specified, the
90assembler will use the setting for @option{-mcpu}.  If neither are
91specified, the assembler will default to @option{-mcpu=all}.
92
93The architecture option can be extended with the same instruction set
94extension options as the @option{-mcpu} option.  Unlike
95@option{-mcpu}, extensions are not always enabled by default,
96@xref{AArch64 Extensions}.
97
98@cindex @code{-mverbose-error} command line option, AArch64
99@item -mverbose-error
100This option enables verbose error messages for AArch64 gas.  This option
101is enabled by default.
102
103@cindex @code{-mno-verbose-error} command line option, AArch64
104@item -mno-verbose-error
105This option disables verbose error messages in AArch64 gas.
106
107@end table
108@c man end
109
110@node AArch64 Extensions
111@section Architecture Extensions
112
113The table below lists the permitted architecture extensions that are
114supported by the assembler and the conditions under which they are
115automatically enabled.
116
117Multiple extensions may be specified, separated by a @code{+}.
118Extension mnemonics may also be removed from those the assembler
119accepts.  This is done by prepending @code{no} to the option that adds
120the extension.  Extensions that are removed must be listed after all
121extensions that have been added.
122
123Enabling an extension that requires other extensions will
124automatically cause those extensions to be enabled.  Similarly,
125disabling an extension that is required by other extensions will
126automatically cause those extensions to be disabled.
127
128@multitable @columnfractions .12 .17 .17 .54
129@headitem Extension @tab Minimum Architecture @tab Enabled by default
130 @tab Description
131@item @code{crc} @tab ARMv8-A @tab ARMv8.1-A or later
132 @tab Enable CRC instructions.
133@item @code{crypto} @tab ARMv8-A @tab No
134 @tab Enable cryptographic extensions.  This implies @code{fp} and @code{simd}.
135@item @code{fp} @tab ARMv8-A @tab ARMv8-A or later
136 @tab Enable floating-point extensions.
137@item @code{simd} @tab ARMv8-A @tab ARMv8-A or later
138 @tab Enable Advanced SIMD extensions.  This implies @code{fp}.
139@item @code{pan} @tab ARMv8-A @tab ARMv8-A or later
140 @tab Enable Privileged Access Never support.
141@item @code{lor} @tab ARMv8-A @tab ARMv8-A or later
142 @tab Enable Limited Ordering Regions extensions.
143@item @code{rdma} @tab ARMv8-A @tab ARMv8-A or later
144 @tab Enable ARMv8.1 Advanced SIMD extensions.  This implies @code{simd}.
145@item @code{fp16} @tab ARMv8.2-A @tab ARMv8.2-A or later
146 @tab Enable ARMv8.2 16-bit floating-point support.  This implies
147 @code{fp}.
148@item @code{profile} @tab ARMv8.2-A @tab No
149 @tab Enable statistical profiling extensions.
150@end multitable
151
152@node AArch64 Syntax
153@section Syntax
154@menu
155* AArch64-Chars::                Special Characters
156* AArch64-Regs::                 Register Names
157* AArch64-Relocations::	     Relocations
158@end menu
159
160@node AArch64-Chars
161@subsection Special Characters
162
163@cindex line comment character, AArch64
164@cindex AArch64 line comment character
165The presence of a @samp{//} on a line indicates the start of a comment
166that extends to the end of the current line.  If a @samp{#} appears as
167the first character of a line, the whole line is treated as a comment.
168
169@cindex line separator, AArch64
170@cindex statement separator, AArch64
171@cindex AArch64 line separator
172The @samp{;} character can be used instead of a newline to separate
173statements.
174
175@cindex immediate character, AArch64
176@cindex AArch64 immediate character
177The @samp{#} can be optionally used to indicate immediate operands.
178
179@node AArch64-Regs
180@subsection Register Names
181
182@cindex AArch64 register names
183@cindex register names, AArch64
184Please refer to the section @samp{4.4 Register Names} of
185@samp{ARMv8 Instruction Set Overview}, which is available at
186@uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.
187
188@node AArch64-Relocations
189@subsection Relocations
190
191@cindex relocations, AArch64
192@cindex AArch64 relocations
193@cindex MOVN, MOVZ and MOVK group relocations, AArch64
194Relocations for @samp{MOVZ} and @samp{MOVK} instructions can be generated
195by prefixing the label with @samp{#:abs_g2:} etc.
196For example to load the 48-bit absolute address of @var{foo} into x0:
197
198@smallexample
199        movz x0, #:abs_g2:foo		// bits 32-47, overflow check
200        movk x0, #:abs_g1_nc:foo	// bits 16-31, no overflow check
201        movk x0, #:abs_g0_nc:foo	// bits  0-15, no overflow check
202@end smallexample
203
204@cindex ADRP, ADD, LDR/STR group relocations, AArch64
205Relocations for @samp{ADRP}, and @samp{ADD}, @samp{LDR} or @samp{STR}
206instructions can be generated by prefixing the label with
207@samp{:pg_hi21:} and @samp{#:lo12:} respectively.
208
209For example to use 33-bit (+/-4GB) pc-relative addressing to
210load the address of @var{foo} into x0:
211
212@smallexample
213        adrp x0, :pg_hi21:foo
214        add  x0, x0, #:lo12:foo
215@end smallexample
216
217Or to load the value of @var{foo} into x0:
218
219@smallexample
220        adrp x0, :pg_hi21:foo
221        ldr  x0, [x0, #:lo12:foo]
222@end smallexample
223
224Note that @samp{:pg_hi21:} is optional.
225
226@smallexample
227        adrp x0, foo
228@end smallexample
229
230is equivalent to
231
232@smallexample
233        adrp x0, :pg_hi21:foo
234@end smallexample
235
236@node AArch64 Floating Point
237@section Floating Point
238
239@cindex floating point, AArch64 (@sc{ieee})
240@cindex AArch64 floating point (@sc{ieee})
241The AArch64 architecture uses @sc{ieee} floating-point numbers.
242
243@node AArch64 Directives
244@section AArch64 Machine Directives
245
246@cindex machine directives, AArch64
247@cindex AArch64 machine directives
248@table @code
249
250@c AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
251
252@cindex @code{.arch} directive, AArch64
253@item .arch @var{name}
254Select the target architecture.  Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
255for the @option{-march} commandline option.
256
257Specifying @code{.arch} clears any previously selected architecture
258extensions.
259
260@cindex @code{.arch_extension} directive, AArch64
261@item .arch_extension @var{name}
262Add or remove an architecture extension to the target architecture.  Valid
263values for @var{name} are the same as those accepted as architectural
264extensions by the @option{-mcpu} commandline option.
265
266@code{.arch_extension} may be used multiple times to add or remove extensions
267incrementally to the architecture being compiled for.
268
269@c BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
270
271@cindex @code{.bss} directive, AArch64
272@item .bss
273This directive switches to the @code{.bss} section.
274
275@c CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
276@c DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
277@c EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
278@c FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
279@c GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
280@c HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
281@c IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
282@c JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
283@c KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
284@c LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
285
286@cindex @code{.ltorg} directive, AArch64
287@item .ltorg
288This directive causes the current contents of the literal pool to be
289dumped into the current section (which is assumed to be the .text
290section) at the current location (aligned to a word boundary).
291GAS maintains a separate literal pool for each section and each
292sub-section.  The @code{.ltorg} directive will only affect the literal
293pool of the current section and sub-section.  At the end of assembly
294all remaining, un-empty literal pools will automatically be dumped.
295
296Note - older versions of GAS would dump the current literal
297pool any time a section change occurred.  This is no longer done, since
298it prevents accurate control of the placement of literal pools.
299
300@c MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
301
302@c NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
303@c OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
304
305@c PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
306
307@cindex @code{.pool} directive, AArch64
308@item .pool
309This is a synonym for .ltorg.
310
311@c QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
312@c RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
313
314@cindex @code{.req} directive, AArch64
315@item @var{name} .req @var{register name}
316This creates an alias for @var{register name} called @var{name}.  For
317example:
318
319@smallexample
320        foo .req w0
321@end smallexample
322
323@c SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
324
325@c TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
326
327@c UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
328
329@cindex @code{.unreq} directive, AArch64
330@item .unreq @var{alias-name}
331This undefines a register alias which was previously defined using the
332@code{req} directive.  For example:
333
334@smallexample
335        foo .req w0
336        .unreq foo
337@end smallexample
338
339An error occurs if the name is undefined.  Note - this pseudo op can
340be used to delete builtin in register name aliases (eg 'w0').  This
341should only be done if it is really necessary.
342
343@c VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
344
345@c WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
346@c XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
347@c YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
348@c ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
349
350@cindex @code{.xword} directive, AArch64
351@item .xword
352The @code{.xword} directive produces 64 bit values.
353
354@end table
355
356@node AArch64 Opcodes
357@section Opcodes
358
359@cindex AArch64 opcodes
360@cindex opcodes for AArch64
361GAS implements all the standard AArch64 opcodes.  It also
362implements several pseudo opcodes, including several synthetic load
363instructions.
364
365@table @code
366
367@cindex @code{LDR reg,=<expr>} pseudo op, AArch64
368@item LDR =
369@smallexample
370  ldr <register> , =<expression>
371@end smallexample
372
373The constant expression will be placed into the nearest literal pool (if it not
374already there) and a PC-relative LDR instruction will be generated.
375
376@end table
377
378For more information on the AArch64 instruction set and assembly language
379notation, see @samp{ARMv8 Instruction Set Overview} available at
380@uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.
381
382
383@node AArch64 Mapping Symbols
384@section Mapping Symbols
385
386The AArch64 ELF specification requires that special symbols be inserted
387into object files to mark certain features:
388
389@table @code
390
391@cindex @code{$x}
392@item $x
393At the start of a region of code containing AArch64 instructions.
394
395@cindex @code{$d}
396@item $d
397At the start of a region of data.
398
399@end table
400