1 @c Copyright (C) 1996-2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
2 @c This is part of the GAS manual.
3 @c For copying conditions, see the file as.texinfo.
8 @chapter ARM Dependent Features
12 @node Machine Dependencies
13 @chapter ARM Dependent Features
19 * ARM Options:: Options
21 * ARM Floating Point:: Floating Point
22 * ARM Directives:: ARM Machine Directives
23 * ARM Opcodes:: Opcodes
24 * ARM Mapping Symbols:: Mapping Symbols
25 * ARM Unwinding Tutorial:: Unwinding
30 @cindex ARM options (none)
31 @cindex options for ARM (none)
35 @cindex @code{-mcpu=} command-line option, ARM
36 @item -mcpu=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
37 This option specifies the target processor. The assembler will issue an
38 error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
39 will not execute on the target processor. The following processor names are
84 @code{fa526} (Faraday FA526 processor),
85 @code{fa626} (Faraday FA626 processor),
104 @code{fa606te} (Faraday FA606TE processor),
105 @code{fa616te} (Faraday FA616TE processor),
106 @code{fa626te} (Faraday FA626TE processor),
107 @code{fmp626} (Faraday FMP626 processor),
108 @code{fa726te} (Faraday FA726TE processor),
145 @code{cortex-r52plus},
154 @code{cortex-m0plus},
159 @code{marvell-whitney},
165 @code{ep9312} (ARM920 with Cirrus Maverick coprocessor),
166 @code{i80200} (Intel XScale processor)
167 @code{iwmmxt} (Intel XScale processor with Wireless MMX technology coprocessor)
170 The special name @code{all} may be used to allow the
171 assembler to accept instructions valid for any ARM processor.
173 In addition to the basic instruction set, the assembler can be told to
174 accept various extension mnemonics that extend the processor using the
175 co-processor instruction space. For example, @code{-mcpu=arm920+maverick}
176 is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=ep9312}.
178 Multiple extensions may be specified, separated by a @code{+}. The
179 extensions should be specified in ascending alphabetical order.
181 Some extensions may be restricted to particular architectures; this is
182 documented in the list of extensions below.
184 Extension mnemonics may also be removed from those the assembler accepts.
185 This is done be prepending @code{no} to the option that adds the extension.
186 Extensions that are removed should be listed after all extensions which have
187 been added, again in ascending alphabetical order. For example,
188 @code{-mcpu=ep9312+nomaverick} is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=arm920}.
191 The following extensions are currently supported:
192 @code{bf16} (BFloat16 extensions for v8.6-A architecture),
193 @code{i8mm} (Int8 Matrix Multiply extensions for v8.6-A architecture),
195 @code{crypto} (Cryptography Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp+simd}),
196 @code{dotprod} (Dot Product Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp+simd}),
197 @code{fp} (Floating Point Extensions for v8-A architecture),
198 @code{fp16} (FP16 Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp}),
199 @code{fp16fml} (FP16 Floating Point Multiplication Variant Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp16}),
200 @code{idiv} (Integer Divide Extensions for v7-A and v7-R architectures),
205 @code{mp} (Multiprocessing Extensions for v7-A and v7-R
207 @code{os} (Operating System for v6M architecture),
208 @code{predres} (Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction for
209 v8-A architectures, added by default from v8.5-A),
210 @code{sb} (Speculation Barrier Instruction for v8-A architectures, added by
211 default from v8.5-A),
212 @code{sec} (Security Extensions for v6K and v7-A architectures),
213 @code{simd} (Advanced SIMD Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp}),
214 @code{virt} (Virtualization Extensions for v7-A architecture, implies
216 @code{pan} (Privileged Access Never Extensions for v8-A architecture),
217 @code{ras} (Reliability, Availability and Serviceability extensions
218 for v8-A architecture),
219 @code{rdma} (ARMv8.1 Advanced SIMD extensions for v8-A architecture, implies
224 @cindex @code{-march=} command-line option, ARM
225 @item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
226 This option specifies the target architecture. The assembler will issue
227 an error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
228 will not execute on the target architecture. The following architecture
229 names are recognized:
267 @code{armv8.1-m.main},
282 If both @code{-mcpu} and
283 @code{-march} are specified, the assembler will use
284 the setting for @code{-mcpu}.
286 The architecture option can be extended with a set extension options. These
287 extensions are context sensitive, i.e. the same extension may mean different
288 things when used with different architectures. When used together with a
289 @code{-mfpu} option, the union of both feature enablement is taken.
290 See their availability and meaning below:
292 For @code{armv5te}, @code{armv5texp}, @code{armv5tej}, @code{armv6}, @code{armv6j}, @code{armv6k}, @code{armv6z}, @code{armv6kz}, @code{armv6zk}, @code{armv6t2}, @code{armv6kt2} and @code{armv6zt2}:
295 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv2 instructions.
296 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instrunctions.
302 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
303 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
309 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
310 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
311 @item @code{+vfpv3}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
312 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point
313 conversion instructions and 16 double-word registers.
314 @item @code{+vfpv3-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point conversion
315 instructions and 32 double-word registers.
316 @item @code{+vfpv4-d16}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
317 @item @code{+vfpv4}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
318 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFPv3 and NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word
320 @item @code{+neon}: Alias for @code{+simd}.
321 @item @code{+neon-vfpv3}: Alias for @code{+simd}.
322 @item @code{+neon-fp16}: Enables VFPv3, half precision floating-point conversion and
323 NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
324 @item @code{+neon-vfpv4}: Enables VFPv4 and NEONv1 with Fused-MAC instructions and 32
325 double-word registers.
326 @item @code{+mp}: Enables Multiprocessing Extensions.
327 @item @code{+sec}: Enables Security Extensions.
328 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU and NEON instructions.
329 @item @code{+nosimd}: Disables all NEON instructions.
335 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
336 @item @code{+vfpv4-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
337 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
338 @item @code{+vfpv3}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
339 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point
340 conversion instructions and 16 double-word registers.
341 @item @code{+vfpv3-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point conversion
342 instructions and 32 double-word registers.
343 @item @code{+vfpv4}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
344 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFPv4 and NEONv1 with Fused-MAC instructions and 32
345 double-word registers.
346 @item @code{+neon-vfpv4}: Alias for @code{+simd}.
347 @item @code{+neon}: Enables VFPv3 and NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word
349 @item @code{+neon-vfpv3}: Alias for @code{+neon}.
350 @item @code{+neon-fp16}: Enables VFPv3, half precision floating-point conversion and
351 NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
352 double-word registers.
353 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU and NEON instructions.
354 @item @code{+nosimd}: Disables all NEON instructions.
360 @item @code{+fp.sp}: Enables single-precision only VFPv3 instructions with 16
361 double-word registers.
362 @item @code{+vfpv3xd}: Alias for @code{+fp.sp}.
363 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
364 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
365 @item @code{+vfpv3xd-fp16}: Enables single-precision only VFPv3 and half
366 floating-point conversion instructions with 16 double-word registers.
367 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 and half precision floating-point
368 conversion instructions with 16 double-word registers.
369 @item @code{+idiv}: Enables integer division instructions in ARM mode.
370 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
376 @item @code{+fp}: Enables single-precision only VFPv4 instructions with 16
377 double-word registers.
378 @item @code{+vfpvf4-sp-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
379 @item @code{+fpv5}: Enables single-precision only VFPv5 instructions with 16
380 double-word registers.
381 @item @code{+fp.dp}: Enables VFPv5 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
382 @item @code{+fpv5-d16"}: Alias for @code{+fp.dp}.
383 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
386 For @code{armv8-m.main}:
389 @item @code{+dsp}: Enables DSP Extension.
390 @item @code{+fp}: Enables single-precision only VFPv5 instructions with 16
391 double-word registers.
392 @item @code{+fp.dp}: Enables VFPv5 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
393 @item @code{+cdecp0} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 0),
394 @item @code{+cdecp1} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 1),
395 @item @code{+cdecp2} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 2),
396 @item @code{+cdecp3} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 3),
397 @item @code{+cdecp4} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 4),
398 @item @code{+cdecp5} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 5),
399 @item @code{+cdecp6} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 6),
400 @item @code{+cdecp7} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 7),
401 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
402 @item @code{+nodsp}: Disables DSP Extension.
405 For @code{armv8.1-m.main}:
408 @item @code{+dsp}: Enables DSP Extension.
409 @item @code{+fp}: Enables single and half precision scalar Floating Point Extensions
410 for Armv8.1-M Mainline with 16 double-word registers.
411 @item @code{+fp.dp}: Enables double precision scalar Floating Point Extensions for
412 Armv8.1-M Mainline, implies @code{+fp}.
413 @item @code{+mve}: Enables integer only M-profile Vector Extension for
414 Armv8.1-M Mainline, implies @code{+dsp}.
415 @item @code{+mve.fp}: Enables Floating Point M-profile Vector Extension for
416 Armv8.1-M Mainline, implies @code{+mve} and @code{+fp}.
417 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
418 @item @code{+nodsp}: Disables DSP Extension.
419 @item @code{+nomve}: Disables all M-profile Vector Extensions.
425 @item @code{+crc}: Enables CRC32 Extension.
426 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8-A.
427 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
428 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
429 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
431 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON and Cryptography Extensions.
432 @item @code{+nocrypto}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
435 For @code{armv8.1-a}:
438 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A.
439 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
440 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
441 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
443 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON and Cryptography Extensions.
444 @item @code{+nocrypto}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
447 For @code{armv8.2-a} and @code{armv8.3-a}:
450 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A.
451 @item @code{+fp16}: Enables FP16 Extension for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
452 @item @code{+fp16fml}: Enables FP16 Floating Point Multiplication Variant Extensions
453 for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+fp16}.
454 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
455 @item @code{+dotprod}: Enables Dot Product Extensions for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
456 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
457 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
459 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON, Cryptography and Dot Product Extensions.
460 @item @code{+nocrypto}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
463 For @code{armv8.4-a}:
466 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A and Dot Product Extensions for
468 @item @code{+fp16}: Enables FP16 Floating Point and Floating Point Multiplication
469 Variant Extensions for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
470 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
471 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
472 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
474 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON, Cryptography and Dot Product Extensions.
475 @item @code{+nocryptp}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
478 For @code{armv8.5-a}:
481 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A and Dot Product Extensions for
483 @item @code{+fp16}: Enables FP16 Floating Point and Floating Point Multiplication
484 Variant Extensions for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
485 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
486 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON, Cryptography and Dot Product Extensions.
487 @item @code{+nocryptp}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
490 @cindex @code{-mfpu=} command-line option, ARM
491 @item -mfpu=@var{floating-point-format}
493 This option specifies the floating point format to assemble for. The
494 assembler will issue an error message if an attempt is made to assemble
495 an instruction which will not execute on the target floating point unit.
496 The following format options are recognized:
516 @code{vfpv3-d16-fp16},
533 @code{neon-fp-armv8},
534 @code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8},
535 @code{neon-fp-armv8.1}
537 @code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8.1}.
539 In addition to determining which instructions are assembled, this option
540 also affects the way in which the @code{.double} assembler directive behaves
541 when assembling little-endian code.
543 The default is dependent on the processor selected. For Architecture 5 or
544 later, the default is to assemble for VFP instructions; for earlier
545 architectures the default is to assemble for FPA instructions.
547 @cindex @code{-mfp16-format=} command-line option
548 @item -mfp16-format=@var{format}
549 This option specifies the half-precision floating point format to use
550 when assembling floating point numbers emitted by the @code{.float16}
552 The following format options are recognized:
555 If @code{ieee} is specified then the IEEE 754-2008 half-precision floating
556 point format is used, if @code{alternative} is specified then the Arm
557 alternative half-precision format is used. If this option is set on the
558 command line then the format is fixed and cannot be changed with
559 the @code{float16_format} directive. If this value is not set then
560 the IEEE 754-2008 format is used until the format is explicitly set with
561 the @code{float16_format} directive.
563 @cindex @code{-mthumb} command-line option, ARM
565 This option specifies that the assembler should start assembling Thumb
566 instructions; that is, it should behave as though the file starts with a
567 @code{.code 16} directive.
569 @cindex @code{-mthumb-interwork} command-line option, ARM
570 @item -mthumb-interwork
571 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
572 be marked as supporting interworking. It also affects the behaviour
573 of the @code{ADR} and @code{ADRL} pseudo opcodes.
575 @cindex @code{-mimplicit-it} command-line option, ARM
576 @item -mimplicit-it=never
577 @itemx -mimplicit-it=always
578 @itemx -mimplicit-it=arm
579 @itemx -mimplicit-it=thumb
580 The @code{-mimplicit-it} option controls the behavior of the assembler when
581 conditional instructions are not enclosed in IT blocks.
582 There are four possible behaviors.
583 If @code{never} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
584 code and an error in Thumb-2 code.
585 If @code{always} is specified, such constructs are accepted in both
586 ARM and Thumb-2 code, where the IT instruction is added implicitly.
587 If @code{arm} is specified, such constructs are accepted in ARM code
588 and cause an error in Thumb-2 code.
589 If @code{thumb} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
590 code and are accepted in Thumb-2 code. If you omit this option, the
591 behavior is equivalent to @code{-mimplicit-it=arm}.
593 @cindex @code{-mapcs-26} command-line option, ARM
594 @cindex @code{-mapcs-32} command-line option, ARM
597 These options specify that the output generated by the assembler should
598 be marked as supporting the indicated version of the Arm Procedure.
601 @cindex @code{-matpcs} command-line option, ARM
603 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
604 be marked as supporting the Arm/Thumb Procedure Calling Standard. If
605 enabled this option will cause the assembler to create an empty
606 debugging section in the object file called .arm.atpcs. Debuggers can
607 use this to determine the ABI being used by.
609 @cindex @code{-mapcs-float} command-line option, ARM
611 This indicates the floating point variant of the APCS should be
612 used. In this variant floating point arguments are passed in FP
613 registers rather than integer registers.
615 @cindex @code{-mapcs-reentrant} command-line option, ARM
616 @item -mapcs-reentrant
617 This indicates that the reentrant variant of the APCS should be used.
618 This variant supports position independent code.
620 @cindex @code{-mfloat-abi=} command-line option, ARM
621 @item -mfloat-abi=@var{abi}
622 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should be
623 marked as using specified floating point ABI.
624 The following values are recognized:
630 @cindex @code{-eabi=} command-line option, ARM
631 @item -meabi=@var{ver}
632 This option specifies which EABI version the produced object files should
634 The following values are recognized:
640 @cindex @code{-EB} command-line option, ARM
642 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
643 be marked as being encoded for a big-endian processor.
645 Note: If a program is being built for a system with big-endian data
646 and little-endian instructions then it should be assembled with the
647 @option{-EB} option, (all of it, code and data) and then linked with
648 the @option{--be8} option. This will reverse the endianness of the
649 instructions back to little-endian, but leave the data as big-endian.
651 @cindex @code{-EL} command-line option, ARM
653 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
654 be marked as being encoded for a little-endian processor.
656 @cindex @code{-k} command-line option, ARM
657 @cindex PIC code generation for ARM
659 This option specifies that the output of the assembler should be marked
660 as position-independent code (PIC).
662 @cindex @code{--fix-v4bx} command-line option, ARM
664 Allow @code{BX} instructions in ARMv4 code. This is intended for use with
665 the linker option of the same name.
667 @cindex @code{-mwarn-deprecated} command-line option, ARM
668 @item -mwarn-deprecated
669 @itemx -mno-warn-deprecated
670 Enable or disable warnings about using deprecated options or
671 features. The default is to warn.
673 @cindex @code{-mccs} command-line option, ARM
675 Turns on CodeComposer Studio assembly syntax compatibility mode.
677 @cindex @code{-mwarn-syms} command-line option, ARM
679 @itemx -mno-warn-syms
680 Enable or disable warnings about symbols that match the names of ARM
681 instructions. The default is to warn.
689 * ARM-Instruction-Set:: Instruction Set
690 * ARM-Chars:: Special Characters
691 * ARM-Regs:: Register Names
692 * ARM-Relocations:: Relocations
693 * ARM-Neon-Alignment:: NEON Alignment Specifiers
696 @node ARM-Instruction-Set
697 @subsection Instruction Set Syntax
698 Two slightly different syntaxes are support for ARM and THUMB
699 instructions. The default, @code{divided}, uses the old style where
700 ARM and THUMB instructions had their own, separate syntaxes. The new,
701 @code{unified} syntax, which can be selected via the @code{.syntax}
702 directive, and has the following main features:
706 Immediate operands do not require a @code{#} prefix.
709 The @code{IT} instruction may appear, and if it does it is validated
710 against subsequent conditional affixes. In ARM mode it does not
711 generate machine code, in THUMB mode it does.
714 For ARM instructions the conditional affixes always appear at the end
715 of the instruction. For THUMB instructions conditional affixes can be
716 used, but only inside the scope of an @code{IT} instruction.
719 All of the instructions new to the V6T2 architecture (and later) are
720 available. (Only a few such instructions can be written in the
721 @code{divided} syntax).
724 The @code{.N} and @code{.W} suffixes are recognized and honored.
727 All instructions set the flags if and only if they have an @code{s}
732 @subsection Special Characters
734 @cindex line comment character, ARM
735 @cindex ARM line comment character
736 The presence of a @samp{@@} anywhere on a line indicates the start of
737 a comment that extends to the end of that line.
739 If a @samp{#} appears as the first character of a line then the whole
740 line is treated as a comment, but in this case the line could also be
741 a logical line number directive (@pxref{Comments}) or a preprocessor
742 control command (@pxref{Preprocessing}).
744 @cindex line separator, ARM
745 @cindex statement separator, ARM
746 @cindex ARM line separator
747 The @samp{;} character can be used instead of a newline to separate
750 @cindex immediate character, ARM
751 @cindex ARM immediate character
752 Either @samp{#} or @samp{$} can be used to indicate immediate operands.
754 @cindex identifiers, ARM
755 @cindex ARM identifiers
756 *TODO* Explain about /data modifier on symbols.
759 @subsection Register Names
761 @cindex ARM register names
762 @cindex register names, ARM
763 *TODO* Explain about ARM register naming, and the predefined names.
765 @node ARM-Relocations
766 @subsection ARM relocation generation
768 @cindex data relocations, ARM
769 @cindex ARM data relocations
770 Specific data relocations can be generated by putting the relocation name
771 in parentheses after the symbol name. For example:
777 This will generate an @samp{R_ARM_TARGET1} relocation against the symbol
779 The following relocations are supported:
795 For compatibility with older toolchains the assembler also accepts
796 @code{(PLT)} after branch targets. On legacy targets this will
797 generate the deprecated @samp{R_ARM_PLT32} relocation. On EABI
798 targets it will encode either the @samp{R_ARM_CALL} or
799 @samp{R_ARM_JUMP24} relocation, as appropriate.
801 @cindex MOVW and MOVT relocations, ARM
802 Relocations for @samp{MOVW} and @samp{MOVT} instructions can be generated
803 by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower16:} and @samp{#:upper16}
804 respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
807 MOVW r0, #:lower16:foo
808 MOVT r0, #:upper16:foo
811 Relocations @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G0_NC}, @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G1_NC},
812 @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G2_NC} and @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G3_NC} can be
813 generated by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower0_7:#},
814 @samp{#:lower8_15:#}, @samp{#:upper0_7:#} and @samp{#:upper8_15:#}
815 respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
818 MOVS r0, #:upper8_15:#foo
820 ADDS r0, #:upper0_7:#foo
822 ADDS r0, #:lower8_15:#foo
824 ADDS r0, #:lower0_7:#foo
827 @node ARM-Neon-Alignment
828 @subsection NEON Alignment Specifiers
830 @cindex alignment for NEON instructions
831 Some NEON load/store instructions allow an optional address
833 The ARM documentation specifies that this is indicated by
834 @samp{@@ @var{align}}. However GAS already interprets
835 the @samp{@@} character as a "line comment" start,
836 so @samp{: @var{align}} is used instead. For example:
839 vld1.8 @{q0@}, [r0, :128]
842 @node ARM Floating Point
843 @section Floating Point
845 @cindex floating point, ARM (@sc{ieee})
846 @cindex ARM floating point (@sc{ieee})
847 The ARM family uses @sc{ieee} floating-point numbers.
850 @section ARM Machine Directives
852 @cindex machine directives, ARM
853 @cindex ARM machine directives
856 @c AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
859 @cindex @code{.2byte} directive, ARM
860 @cindex @code{.4byte} directive, ARM
861 @cindex @code{.8byte} directive, ARM
862 @item .2byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
863 @itemx .4byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
864 @itemx .8byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
865 These directives write 2, 4 or 8 byte values to the output section.
868 @cindex @code{.align} directive, ARM
869 @item .align @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]
870 This is the generic @var{.align} directive. For the ARM however if the
871 first argument is zero (ie no alignment is needed) the assembler will
872 behave as if the argument had been 2 (ie pad to the next four byte
873 boundary). This is for compatibility with ARM's own assembler.
875 @cindex @code{.arch} directive, ARM
876 @item .arch @var{name}
877 Select the target architecture. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
878 for the @option{-march} command-line option without the instruction set
881 Specifying @code{.arch} clears any previously selected architecture
884 @cindex @code{.arch_extension} directive, ARM
885 @item .arch_extension @var{name}
886 Add or remove an architecture extension to the target architecture. Valid
887 values for @var{name} are the same as those accepted as architectural
888 extensions by the @option{-mcpu} and @option{-march} command-line options.
890 @code{.arch_extension} may be used multiple times to add or remove extensions
891 incrementally to the architecture being compiled for.
893 @cindex @code{.arm} directive, ARM
895 This performs the same action as @var{.code 32}.
897 @c BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
898 @c CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
900 @cindex @code{.cantunwind} directive, ARM
902 Prevents unwinding through the current function. No personality routine
903 or exception table data is required or permitted.
905 @cindex @code{.code} directive, ARM
906 @item .code @code{[16|32]}
907 This directive selects the instruction set being generated. The value 16
908 selects Thumb, with the value 32 selecting ARM.
910 @cindex @code{.cpu} directive, ARM
911 @item .cpu @var{name}
912 Select the target processor. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
913 for the @option{-mcpu} command-line option without the instruction set
916 Specifying @code{.cpu} clears any previously selected architecture
919 @c DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
921 @cindex @code{.dn} and @code{.qn} directives, ARM
922 @item @var{name} .dn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
923 @itemx @var{name} .qn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
925 The @code{dn} and @code{qn} directives are used to create typed
926 and/or indexed register aliases for use in Advanced SIMD Extension
927 (Neon) instructions. The former should be used to create aliases
928 of double-precision registers, and the latter to create aliases of
929 quad-precision registers.
931 If these directives are used to create typed aliases, those aliases can
932 be used in Neon instructions instead of writing types after the mnemonic
933 or after each operand. For example:
942 This is equivalent to writing the following:
948 Aliases created using @code{dn} or @code{qn} can be destroyed using
951 @c EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
953 @cindex @code{.eabi_attribute} directive, ARM
954 @item .eabi_attribute @var{tag}, @var{value}
955 Set the EABI object attribute @var{tag} to @var{value}.
957 The @var{tag} is either an attribute number, or one of the following:
958 @code{Tag_CPU_raw_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_arch},
959 @code{Tag_CPU_arch_profile}, @code{Tag_ARM_ISA_use},
960 @code{Tag_THUMB_ISA_use}, @code{Tag_FP_arch}, @code{Tag_WMMX_arch},
961 @code{Tag_Advanced_SIMD_arch}, @code{Tag_MVE_arch}, @code{Tag_PCS_config},
962 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_R9_use}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RW_data},
963 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RO_data}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_GOT_use},
964 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_wchar_t}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_rounding},
965 @code{Tag_ABI_FP_denormal}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_exceptions},
966 @code{Tag_ABI_FP_user_exceptions}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_number_model},
967 @code{Tag_ABI_align_needed}, @code{Tag_ABI_align_preserved},
968 @code{Tag_ABI_enum_size}, @code{Tag_ABI_HardFP_use},
969 @code{Tag_ABI_VFP_args}, @code{Tag_ABI_WMMX_args},
970 @code{Tag_ABI_optimization_goals}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_optimization_goals},
971 @code{Tag_compatibility}, @code{Tag_CPU_unaligned_access},
972 @code{Tag_FP_HP_extension}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_16bit_format},
973 @code{Tag_MPextension_use}, @code{Tag_DIV_use},
974 @code{Tag_nodefaults}, @code{Tag_also_compatible_with},
975 @code{Tag_conformance}, @code{Tag_T2EE_use},
976 @code{Tag_Virtualization_use}
978 The @var{value} is either a @code{number}, @code{"string"}, or
979 @code{number, "string"} depending on the tag.
981 Note - the following legacy values are also accepted by @var{tag}:
982 @code{Tag_VFP_arch}, @code{Tag_ABI_align8_needed},
983 @code{Tag_ABI_align8_preserved}, @code{Tag_VFP_HP_extension},
985 @cindex @code{.even} directive, ARM
987 This directive aligns to an even-numbered address.
989 @cindex @code{.extend} directive, ARM
990 @cindex @code{.ldouble} directive, ARM
991 @item .extend @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
992 @itemx .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
993 These directives write 12byte long double floating-point values to the
994 output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
997 @c FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
999 @cindex @code{.float16} directive, ARM
1000 @item .float16 @var{value [,...,value_n]}
1001 Place the half precision floating point representation of one or more
1002 floating-point values into the current section. The exact format of the
1003 encoding is specified by @code{.float16_format}. If the format has not
1004 been explicitly set yet (either via the @code{.float16_format} directive or
1005 the command line option) then the IEEE 754-2008 format is used.
1007 @cindex @code{.float16_format} directive, ARM
1008 @item .float16_format @var{format}
1009 Set the format to use when encoding float16 values emitted by
1010 the @code{.float16} directive.
1011 Once the format has been set it cannot be changed.
1012 @code{format} should be one of the following: @code{ieee} (encode in
1013 the IEEE 754-2008 half precision format) or @code{alternative} (encode in
1014 the Arm alternative half precision format).
1017 @cindex @code{.fnend} directive, ARM
1019 Marks the end of a function with an unwind table entry. The unwind index
1020 table entry is created when this directive is processed.
1022 If no personality routine has been specified then standard personality
1023 routine 0 or 1 will be used, depending on the number of unwind opcodes
1026 @anchor{arm_fnstart}
1027 @cindex @code{.fnstart} directive, ARM
1029 Marks the start of a function with an unwind table entry.
1031 @cindex @code{.force_thumb} directive, ARM
1033 This directive forces the selection of Thumb instructions, even if the
1034 target processor does not support those instructions
1036 @cindex @code{.fpu} directive, ARM
1037 @item .fpu @var{name}
1038 Select the floating-point unit to assemble for. Valid values for @var{name}
1039 are the same as for the @option{-mfpu} command-line option.
1041 @c GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
1042 @c HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
1044 @cindex @code{.handlerdata} directive, ARM
1046 Marks the end of the current function, and the start of the exception table
1047 entry for that function. Anything between this directive and the
1048 @code{.fnend} directive will be added to the exception table entry.
1050 Must be preceded by a @code{.personality} or @code{.personalityindex}
1053 @c IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
1055 @cindex @code{.inst} directive, ARM
1056 @item .inst @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1057 @itemx .inst.n @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1058 @itemx .inst.w @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1059 Generates the instruction corresponding to the numerical value @var{opcode}.
1060 @code{.inst.n} and @code{.inst.w} allow the Thumb instruction size to be
1061 specified explicitly, overriding the normal encoding rules.
1063 @c JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
1064 @c KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
1065 @c LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
1067 @item .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
1070 @cindex @code{.ltorg} directive, ARM
1072 This directive causes the current contents of the literal pool to be
1073 dumped into the current section (which is assumed to be the .text
1074 section) at the current location (aligned to a word boundary).
1075 @code{GAS} maintains a separate literal pool for each section and each
1076 sub-section. The @code{.ltorg} directive will only affect the literal
1077 pool of the current section and sub-section. At the end of assembly
1078 all remaining, un-empty literal pools will automatically be dumped.
1080 Note - older versions of @code{GAS} would dump the current literal
1081 pool any time a section change occurred. This is no longer done, since
1082 it prevents accurate control of the placement of literal pools.
1084 @c MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1086 @cindex @code{.movsp} directive, ARM
1087 @item .movsp @var{reg} [, #@var{offset}]
1088 Tell the unwinder that @var{reg} contains an offset from the current
1089 stack pointer. If @var{offset} is not specified then it is assumed to be
1092 @c NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
1093 @c OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
1095 @cindex @code{.object_arch} directive, ARM
1096 @item .object_arch @var{name}
1097 Override the architecture recorded in the EABI object attribute section.
1098 Valid values for @var{name} are the same as for the @code{.arch} directive.
1099 Typically this is useful when code uses runtime detection of CPU features.
1101 @c PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
1103 @cindex @code{.packed} directive, ARM
1104 @item .packed @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
1105 This directive writes 12-byte packed floating-point values to the
1106 output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
1109 @anchor{arm_pacspval}
1110 @cindex @code{.pacspval} directive, ARM
1112 Generate unwinder annotations to use effective vsp as modifier in PAC
1116 @cindex @code{.pad} directive, ARM
1117 @item .pad #@var{count}
1118 Generate unwinder annotations for a stack adjustment of @var{count} bytes.
1119 A positive value indicates the function prologue allocated stack space by
1120 decrementing the stack pointer.
1122 @cindex @code{.personality} directive, ARM
1123 @item .personality @var{name}
1124 Sets the personality routine for the current function to @var{name}.
1126 @cindex @code{.personalityindex} directive, ARM
1127 @item .personalityindex @var{index}
1128 Sets the personality routine for the current function to the EABI standard
1129 routine number @var{index}
1131 @cindex @code{.pool} directive, ARM
1133 This is a synonym for .ltorg.
1135 @c QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
1136 @c RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
1138 @cindex @code{.req} directive, ARM
1139 @item @var{name} .req @var{register name}
1140 This creates an alias for @var{register name} called @var{name}. For
1147 @c SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
1150 @cindex @code{.save} directive, ARM
1151 @item .save @var{reglist}
1152 Generate unwinder annotations to restore the registers in @var{reglist}.
1153 The format of @var{reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
1157 @exdent @emph{core registers}
1158 .save @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
1159 stmfd sp!, @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
1160 @exdent @emph{FPA registers}
1163 @exdent @emph{VFP registers}
1164 .save @{d8, d9, d10@}
1165 fstmdx sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
1166 @exdent @emph{iWMMXt registers}
1167 .save @{wr10, wr11@}
1168 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
1169 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
1172 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
1174 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
1178 @cindex @code{.setfp} directive, ARM
1179 @item .setfp @var{fpreg}, @var{spreg} [, #@var{offset}]
1180 Make all unwinder annotations relative to a frame pointer. Without this
1181 the unwinder will use offsets from the stack pointer.
1183 The syntax of this directive is the same as the @code{add} or @code{mov}
1184 instruction used to set the frame pointer. @var{spreg} must be either
1185 @code{sp} or mentioned in a previous @code{.movsp} directive.
1195 @cindex @code{.secrel32} directive, ARM
1196 @item .secrel32 @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
1197 This directive emits relocations that evaluate to the section-relative
1198 offset of each expression's symbol. This directive is only supported
1201 @cindex @code{.syntax} directive, ARM
1202 @item .syntax [@code{unified} | @code{divided}]
1203 This directive sets the Instruction Set Syntax as described in the
1204 @ref{ARM-Instruction-Set} section.
1206 @c TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
1208 @cindex @code{.thumb} directive, ARM
1210 This performs the same action as @var{.code 16}.
1212 @cindex @code{.thumb_func} directive, ARM
1214 This directive specifies that the following symbol is the name of a
1215 Thumb encoded function. This information is necessary in order to allow
1216 the assembler and linker to generate correct code for interworking
1217 between Arm and Thumb instructions and should be used even if
1218 interworking is not going to be performed. The presence of this
1219 directive also implies @code{.thumb}
1221 This directive is not necessary when generating EABI objects. On these
1222 targets the encoding is implicit when generating Thumb code.
1224 @cindex @code{.thumb_set} directive, ARM
1226 This performs the equivalent of a @code{.set} directive in that it
1227 creates a symbol which is an alias for another symbol (possibly not yet
1228 defined). This directive also has the added property in that it marks
1229 the aliased symbol as being a thumb function entry point, in the same
1230 way that the @code{.thumb_func} directive does.
1232 @cindex @code{.tlsdescseq} directive, ARM
1233 @item .tlsdescseq @var{tls-variable}
1234 This directive is used to annotate parts of an inlined TLS descriptor
1235 trampoline. Normally the trampoline is provided by the linker, and
1236 this directive is not needed.
1238 @c UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
1240 @cindex @code{.unreq} directive, ARM
1241 @item .unreq @var{alias-name}
1242 This undefines a register alias which was previously defined using the
1243 @code{req}, @code{dn} or @code{qn} directives. For example:
1250 An error occurs if the name is undefined. Note - this pseudo op can
1251 be used to delete builtin in register name aliases (eg 'r0'). This
1252 should only be done if it is really necessary.
1254 @cindex @code{.unwind_raw} directive, ARM
1255 @item .unwind_raw @var{offset}, @var{byte1}, @dots{}
1256 Insert one of more arbitrary unwind opcode bytes, which are known to adjust
1257 the stack pointer by @var{offset} bytes.
1259 For example @code{.unwind_raw 4, 0xb1, 0x01} is equivalent to
1262 @c VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
1264 @cindex @code{.vsave} directive, ARM
1265 @item .vsave @var{vfp-reglist}
1266 Generate unwinder annotations to restore the VFP registers in @var{vfp-reglist}
1267 using FLDMD. Also works for VFPv3 registers
1268 that are to be restored using VLDM.
1269 The format of @var{vfp-reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
1273 @exdent @emph{VFP registers}
1274 .vsave @{d8, d9, d10@}
1275 fstmdd sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
1276 @exdent @emph{VFPv3 registers}
1277 .vsave @{d15, d16, d17@}
1278 vstm sp!, @{d15, d16, d17@}
1281 Since FLDMX and FSTMX are now deprecated, this directive should be
1282 used in favour of @code{.save} for saving VFP registers for ARMv6 and above.
1284 @c WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
1285 @c XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
1286 @c YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
1287 @c ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
1295 @cindex opcodes for ARM
1296 @code{@value{AS}} implements all the standard ARM opcodes. It also
1297 implements several pseudo opcodes, including several synthetic load
1302 @cindex @code{NOP} pseudo op, ARM
1308 This pseudo op will always evaluate to a legal ARM instruction that does
1309 nothing. Currently it will evaluate to MOV r0, r0.
1311 @cindex @code{LDR reg,=<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1314 ldr <register> , = <expression>
1317 If expression evaluates to a numeric constant then a MOV or MVN
1318 instruction will be used in place of the LDR instruction, if the
1319 constant can be generated by either of these instructions. Otherwise
1320 the constant will be placed into the nearest literal pool (if it not
1321 already there) and a PC relative LDR instruction will be generated.
1323 @cindex @code{ADR reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1326 adr <register> <label>
1329 This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
1330 register. The instruction will evaluate to a PC relative ADD or SUB
1331 instruction depending upon where the label is located. If the label is
1332 out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file (and section) as
1333 the ADR instruction, then an error will be generated. This instruction
1334 will not make use of the literal pool.
1336 If @var{label} is a thumb function symbol, and thumb interworking has
1337 been enabled via the @option{-mthumb-interwork} option then the bottom
1338 bit of the value stored into @var{register} will be set. This allows
1339 the following sequence to work as expected:
1342 adr r0, thumb_function
1346 @cindex @code{ADRL reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1349 adrl <register> <label>
1352 This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
1353 register. The instruction will evaluate to one or two PC relative ADD
1354 or SUB instructions depending upon where the label is located. If a
1355 second instruction is not needed a NOP instruction will be generated in
1356 its place, so that this instruction is always 8 bytes long.
1358 If the label is out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file
1359 (and section) as the ADRL instruction, then an error will be generated.
1360 This instruction will not make use of the literal pool.
1362 If @var{label} is a thumb function symbol, and thumb interworking has
1363 been enabled via the @option{-mthumb-interwork} option then the bottom
1364 bit of the value stored into @var{register} will be set.
1368 For information on the ARM or Thumb instruction sets, see @cite{ARM
1369 Software Development Toolkit Reference Manual}, Advanced RISC Machines
1372 @node ARM Mapping Symbols
1373 @section Mapping Symbols
1375 The ARM ELF specification requires that special symbols be inserted
1376 into object files to mark certain features:
1382 At the start of a region of code containing ARM instructions.
1386 At the start of a region of code containing THUMB instructions.
1390 At the start of a region of data.
1394 The assembler will automatically insert these symbols for you - there
1395 is no need to code them yourself. Support for tagging symbols ($b,
1396 $f, $p and $m) which is also mentioned in the current ARM ELF
1397 specification is not implemented. This is because they have been
1398 dropped from the new EABI and so tools cannot rely upon their
1401 @node ARM Unwinding Tutorial
1404 The ABI for the ARM Architecture specifies a standard format for
1405 exception unwind information. This information is used when an
1406 exception is thrown to determine where control should be transferred.
1407 In particular, the unwind information is used to determine which
1408 function called the function that threw the exception, and which
1409 function called that one, and so forth. This information is also used
1410 to restore the values of callee-saved registers in the function
1411 catching the exception.
1413 If you are writing functions in assembly code, and those functions
1414 call other functions that throw exceptions, you must use assembly
1415 pseudo ops to ensure that appropriate exception unwind information is
1416 generated. Otherwise, if one of the functions called by your assembly
1417 code throws an exception, the run-time library will be unable to
1418 unwind the stack through your assembly code and your program will not
1421 To illustrate the use of these pseudo ops, we will examine the code
1422 that G++ generates for the following C++ input:
1425 void callee (int *);
1436 This example does not show how to throw or catch an exception from
1437 assembly code. That is a much more complex operation and should
1438 always be done in a high-level language, such as C++, that directly
1439 supports exceptions.
1441 The code generated by one particular version of G++ when compiling the
1448 @ Function supports interworking.
1449 @ args = 0, pretend = 0, frame = 8
1450 @ frame_needed = 1, uses_anonymous_args = 0
1472 Of course, the sequence of instructions varies based on the options
1473 you pass to GCC and on the version of GCC in use. The exact
1474 instructions are not important since we are focusing on the pseudo ops
1475 that are used to generate unwind information.
1477 An important assumption made by the unwinder is that the stack frame
1478 does not change during the body of the function. In particular, since
1479 we assume that the assembly code does not itself throw an exception,
1480 the only point where an exception can be thrown is from a call, such
1481 as the @code{bl} instruction above. At each call site, the same saved
1482 registers (including @code{lr}, which indicates the return address)
1483 must be located in the same locations relative to the frame pointer.
1485 The @code{.fnstart} (@pxref{arm_fnstart,,.fnstart pseudo op}) pseudo
1486 op appears immediately before the first instruction of the function
1487 while the @code{.fnend} (@pxref{arm_fnend,,.fnend pseudo op}) pseudo
1488 op appears immediately after the last instruction of the function.
1489 These pseudo ops specify the range of the function.
1491 Only the order of the other pseudos ops (e.g., @code{.setfp} or
1492 @code{.pad}) matters; their exact locations are irrelevant. In the
1493 example above, the compiler emits the pseudo ops with particular
1494 instructions. That makes it easier to understand the code, but it is
1495 not required for correctness. It would work just as well to emit all
1496 of the pseudo ops other than @code{.fnend} in the same order, but
1497 immediately after @code{.fnstart}.
1499 The @code{.save} (@pxref{arm_save,,.save pseudo op}) pseudo op
1500 indicates registers that have been saved to the stack so that they can
1501 be restored before the function returns. The argument to the
1502 @code{.save} pseudo op is a list of registers to save. If a register
1503 is ``callee-saved'' (as specified by the ABI) and is modified by the
1504 function you are writing, then your code must save the value before it
1505 is modified and restore the original value before the function
1506 returns. If an exception is thrown, the run-time library restores the
1507 values of these registers from their locations on the stack before
1508 returning control to the exception handler. (Of course, if an
1509 exception is not thrown, the function that contains the @code{.save}
1510 pseudo op restores these registers in the function epilogue, as is
1511 done with the @code{ldmfd} instruction above.)
1513 You do not have to save callee-saved registers at the very beginning
1514 of the function and you do not need to use the @code{.save} pseudo op
1515 immediately following the point at which the registers are saved.
1516 However, if you modify a callee-saved register, you must save it on
1517 the stack before modifying it and before calling any functions which
1518 might throw an exception. And, you must use the @code{.save} pseudo
1519 op to indicate that you have done so.
1521 The @code{.pad} (@pxref{arm_pad,,.pad}) pseudo op indicates a
1522 modification of the stack pointer that does not save any registers.
1523 The argument is the number of bytes (in decimal) that are subtracted
1524 from the stack pointer. (On ARM CPUs, the stack grows downwards, so
1525 subtracting from the stack pointer increases the size of the stack.)
1527 The @code{.setfp} (@pxref{arm_setfp,,.setfp pseudo op}) pseudo op
1528 indicates the register that contains the frame pointer. The first
1529 argument is the register that is set, which is typically @code{fp}.
1530 The second argument indicates the register from which the frame
1531 pointer takes its value. The third argument, if present, is the value
1532 (in decimal) added to the register specified by the second argument to
1533 compute the value of the frame pointer. You should not modify the
1534 frame pointer in the body of the function.
1536 If you do not use a frame pointer, then you should not use the
1537 @code{.setfp} pseudo op. If you do not use a frame pointer, then you
1538 should avoid modifying the stack pointer outside of the function
1539 prologue. Otherwise, the run-time library will be unable to find
1540 saved registers when it is unwinding the stack.
1542 The pseudo ops described above are sufficient for writing assembly
1543 code that calls functions which may throw exceptions. If you need to
1544 know more about the object-file format used to represent unwind
1545 information, you may consult the @cite{Exception Handling ABI for the
1546 ARM Architecture} available from @uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.