Add maintainers for RISC-V target.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gas / doc / c-arm.texi
CommitLineData
6f2750fe 1@c Copyright (C) 1996-2016 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
03b1477f 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
KT
125@code{cortex-a53},
126@code{cortex-a57},
127@code{cortex-a72},
362a3eba 128@code{cortex-a73},
62b3e311 129@code{cortex-r4},
307c948d 130@code{cortex-r4f},
70a8bc5b 131@code{cortex-r5},
132@code{cortex-r7},
5f474010 133@code{cortex-r8},
a715796b 134@code{cortex-m7},
7ef07ba0 135@code{cortex-m4},
62b3e311 136@code{cortex-m3},
5b19eaba
NC
137@code{cortex-m1},
138@code{cortex-m0},
ce32bd10 139@code{cortex-m0plus},
246496bb 140@code{exynos-m1},
ea0d6bb9
PT
141@code{marvell-pj4},
142@code{marvell-whitney},
2fe9c2a0 143@code{falkor},
6b21c2bf 144@code{qdf24xx},
ea0d6bb9
PT
145@code{xgene1},
146@code{xgene2},
03b1477f
RE
147@code{ep9312} (ARM920 with Cirrus Maverick coprocessor),
148@code{i80200} (Intel XScale processor)
e16bb312 149@code{iwmmxt} (Intel(r) XScale processor with Wireless MMX(tm) technology coprocessor)
03b1477f 150and
34bca508 151@code{xscale}.
03b1477f
RE
152The special name @code{all} may be used to allow the
153assembler to accept instructions valid for any ARM processor.
154
34bca508
L
155In addition to the basic instruction set, the assembler can be told to
156accept various extension mnemonics that extend the processor using the
03b1477f 157co-processor instruction space. For example, @code{-mcpu=arm920+maverick}
34bca508 158is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=ep9312}.
69133863 159
34bca508 160Multiple extensions may be specified, separated by a @code{+}. The
69133863
MGD
161extensions should be specified in ascending alphabetical order.
162
34bca508 163Some extensions may be restricted to particular architectures; this is
60e5ef9f
MGD
164documented in the list of extensions below.
165
34bca508
L
166Extension mnemonics may also be removed from those the assembler accepts.
167This is done be prepending @code{no} to the option that adds the extension.
168Extensions that are removed should be listed after all extensions which have
169been added, again in ascending alphabetical order. For example,
69133863
MGD
170@code{-mcpu=ep9312+nomaverick} is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=arm920}.
171
172
eea54501 173The following extensions are currently supported:
ea0d6bb9 174@code{crc}
bca38921
MGD
175@code{crypto} (Cryptography Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp+simd}),
176@code{fp} (Floating Point Extensions for v8-A architecture),
177@code{idiv} (Integer Divide Extensions for v7-A and v7-R architectures),
69133863
MGD
178@code{iwmmxt},
179@code{iwmmxt2},
ea0d6bb9 180@code{xscale},
69133863 181@code{maverick},
ea0d6bb9
PT
182@code{mp} (Multiprocessing Extensions for v7-A and v7-R
183architectures),
b2a5fbdc 184@code{os} (Operating System for v6M architecture),
f4c65163 185@code{sec} (Security Extensions for v6K and v7-A architectures),
bca38921 186@code{simd} (Advanced SIMD Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp}),
34bca508 187@code{virt} (Virtualization Extensions for v7-A architecture, implies
90ec0d68 188@code{idiv}),
d6b4b13e 189@code{pan} (Priviliged Access Never Extensions for v8-A architecture),
4d1464f2
MW
190@code{ras} (Reliability, Availability and Serviceability extensions
191for v8-A architecture),
d6b4b13e
MW
192@code{rdma} (ARMv8.1 Advanced SIMD extensions for v8-A architecture, implies
193@code{simd})
03b1477f 194and
69133863 195@code{xscale}.
03b1477f
RE
196
197@cindex @code{-march=} command line option, ARM
92081f48 198@item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
252b5132
RH
199This option specifies the target architecture. The assembler will issue
200an error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
34bca508
L
201will not execute on the target architecture. The following architecture
202names are recognized:
03b1477f
RE
203@code{armv1},
204@code{armv2},
205@code{armv2a},
206@code{armv2s},
207@code{armv3},
208@code{armv3m},
209@code{armv4},
210@code{armv4xm},
211@code{armv4t},
212@code{armv4txm},
213@code{armv5},
214@code{armv5t},
215@code{armv5txm},
216@code{armv5te},
09d92015 217@code{armv5texp},
c5f98204 218@code{armv6},
1ddd7f43 219@code{armv6j},
0dd132b6
NC
220@code{armv6k},
221@code{armv6z},
f33026a9 222@code{armv6kz},
b2a5fbdc
MGD
223@code{armv6-m},
224@code{armv6s-m},
62b3e311 225@code{armv7},
c450d570 226@code{armv7-a},
c9fb6e58 227@code{armv7ve},
c450d570
PB
228@code{armv7-r},
229@code{armv7-m},
9e3c6df6 230@code{armv7e-m},
bca38921 231@code{armv8-a},
a5932920 232@code{armv8.1-a},
56a1b672 233@code{armv8.2-a},
e16bb312 234@code{iwmmxt}
ea0d6bb9 235@code{iwmmxt2}
03b1477f
RE
236and
237@code{xscale}.
238If both @code{-mcpu} and
239@code{-march} are specified, the assembler will use
240the setting for @code{-mcpu}.
241
242The architecture option can be extended with the same instruction set
243extension options as the @code{-mcpu} option.
244
245@cindex @code{-mfpu=} command line option, ARM
246@item -mfpu=@var{floating-point-format}
247
248This option specifies the floating point format to assemble for. The
249assembler will issue an error message if an attempt is made to assemble
34bca508 250an instruction which will not execute on the target floating point unit.
03b1477f
RE
251The following format options are recognized:
252@code{softfpa},
253@code{fpe},
bc89618b
RE
254@code{fpe2},
255@code{fpe3},
03b1477f
RE
256@code{fpa},
257@code{fpa10},
258@code{fpa11},
259@code{arm7500fe},
260@code{softvfp},
261@code{softvfp+vfp},
262@code{vfp},
263@code{vfp10},
264@code{vfp10-r0},
265@code{vfp9},
266@code{vfpxd},
62f3b8c8
PB
267@code{vfpv2},
268@code{vfpv3},
269@code{vfpv3-fp16},
270@code{vfpv3-d16},
271@code{vfpv3-d16-fp16},
272@code{vfpv3xd},
273@code{vfpv3xd-d16},
274@code{vfpv4},
275@code{vfpv4-d16},
f0cd0667 276@code{fpv4-sp-d16},
a715796b
TG
277@code{fpv5-sp-d16},
278@code{fpv5-d16},
bca38921 279@code{fp-armv8},
09d92015
MM
280@code{arm1020t},
281@code{arm1020e},
b1cc4aeb 282@code{arm1136jf-s},
62f3b8c8
PB
283@code{maverick},
284@code{neon},
bca38921
MGD
285@code{neon-vfpv4},
286@code{neon-fp-armv8},
081e4c7d
MW
287@code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8},
288@code{neon-fp-armv8.1}
d6b4b13e 289and
081e4c7d 290@code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8.1}.
03b1477f
RE
291
292In addition to determining which instructions are assembled, this option
293also affects the way in which the @code{.double} assembler directive behaves
294when assembling little-endian code.
295
34bca508
L
296The default is dependent on the processor selected. For Architecture 5 or
297later, the default is to assembler for VFP instructions; for earlier
03b1477f 298architectures the default is to assemble for FPA instructions.
adcf07e6 299
252b5132
RH
300@cindex @code{-mthumb} command line option, ARM
301@item -mthumb
03b1477f 302This option specifies that the assembler should start assembling Thumb
34bca508 303instructions; that is, it should behave as though the file starts with a
03b1477f 304@code{.code 16} directive.
adcf07e6 305
252b5132
RH
306@cindex @code{-mthumb-interwork} command line option, ARM
307@item -mthumb-interwork
308This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
309be marked as supporting interworking.
adcf07e6 310
52970753
NC
311@cindex @code{-mimplicit-it} command line option, ARM
312@item -mimplicit-it=never
313@itemx -mimplicit-it=always
314@itemx -mimplicit-it=arm
315@itemx -mimplicit-it=thumb
316The @code{-mimplicit-it} option controls the behavior of the assembler when
317conditional instructions are not enclosed in IT blocks.
318There are four possible behaviors.
319If @code{never} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
320code and an error in Thumb-2 code.
321If @code{always} is specified, such constructs are accepted in both
322ARM and Thumb-2 code, where the IT instruction is added implicitly.
323If @code{arm} is specified, such constructs are accepted in ARM code
324and cause an error in Thumb-2 code.
325If @code{thumb} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
326code and are accepted in Thumb-2 code. If you omit this option, the
327behavior is equivalent to @code{-mimplicit-it=arm}.
e07e6e58 328
5a5829dd
NS
329@cindex @code{-mapcs-26} command line option, ARM
330@cindex @code{-mapcs-32} command line option, ARM
331@item -mapcs-26
332@itemx -mapcs-32
333These options specify that the output generated by the assembler should
252b5132
RH
334be marked as supporting the indicated version of the Arm Procedure.
335Calling Standard.
adcf07e6 336
077b8428
NC
337@cindex @code{-matpcs} command line option, ARM
338@item -matpcs
34bca508 339This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
077b8428
NC
340be marked as supporting the Arm/Thumb Procedure Calling Standard. If
341enabled this option will cause the assembler to create an empty
342debugging section in the object file called .arm.atpcs. Debuggers can
343use this to determine the ABI being used by.
344
adcf07e6 345@cindex @code{-mapcs-float} command line option, ARM
252b5132 346@item -mapcs-float
1be59579 347This indicates the floating point variant of the APCS should be
252b5132 348used. In this variant floating point arguments are passed in FP
550262c4 349registers rather than integer registers.
adcf07e6
NC
350
351@cindex @code{-mapcs-reentrant} command line option, ARM
252b5132
RH
352@item -mapcs-reentrant
353This indicates that the reentrant variant of the APCS should be used.
354This variant supports position independent code.
adcf07e6 355
33a392fb
PB
356@cindex @code{-mfloat-abi=} command line option, ARM
357@item -mfloat-abi=@var{abi}
358This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should be
359marked as using specified floating point ABI.
360The following values are recognized:
361@code{soft},
362@code{softfp}
363and
364@code{hard}.
365
d507cf36
PB
366@cindex @code{-eabi=} command line option, ARM
367@item -meabi=@var{ver}
368This option specifies which EABI version the produced object files should
369conform to.
b45619c0 370The following values are recognized:
3a4a14e9
PB
371@code{gnu},
372@code{4}
d507cf36 373and
3a4a14e9 374@code{5}.
d507cf36 375
252b5132
RH
376@cindex @code{-EB} command line option, ARM
377@item -EB
378This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
379be marked as being encoded for a big-endian processor.
adcf07e6 380
080bb7bb
NC
381Note: If a program is being built for a system with big-endian data
382and little-endian instructions then it should be assembled with the
383@option{-EB} option, (all of it, code and data) and then linked with
384the @option{--be8} option. This will reverse the endianness of the
385instructions back to little-endian, but leave the data as big-endian.
386
252b5132
RH
387@cindex @code{-EL} command line option, ARM
388@item -EL
389This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
390be marked as being encoded for a little-endian processor.
adcf07e6 391
252b5132
RH
392@cindex @code{-k} command line option, ARM
393@cindex PIC code generation for ARM
394@item -k
a349d9dd
PB
395This option specifies that the output of the assembler should be marked
396as position-independent code (PIC).
adcf07e6 397
845b51d6
PB
398@cindex @code{--fix-v4bx} command line option, ARM
399@item --fix-v4bx
400Allow @code{BX} instructions in ARMv4 code. This is intended for use with
401the linker option of the same name.
402
278df34e
NS
403@cindex @code{-mwarn-deprecated} command line option, ARM
404@item -mwarn-deprecated
405@itemx -mno-warn-deprecated
406Enable or disable warnings about using deprecated options or
407features. The default is to warn.
408
2e6976a8
DG
409@cindex @code{-mccs} command line option, ARM
410@item -mccs
411Turns on CodeComposer Studio assembly syntax compatibility mode.
412
8b2d793c
NC
413@cindex @code{-mwarn-syms} command line option, ARM
414@item -mwarn-syms
415@itemx -mno-warn-syms
416Enable or disable warnings about symbols that match the names of ARM
417instructions. The default is to warn.
418
252b5132
RH
419@end table
420
421
422@node ARM Syntax
423@section Syntax
424@menu
cab7e4d9 425* ARM-Instruction-Set:: Instruction Set
252b5132
RH
426* ARM-Chars:: Special Characters
427* ARM-Regs:: Register Names
b6895b4f 428* ARM-Relocations:: Relocations
99f1a7a7 429* ARM-Neon-Alignment:: NEON Alignment Specifiers
252b5132
RH
430@end menu
431
cab7e4d9
NC
432@node ARM-Instruction-Set
433@subsection Instruction Set Syntax
434Two slightly different syntaxes are support for ARM and THUMB
435instructions. The default, @code{divided}, uses the old style where
436ARM and THUMB instructions had their own, separate syntaxes. The new,
437@code{unified} syntax, which can be selected via the @code{.syntax}
438directive, and has the following main features:
439
9e6f3811
AS
440@itemize @bullet
441@item
cab7e4d9
NC
442Immediate operands do not require a @code{#} prefix.
443
9e6f3811 444@item
cab7e4d9
NC
445The @code{IT} instruction may appear, and if it does it is validated
446against subsequent conditional affixes. In ARM mode it does not
447generate machine code, in THUMB mode it does.
448
9e6f3811 449@item
cab7e4d9
NC
450For ARM instructions the conditional affixes always appear at the end
451of the instruction. For THUMB instructions conditional affixes can be
452used, but only inside the scope of an @code{IT} instruction.
453
9e6f3811 454@item
cab7e4d9
NC
455All of the instructions new to the V6T2 architecture (and later) are
456available. (Only a few such instructions can be written in the
457@code{divided} syntax).
458
9e6f3811 459@item
cab7e4d9
NC
460The @code{.N} and @code{.W} suffixes are recognized and honored.
461
9e6f3811 462@item
cab7e4d9
NC
463All instructions set the flags if and only if they have an @code{s}
464affix.
9e6f3811 465@end itemize
cab7e4d9 466
252b5132
RH
467@node ARM-Chars
468@subsection Special Characters
469
470@cindex line comment character, ARM
471@cindex ARM line comment character
7c31ae13
NC
472The presence of a @samp{@@} anywhere on a line indicates the start of
473a comment that extends to the end of that line.
474
475If a @samp{#} appears as the first character of a line then the whole
476line is treated as a comment, but in this case the line could also be
477a logical line number directive (@pxref{Comments}) or a preprocessor
478control command (@pxref{Preprocessing}).
550262c4
NC
479
480@cindex line separator, ARM
481@cindex statement separator, ARM
482@cindex ARM line separator
a349d9dd
PB
483The @samp{;} character can be used instead of a newline to separate
484statements.
550262c4
NC
485
486@cindex immediate character, ARM
487@cindex ARM immediate character
488Either @samp{#} or @samp{$} can be used to indicate immediate operands.
252b5132
RH
489
490@cindex identifiers, ARM
491@cindex ARM identifiers
492*TODO* Explain about /data modifier on symbols.
493
494@node ARM-Regs
495@subsection Register Names
496
497@cindex ARM register names
498@cindex register names, ARM
499*TODO* Explain about ARM register naming, and the predefined names.
500
b6895b4f
PB
501@node ARM-Relocations
502@subsection ARM relocation generation
503
504@cindex data relocations, ARM
505@cindex ARM data relocations
506Specific data relocations can be generated by putting the relocation name
507in parentheses after the symbol name. For example:
508
509@smallexample
510 .word foo(TARGET1)
511@end smallexample
512
513This will generate an @samp{R_ARM_TARGET1} relocation against the symbol
514@var{foo}.
515The following relocations are supported:
516@code{GOT},
517@code{GOTOFF},
518@code{TARGET1},
519@code{TARGET2},
520@code{SBREL},
521@code{TLSGD},
522@code{TLSLDM},
523@code{TLSLDO},
0855e32b
NS
524@code{TLSDESC},
525@code{TLSCALL},
b43420e6
NC
526@code{GOTTPOFF},
527@code{GOT_PREL}
b6895b4f
PB
528and
529@code{TPOFF}.
530
531For compatibility with older toolchains the assembler also accepts
3da1d841
NC
532@code{(PLT)} after branch targets. On legacy targets this will
533generate the deprecated @samp{R_ARM_PLT32} relocation. On EABI
534targets it will encode either the @samp{R_ARM_CALL} or
535@samp{R_ARM_JUMP24} relocation, as appropriate.
b6895b4f
PB
536
537@cindex MOVW and MOVT relocations, ARM
538Relocations for @samp{MOVW} and @samp{MOVT} instructions can be generated
539by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower16:} and @samp{#:upper16}
b45619c0 540respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
252b5132 541
b6895b4f
PB
542@smallexample
543 MOVW r0, #:lower16:foo
544 MOVT r0, #:upper16:foo
545@end smallexample
252b5132 546
72d98d16
MG
547Relocations @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G0_NC}, @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G1_NC},
548@samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G2_NC} and @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G3_NC} can be
549generated by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower0_7:#},
550@samp{#:lower8_15:#}, @samp{#:upper0_7:#} and @samp{#:upper8_15:#}
551respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
552
553@smallexample
554 MOVS r0, #:upper8_15:#foo
555 LSLS r0, r0, #8
556 ADDS r0, #:upper0_7:#foo
557 LSLS r0, r0, #8
558 ADDS r0, #:lower8_15:#foo
559 LSLS r0, r0, #8
560 ADDS r0, #:lower0_7:#foo
561@end smallexample
562
ba724cfc
NC
563@node ARM-Neon-Alignment
564@subsection NEON Alignment Specifiers
565
566@cindex alignment for NEON instructions
567Some NEON load/store instructions allow an optional address
568alignment qualifier.
569The ARM documentation specifies that this is indicated by
570@samp{@@ @var{align}}. However GAS already interprets
571the @samp{@@} character as a "line comment" start,
572so @samp{: @var{align}} is used instead. For example:
573
574@smallexample
575 vld1.8 @{q0@}, [r0, :128]
576@end smallexample
577
578@node ARM Floating Point
579@section Floating Point
580
581@cindex floating point, ARM (@sc{ieee})
582@cindex ARM floating point (@sc{ieee})
583The ARM family uses @sc{ieee} floating-point numbers.
584
252b5132
RH
585@node ARM Directives
586@section ARM Machine Directives
587
588@cindex machine directives, ARM
589@cindex ARM machine directives
590@table @code
591
4a6bc624
NS
592@c AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
593
594@cindex @code{.2byte} directive, ARM
595@cindex @code{.4byte} directive, ARM
596@cindex @code{.8byte} directive, ARM
597@item .2byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
598@itemx .4byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
599@itemx .8byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
600These directives write 2, 4 or 8 byte values to the output section.
601
602@cindex @code{.align} directive, ARM
adcf07e6
NC
603@item .align @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]
604This is the generic @var{.align} directive. For the ARM however if the
605first argument is zero (ie no alignment is needed) the assembler will
606behave as if the argument had been 2 (ie pad to the next four byte
062b7c0c 607boundary). This is for compatibility with ARM's own assembler.
adcf07e6 608
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NS
609@cindex @code{.arch} directive, ARM
610@item .arch @var{name}
611Select the target architecture. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
612for the @option{-march} commandline option.
252b5132 613
34bca508 614Specifying @code{.arch} clears any previously selected architecture
69133863
MGD
615extensions.
616
617@cindex @code{.arch_extension} directive, ARM
618@item .arch_extension @var{name}
34bca508
L
619Add or remove an architecture extension to the target architecture. Valid
620values for @var{name} are the same as those accepted as architectural
69133863
MGD
621extensions by the @option{-mcpu} commandline option.
622
623@code{.arch_extension} may be used multiple times to add or remove extensions
624incrementally to the architecture being compiled for.
625
4a6bc624
NS
626@cindex @code{.arm} directive, ARM
627@item .arm
628This performs the same action as @var{.code 32}.
252b5132 629
4a6bc624 630@c BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
0bbf2aa4 631
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NS
632@cindex @code{.bss} directive, ARM
633@item .bss
634This directive switches to the @code{.bss} section.
0bbf2aa4 635
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NS
636@c CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
637
638@cindex @code{.cantunwind} directive, ARM
639@item .cantunwind
640Prevents unwinding through the current function. No personality routine
641or exception table data is required or permitted.
642
643@cindex @code{.code} directive, ARM
644@item .code @code{[16|32]}
645This directive selects the instruction set being generated. The value 16
646selects Thumb, with the value 32 selecting ARM.
647
648@cindex @code{.cpu} directive, ARM
649@item .cpu @var{name}
650Select the target processor. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
651for the @option{-mcpu} commandline option.
652
34bca508 653Specifying @code{.cpu} clears any previously selected architecture
69133863
MGD
654extensions.
655
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NS
656@c DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
657
658@cindex @code{.dn} and @code{.qn} directives, ARM
f467aa98 659@item @var{name} .dn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
1f9bb1ca 660@itemx @var{name} .qn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
23753660
JB
661
662The @code{dn} and @code{qn} directives are used to create typed
663and/or indexed register aliases for use in Advanced SIMD Extension
664(Neon) instructions. The former should be used to create aliases
665of double-precision registers, and the latter to create aliases of
666quad-precision registers.
667
668If these directives are used to create typed aliases, those aliases can
669be used in Neon instructions instead of writing types after the mnemonic
670or after each operand. For example:
671
672@smallexample
673 x .dn d2.f32
674 y .dn d3.f32
675 z .dn d4.f32[1]
676 vmul x,y,z
677@end smallexample
678
679This is equivalent to writing the following:
680
681@smallexample
682 vmul.f32 d2,d3,d4[1]
683@end smallexample
684
685Aliases created using @code{dn} or @code{qn} can be destroyed using
686@code{unreq}.
687
4a6bc624 688@c EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
252b5132 689
4a6bc624
NS
690@cindex @code{.eabi_attribute} directive, ARM
691@item .eabi_attribute @var{tag}, @var{value}
692Set the EABI object attribute @var{tag} to @var{value}.
252b5132 693
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NS
694The @var{tag} is either an attribute number, or one of the following:
695@code{Tag_CPU_raw_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_arch},
696@code{Tag_CPU_arch_profile}, @code{Tag_ARM_ISA_use},
75375b3e 697@code{Tag_THUMB_ISA_use}, @code{Tag_FP_arch}, @code{Tag_WMMX_arch},
4a6bc624
NS
698@code{Tag_Advanced_SIMD_arch}, @code{Tag_PCS_config},
699@code{Tag_ABI_PCS_R9_use}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RW_data},
700@code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RO_data}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_GOT_use},
701@code{Tag_ABI_PCS_wchar_t}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_rounding},
702@code{Tag_ABI_FP_denormal}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_exceptions},
703@code{Tag_ABI_FP_user_exceptions}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_number_model},
75375b3e 704@code{Tag_ABI_align_needed}, @code{Tag_ABI_align_preserved},
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NS
705@code{Tag_ABI_enum_size}, @code{Tag_ABI_HardFP_use},
706@code{Tag_ABI_VFP_args}, @code{Tag_ABI_WMMX_args},
707@code{Tag_ABI_optimization_goals}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_optimization_goals},
708@code{Tag_compatibility}, @code{Tag_CPU_unaligned_access},
75375b3e 709@code{Tag_FP_HP_extension}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_16bit_format},
cd21e546 710@code{Tag_MPextension_use}, @code{Tag_DIV_use},
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NS
711@code{Tag_nodefaults}, @code{Tag_also_compatible_with},
712@code{Tag_conformance}, @code{Tag_T2EE_use},
cd21e546 713@code{Tag_Virtualization_use}
4a6bc624
NS
714
715The @var{value} is either a @code{number}, @code{"string"}, or
716@code{number, "string"} depending on the tag.
717
75375b3e 718Note - the following legacy values are also accepted by @var{tag}:
34bca508 719@code{Tag_VFP_arch}, @code{Tag_ABI_align8_needed},
75375b3e
MGD
720@code{Tag_ABI_align8_preserved}, @code{Tag_VFP_HP_extension},
721
4a6bc624
NS
722@cindex @code{.even} directive, ARM
723@item .even
724This directive aligns to an even-numbered address.
725
726@cindex @code{.extend} directive, ARM
727@cindex @code{.ldouble} directive, ARM
728@item .extend @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
729@itemx .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
730These directives write 12byte long double floating-point values to the
731output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
732or ABIs.
733
734@c FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
735
736@anchor{arm_fnend}
737@cindex @code{.fnend} directive, ARM
738@item .fnend
739Marks the end of a function with an unwind table entry. The unwind index
740table entry is created when this directive is processed.
252b5132 741
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NS
742If no personality routine has been specified then standard personality
743routine 0 or 1 will be used, depending on the number of unwind opcodes
744required.
745
746@anchor{arm_fnstart}
747@cindex @code{.fnstart} directive, ARM
748@item .fnstart
749Marks the start of a function with an unwind table entry.
750
751@cindex @code{.force_thumb} directive, ARM
252b5132
RH
752@item .force_thumb
753This directive forces the selection of Thumb instructions, even if the
754target processor does not support those instructions
755
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NS
756@cindex @code{.fpu} directive, ARM
757@item .fpu @var{name}
758Select the floating-point unit to assemble for. Valid values for @var{name}
759are the same as for the @option{-mfpu} commandline option.
252b5132 760
4a6bc624
NS
761@c GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
762@c HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
e1da3f5b 763
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NS
764@cindex @code{.handlerdata} directive, ARM
765@item .handlerdata
766Marks the end of the current function, and the start of the exception table
767entry for that function. Anything between this directive and the
768@code{.fnend} directive will be added to the exception table entry.
769
770Must be preceded by a @code{.personality} or @code{.personalityindex}
771directive.
772
773@c IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
c921be7d
NC
774
775@cindex @code{.inst} directive, ARM
776@item .inst @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1f9bb1ca
AS
777@itemx .inst.n @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
778@itemx .inst.w @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
c921be7d
NC
779Generates the instruction corresponding to the numerical value @var{opcode}.
780@code{.inst.n} and @code{.inst.w} allow the Thumb instruction size to be
781specified explicitly, overriding the normal encoding rules.
782
4a6bc624
NS
783@c JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
784@c KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
785@c LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
786
787@item .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
788See @code{.extend}.
5395a469 789
252b5132
RH
790@cindex @code{.ltorg} directive, ARM
791@item .ltorg
792This directive causes the current contents of the literal pool to be
793dumped into the current section (which is assumed to be the .text
794section) at the current location (aligned to a word boundary).
3d0c9500
NC
795@code{GAS} maintains a separate literal pool for each section and each
796sub-section. The @code{.ltorg} directive will only affect the literal
797pool of the current section and sub-section. At the end of assembly
798all remaining, un-empty literal pools will automatically be dumped.
799
800Note - older versions of @code{GAS} would dump the current literal
801pool any time a section change occurred. This is no longer done, since
802it prevents accurate control of the placement of literal pools.
252b5132 803
4a6bc624 804@c MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
252b5132 805
4a6bc624
NS
806@cindex @code{.movsp} directive, ARM
807@item .movsp @var{reg} [, #@var{offset}]
808Tell the unwinder that @var{reg} contains an offset from the current
809stack pointer. If @var{offset} is not specified then it is assumed to be
810zero.
7ed4c4c5 811
4a6bc624
NS
812@c NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
813@c OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
7ed4c4c5 814
4a6bc624
NS
815@cindex @code{.object_arch} directive, ARM
816@item .object_arch @var{name}
817Override the architecture recorded in the EABI object attribute section.
818Valid values for @var{name} are the same as for the @code{.arch} directive.
819Typically this is useful when code uses runtime detection of CPU features.
7ed4c4c5 820
4a6bc624
NS
821@c PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
822
823@cindex @code{.packed} directive, ARM
824@item .packed @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
825This directive writes 12-byte packed floating-point values to the
826output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
827or ABIs.
828
ea4cff4f 829@anchor{arm_pad}
4a6bc624
NS
830@cindex @code{.pad} directive, ARM
831@item .pad #@var{count}
832Generate unwinder annotations for a stack adjustment of @var{count} bytes.
833A positive value indicates the function prologue allocated stack space by
834decrementing the stack pointer.
7ed4c4c5
NC
835
836@cindex @code{.personality} directive, ARM
837@item .personality @var{name}
838Sets the personality routine for the current function to @var{name}.
839
840@cindex @code{.personalityindex} directive, ARM
841@item .personalityindex @var{index}
842Sets the personality routine for the current function to the EABI standard
843routine number @var{index}
844
4a6bc624
NS
845@cindex @code{.pool} directive, ARM
846@item .pool
847This is a synonym for .ltorg.
7ed4c4c5 848
4a6bc624
NS
849@c QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
850@c RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
851
852@cindex @code{.req} directive, ARM
853@item @var{name} .req @var{register name}
854This creates an alias for @var{register name} called @var{name}. For
855example:
856
857@smallexample
858 foo .req r0
859@end smallexample
860
861@c SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
7ed4c4c5 862
7da4f750 863@anchor{arm_save}
7ed4c4c5
NC
864@cindex @code{.save} directive, ARM
865@item .save @var{reglist}
866Generate unwinder annotations to restore the registers in @var{reglist}.
867The format of @var{reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
868instruction.
869
870@smallexample
871@exdent @emph{core registers}
872 .save @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
873 stmfd sp!, @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
874@exdent @emph{FPA registers}
875 .save f4, 2
876 sfmfd f4, 2, [sp]!
877@exdent @emph{VFP registers}
878 .save @{d8, d9, d10@}
fa073d69 879 fstmdx sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
7ed4c4c5
NC
880@exdent @emph{iWMMXt registers}
881 .save @{wr10, wr11@}
882 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
883 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
884or
885 .save wr11
886 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
887 .save wr10
888 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
889@end smallexample
890
7da4f750 891@anchor{arm_setfp}
7ed4c4c5
NC
892@cindex @code{.setfp} directive, ARM
893@item .setfp @var{fpreg}, @var{spreg} [, #@var{offset}]
4a6bc624 894Make all unwinder annotations relative to a frame pointer. Without this
7ed4c4c5
NC
895the unwinder will use offsets from the stack pointer.
896
a5b82cbe 897The syntax of this directive is the same as the @code{add} or @code{mov}
7ed4c4c5
NC
898instruction used to set the frame pointer. @var{spreg} must be either
899@code{sp} or mentioned in a previous @code{.movsp} directive.
900
901@smallexample
902.movsp ip
903mov ip, sp
904@dots{}
905.setfp fp, ip, #4
a5b82cbe 906add fp, ip, #4
7ed4c4c5
NC
907@end smallexample
908
4a6bc624
NS
909@cindex @code{.secrel32} directive, ARM
910@item .secrel32 @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
911This directive emits relocations that evaluate to the section-relative
912offset of each expression's symbol. This directive is only supported
913for PE targets.
914
cab7e4d9
NC
915@cindex @code{.syntax} directive, ARM
916@item .syntax [@code{unified} | @code{divided}]
917This directive sets the Instruction Set Syntax as described in the
918@ref{ARM-Instruction-Set} section.
919
4a6bc624
NS
920@c TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
921
922@cindex @code{.thumb} directive, ARM
923@item .thumb
924This performs the same action as @var{.code 16}.
925
926@cindex @code{.thumb_func} directive, ARM
927@item .thumb_func
928This directive specifies that the following symbol is the name of a
929Thumb encoded function. This information is necessary in order to allow
930the assembler and linker to generate correct code for interworking
931between Arm and Thumb instructions and should be used even if
932interworking is not going to be performed. The presence of this
933directive also implies @code{.thumb}
934
935This directive is not neccessary when generating EABI objects. On these
936targets the encoding is implicit when generating Thumb code.
937
938@cindex @code{.thumb_set} directive, ARM
939@item .thumb_set
940This performs the equivalent of a @code{.set} directive in that it
941creates a symbol which is an alias for another symbol (possibly not yet
942defined). This directive also has the added property in that it marks
943the aliased symbol as being a thumb function entry point, in the same
944way that the @code{.thumb_func} directive does.
945
0855e32b
NS
946@cindex @code{.tlsdescseq} directive, ARM
947@item .tlsdescseq @var{tls-variable}
948This directive is used to annotate parts of an inlined TLS descriptor
949trampoline. Normally the trampoline is provided by the linker, and
950this directive is not needed.
951
4a6bc624
NS
952@c UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
953
954@cindex @code{.unreq} directive, ARM
955@item .unreq @var{alias-name}
956This undefines a register alias which was previously defined using the
957@code{req}, @code{dn} or @code{qn} directives. For example:
958
959@smallexample
960 foo .req r0
961 .unreq foo
962@end smallexample
963
964An error occurs if the name is undefined. Note - this pseudo op can
965be used to delete builtin in register name aliases (eg 'r0'). This
966should only be done if it is really necessary.
967
7ed4c4c5 968@cindex @code{.unwind_raw} directive, ARM
4a6bc624 969@item .unwind_raw @var{offset}, @var{byte1}, @dots{}
7ed4c4c5
NC
970Insert one of more arbitary unwind opcode bytes, which are known to adjust
971the stack pointer by @var{offset} bytes.
972
973For example @code{.unwind_raw 4, 0xb1, 0x01} is equivalent to
974@code{.save @{r0@}}
975
4a6bc624 976@c VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
ee065d83 977
4a6bc624
NS
978@cindex @code{.vsave} directive, ARM
979@item .vsave @var{vfp-reglist}
980Generate unwinder annotations to restore the VFP registers in @var{vfp-reglist}
981using FLDMD. Also works for VFPv3 registers
982that are to be restored using VLDM.
983The format of @var{vfp-reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
984instruction.
ee065d83 985
4a6bc624
NS
986@smallexample
987@exdent @emph{VFP registers}
988 .vsave @{d8, d9, d10@}
989 fstmdd sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
990@exdent @emph{VFPv3 registers}
991 .vsave @{d15, d16, d17@}
992 vstm sp!, @{d15, d16, d17@}
993@end smallexample
e04befd0 994
4a6bc624
NS
995Since FLDMX and FSTMX are now deprecated, this directive should be
996used in favour of @code{.save} for saving VFP registers for ARMv6 and above.
e04befd0 997
4a6bc624
NS
998@c WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
999@c XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
1000@c YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
1001@c ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ee065d83 1002
252b5132
RH
1003@end table
1004
1005@node ARM Opcodes
1006@section Opcodes
1007
1008@cindex ARM opcodes
1009@cindex opcodes for ARM
49a5575c
NC
1010@code{@value{AS}} implements all the standard ARM opcodes. It also
1011implements several pseudo opcodes, including several synthetic load
34bca508 1012instructions.
252b5132 1013
49a5575c
NC
1014@table @code
1015
1016@cindex @code{NOP} pseudo op, ARM
1017@item NOP
1018@smallexample
1019 nop
1020@end smallexample
252b5132 1021
49a5575c
NC
1022This pseudo op will always evaluate to a legal ARM instruction that does
1023nothing. Currently it will evaluate to MOV r0, r0.
252b5132 1024
49a5575c 1025@cindex @code{LDR reg,=<label>} pseudo op, ARM
34bca508 1026@item LDR
252b5132
RH
1027@smallexample
1028 ldr <register> , = <expression>
1029@end smallexample
1030
1031If expression evaluates to a numeric constant then a MOV or MVN
1032instruction will be used in place of the LDR instruction, if the
1033constant can be generated by either of these instructions. Otherwise
1034the constant will be placed into the nearest literal pool (if it not
1035already there) and a PC relative LDR instruction will be generated.
1036
49a5575c
NC
1037@cindex @code{ADR reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1038@item ADR
1039@smallexample
1040 adr <register> <label>
1041@end smallexample
1042
1043This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
1044register. The instruction will evaluate to a PC relative ADD or SUB
1045instruction depending upon where the label is located. If the label is
1046out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file (and section) as
1047the ADR instruction, then an error will be generated. This instruction
1048will not make use of the literal pool.
1049
1050@cindex @code{ADRL reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
34bca508 1051@item ADRL
49a5575c
NC
1052@smallexample
1053 adrl <register> <label>
1054@end smallexample
1055
1056This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
a349d9dd 1057register. The instruction will evaluate to one or two PC relative ADD
49a5575c
NC
1058or SUB instructions depending upon where the label is located. If a
1059second instruction is not needed a NOP instruction will be generated in
1060its place, so that this instruction is always 8 bytes long.
1061
1062If the label is out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file
1063(and section) as the ADRL instruction, then an error will be generated.
1064This instruction will not make use of the literal pool.
1065
1066@end table
1067
252b5132
RH
1068For information on the ARM or Thumb instruction sets, see @cite{ARM
1069Software Development Toolkit Reference Manual}, Advanced RISC Machines
1070Ltd.
1071
6057a28f
NC
1072@node ARM Mapping Symbols
1073@section Mapping Symbols
1074
1075The ARM ELF specification requires that special symbols be inserted
1076into object files to mark certain features:
1077
1078@table @code
1079
1080@cindex @code{$a}
1081@item $a
1082At the start of a region of code containing ARM instructions.
1083
1084@cindex @code{$t}
1085@item $t
1086At the start of a region of code containing THUMB instructions.
1087
1088@cindex @code{$d}
1089@item $d
1090At the start of a region of data.
1091
1092@end table
1093
1094The assembler will automatically insert these symbols for you - there
1095is no need to code them yourself. Support for tagging symbols ($b,
1096$f, $p and $m) which is also mentioned in the current ARM ELF
1097specification is not implemented. This is because they have been
1098dropped from the new EABI and so tools cannot rely upon their
1099presence.
1100
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1101@node ARM Unwinding Tutorial
1102@section Unwinding
1103
1104The ABI for the ARM Architecture specifies a standard format for
1105exception unwind information. This information is used when an
1106exception is thrown to determine where control should be transferred.
1107In particular, the unwind information is used to determine which
1108function called the function that threw the exception, and which
1109function called that one, and so forth. This information is also used
1110to restore the values of callee-saved registers in the function
1111catching the exception.
1112
1113If you are writing functions in assembly code, and those functions
1114call other functions that throw exceptions, you must use assembly
1115pseudo ops to ensure that appropriate exception unwind information is
1116generated. Otherwise, if one of the functions called by your assembly
1117code throws an exception, the run-time library will be unable to
1118unwind the stack through your assembly code and your program will not
1119behave correctly.
1120
1121To illustrate the use of these pseudo ops, we will examine the code
1122that G++ generates for the following C++ input:
1123
1124@verbatim
1125void callee (int *);
1126
34bca508
L
1127int
1128caller ()
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1129{
1130 int i;
1131 callee (&i);
34bca508 1132 return i;
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1133}
1134@end verbatim
1135
1136This example does not show how to throw or catch an exception from
1137assembly code. That is a much more complex operation and should
1138always be done in a high-level language, such as C++, that directly
1139supports exceptions.
1140
1141The code generated by one particular version of G++ when compiling the
1142example above is:
1143
1144@verbatim
1145_Z6callerv:
1146 .fnstart
1147.LFB2:
1148 @ Function supports interworking.
1149 @ args = 0, pretend = 0, frame = 8
1150 @ frame_needed = 1, uses_anonymous_args = 0
1151 stmfd sp!, {fp, lr}
1152 .save {fp, lr}
1153.LCFI0:
1154 .setfp fp, sp, #4
1155 add fp, sp, #4
1156.LCFI1:
1157 .pad #8
1158 sub sp, sp, #8
1159.LCFI2:
1160 sub r3, fp, #8
1161 mov r0, r3
1162 bl _Z6calleePi
1163 ldr r3, [fp, #-8]
1164 mov r0, r3
1165 sub sp, fp, #4
1166 ldmfd sp!, {fp, lr}
1167 bx lr
1168.LFE2:
1169 .fnend
1170@end verbatim
1171
1172Of course, the sequence of instructions varies based on the options
1173you pass to GCC and on the version of GCC in use. The exact
1174instructions are not important since we are focusing on the pseudo ops
1175that are used to generate unwind information.
1176
1177An important assumption made by the unwinder is that the stack frame
1178does not change during the body of the function. In particular, since
1179we assume that the assembly code does not itself throw an exception,
1180the only point where an exception can be thrown is from a call, such
1181as the @code{bl} instruction above. At each call site, the same saved
1182registers (including @code{lr}, which indicates the return address)
1183must be located in the same locations relative to the frame pointer.
1184
1185The @code{.fnstart} (@pxref{arm_fnstart,,.fnstart pseudo op}) pseudo
1186op appears immediately before the first instruction of the function
1187while the @code{.fnend} (@pxref{arm_fnend,,.fnend pseudo op}) pseudo
1188op appears immediately after the last instruction of the function.
34bca508 1189These pseudo ops specify the range of the function.
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1190
1191Only the order of the other pseudos ops (e.g., @code{.setfp} or
1192@code{.pad}) matters; their exact locations are irrelevant. In the
1193example above, the compiler emits the pseudo ops with particular
1194instructions. That makes it easier to understand the code, but it is
1195not required for correctness. It would work just as well to emit all
1196of the pseudo ops other than @code{.fnend} in the same order, but
1197immediately after @code{.fnstart}.
1198
1199The @code{.save} (@pxref{arm_save,,.save pseudo op}) pseudo op
1200indicates registers that have been saved to the stack so that they can
1201be restored before the function returns. The argument to the
1202@code{.save} pseudo op is a list of registers to save. If a register
1203is ``callee-saved'' (as specified by the ABI) and is modified by the
1204function you are writing, then your code must save the value before it
1205is modified and restore the original value before the function
1206returns. If an exception is thrown, the run-time library restores the
1207values of these registers from their locations on the stack before
1208returning control to the exception handler. (Of course, if an
1209exception is not thrown, the function that contains the @code{.save}
1210pseudo op restores these registers in the function epilogue, as is
1211done with the @code{ldmfd} instruction above.)
1212
1213You do not have to save callee-saved registers at the very beginning
1214of the function and you do not need to use the @code{.save} pseudo op
1215immediately following the point at which the registers are saved.
1216However, if you modify a callee-saved register, you must save it on
1217the stack before modifying it and before calling any functions which
1218might throw an exception. And, you must use the @code{.save} pseudo
1219op to indicate that you have done so.
1220
1221The @code{.pad} (@pxref{arm_pad,,.pad}) pseudo op indicates a
1222modification of the stack pointer that does not save any registers.
1223The argument is the number of bytes (in decimal) that are subtracted
1224from the stack pointer. (On ARM CPUs, the stack grows downwards, so
1225subtracting from the stack pointer increases the size of the stack.)
1226
1227The @code{.setfp} (@pxref{arm_setfp,,.setfp pseudo op}) pseudo op
1228indicates the register that contains the frame pointer. The first
1229argument is the register that is set, which is typically @code{fp}.
1230The second argument indicates the register from which the frame
1231pointer takes its value. The third argument, if present, is the value
1232(in decimal) added to the register specified by the second argument to
1233compute the value of the frame pointer. You should not modify the
1234frame pointer in the body of the function.
1235
1236If you do not use a frame pointer, then you should not use the
1237@code{.setfp} pseudo op. If you do not use a frame pointer, then you
1238should avoid modifying the stack pointer outside of the function
1239prologue. Otherwise, the run-time library will be unable to find
1240saved registers when it is unwinding the stack.
1241
1242The pseudo ops described above are sufficient for writing assembly
1243code that calls functions which may throw exceptions. If you need to
1244know more about the object-file format used to represent unwind
1245information, you may consult the @cite{Exception Handling ABI for the
1246ARM Architecture} available from @uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.
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