1 ==============================
2 LLVM Language Reference Manual
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12 This document is a reference manual for the LLVM assembly language. LLVM
13 is a Static Single Assignment (SSA) based representation that provides
14 type safety, low-level operations, flexibility, and the capability of
15 representing 'all' high-level languages cleanly. It is the common code
16 representation used throughout all phases of the LLVM compilation
22 The LLVM code representation is designed to be used in three different
23 forms: as an in-memory compiler IR, as an on-disk bitcode representation
24 (suitable for fast loading by a Just-In-Time compiler), and as a human
25 readable assembly language representation. This allows LLVM to provide a
26 powerful intermediate representation for efficient compiler
27 transformations and analysis, while providing a natural means to debug
28 and visualize the transformations. The three different forms of LLVM are
29 all equivalent. This document describes the human readable
30 representation and notation.
32 The LLVM representation aims to be light-weight and low-level while
33 being expressive, typed, and extensible at the same time. It aims to be
34 a "universal IR" of sorts, by being at a low enough level that
35 high-level ideas may be cleanly mapped to it (similar to how
36 microprocessors are "universal IR's", allowing many source languages to
37 be mapped to them). By providing type information, LLVM can be used as
38 the target of optimizations: for example, through pointer analysis, it
39 can be proven that a C automatic variable is never accessed outside of
40 the current function, allowing it to be promoted to a simple SSA value
41 instead of a memory location.
48 It is important to note that this document describes 'well formed' LLVM
49 assembly language. There is a difference between what the parser accepts
50 and what is considered 'well formed'. For example, the following
51 instruction is syntactically okay, but not well formed:
57 because the definition of ``%x`` does not dominate all of its uses. The
58 LLVM infrastructure provides a verification pass that may be used to
59 verify that an LLVM module is well formed. This pass is automatically
60 run by the parser after parsing input assembly and by the optimizer
61 before it outputs bitcode. The violations pointed out by the verifier
62 pass indicate bugs in transformation passes or input to the parser.
69 LLVM identifiers come in two basic types: global and local. Global
70 identifiers (functions, global variables) begin with the ``'@'``
71 character. Local identifiers (register names, types) begin with the
72 ``'%'`` character. Additionally, there are three different formats for
73 identifiers, for different purposes:
75 #. Named values are represented as a string of characters with their
76 prefix. For example, ``%foo``, ``@DivisionByZero``,
77 ``%a.really.long.identifier``. The actual regular expression used is
78 '``[%@][a-zA-Z$._][a-zA-Z$._0-9]*``'. Identifiers which require other
79 characters in their names can be surrounded with quotes. Special
80 characters may be escaped using ``"\xx"`` where ``xx`` is the ASCII
81 code for the character in hexadecimal. In this way, any character can
82 be used in a name value, even quotes themselves.
83 #. Unnamed values are represented as an unsigned numeric value with
84 their prefix. For example, ``%12``, ``@2``, ``%44``.
85 #. Constants, which are described in the section Constants_ below.
87 LLVM requires that values start with a prefix for two reasons: Compilers
88 don't need to worry about name clashes with reserved words, and the set
89 of reserved words may be expanded in the future without penalty.
90 Additionally, unnamed identifiers allow a compiler to quickly come up
91 with a temporary variable without having to avoid symbol table
94 Reserved words in LLVM are very similar to reserved words in other
95 languages. There are keywords for different opcodes ('``add``',
96 '``bitcast``', '``ret``', etc...), for primitive type names ('``void``',
97 '``i32``', etc...), and others. These reserved words cannot conflict
98 with variable names, because none of them start with a prefix character
101 Here is an example of LLVM code to multiply the integer variable
108 %result = mul i32 %X, 8
110 After strength reduction:
114 %result = shl i32 %X, 3
120 %0 = add i32 %X, %X ; yields {i32}:%0
121 %1 = add i32 %0, %0 ; yields {i32}:%1
122 %result = add i32 %1, %1
124 This last way of multiplying ``%X`` by 8 illustrates several important
125 lexical features of LLVM:
127 #. Comments are delimited with a '``;``' and go until the end of line.
128 #. Unnamed temporaries are created when the result of a computation is
129 not assigned to a named value.
130 #. Unnamed temporaries are numbered sequentially (using a per-function
131 incrementing counter, starting with 0). Note that basic blocks are
132 included in this numbering. For example, if the entry basic block is not
133 given a label name, then it will get number 0.
135 It also shows a convention that we follow in this document. When
136 demonstrating instructions, we will follow an instruction with a comment
137 that defines the type and name of value produced.
145 LLVM programs are composed of ``Module``'s, each of which is a
146 translation unit of the input programs. Each module consists of
147 functions, global variables, and symbol table entries. Modules may be
148 combined together with the LLVM linker, which merges function (and
149 global variable) definitions, resolves forward declarations, and merges
150 symbol table entries. Here is an example of the "hello world" module:
154 ; Declare the string constant as a global constant.
155 @.str = private unnamed_addr constant [13 x i8] c"hello world\0A\00"
157 ; External declaration of the puts function
158 declare i32 @puts(i8* nocapture) nounwind
160 ; Definition of main function
161 define i32 @main() { ; i32()*
162 ; Convert [13 x i8]* to i8 *...
163 %cast210 = getelementptr [13 x i8]* @.str, i64 0, i64 0
165 ; Call puts function to write out the string to stdout.
166 call i32 @puts(i8* %cast210)
171 !1 = metadata !{i32 42}
174 This example is made up of a :ref:`global variable <globalvars>` named
175 "``.str``", an external declaration of the "``puts``" function, a
176 :ref:`function definition <functionstructure>` for "``main``" and
177 :ref:`named metadata <namedmetadatastructure>` "``foo``".
179 In general, a module is made up of a list of global values (where both
180 functions and global variables are global values). Global values are
181 represented by a pointer to a memory location (in this case, a pointer
182 to an array of char, and a pointer to a function), and have one of the
183 following :ref:`linkage types <linkage>`.
190 All Global Variables and Functions have one of the following types of
194 Global values with "``private``" linkage are only directly
195 accessible by objects in the current module. In particular, linking
196 code into a module with an private global value may cause the
197 private to be renamed as necessary to avoid collisions. Because the
198 symbol is private to the module, all references can be updated. This
199 doesn't show up in any symbol table in the object file.
201 Similar to ``private``, but the symbol is passed through the
202 assembler and evaluated by the linker. Unlike normal strong symbols,
203 they are removed by the linker from the final linked image
204 (executable or dynamic library).
205 ``linker_private_weak``
206 Similar to "``linker_private``", but the symbol is weak. Note that
207 ``linker_private_weak`` symbols are subject to coalescing by the
208 linker. The symbols are removed by the linker from the final linked
209 image (executable or dynamic library).
211 Similar to private, but the value shows as a local symbol
212 (``STB_LOCAL`` in the case of ELF) in the object file. This
213 corresponds to the notion of the '``static``' keyword in C.
214 ``available_externally``
215 Globals with "``available_externally``" linkage are never emitted
216 into the object file corresponding to the LLVM module. They exist to
217 allow inlining and other optimizations to take place given knowledge
218 of the definition of the global, which is known to be somewhere
219 outside the module. Globals with ``available_externally`` linkage
220 are allowed to be discarded at will, and are otherwise the same as
221 ``linkonce_odr``. This linkage type is only allowed on definitions,
224 Globals with "``linkonce``" linkage are merged with other globals of
225 the same name when linkage occurs. This can be used to implement
226 some forms of inline functions, templates, or other code which must
227 be generated in each translation unit that uses it, but where the
228 body may be overridden with a more definitive definition later.
229 Unreferenced ``linkonce`` globals are allowed to be discarded. Note
230 that ``linkonce`` linkage does not actually allow the optimizer to
231 inline the body of this function into callers because it doesn't
232 know if this definition of the function is the definitive definition
233 within the program or whether it will be overridden by a stronger
234 definition. To enable inlining and other optimizations, use
235 "``linkonce_odr``" linkage.
237 "``weak``" linkage has the same merging semantics as ``linkonce``
238 linkage, except that unreferenced globals with ``weak`` linkage may
239 not be discarded. This is used for globals that are declared "weak"
242 "``common``" linkage is most similar to "``weak``" linkage, but they
243 are used for tentative definitions in C, such as "``int X;``" at
244 global scope. Symbols with "``common``" linkage are merged in the
245 same way as ``weak symbols``, and they may not be deleted if
246 unreferenced. ``common`` symbols may not have an explicit section,
247 must have a zero initializer, and may not be marked
248 ':ref:`constant <globalvars>`'. Functions and aliases may not have
251 .. _linkage_appending:
254 "``appending``" linkage may only be applied to global variables of
255 pointer to array type. When two global variables with appending
256 linkage are linked together, the two global arrays are appended
257 together. This is the LLVM, typesafe, equivalent of having the
258 system linker append together "sections" with identical names when
261 The semantics of this linkage follow the ELF object file model: the
262 symbol is weak until linked, if not linked, the symbol becomes null
263 instead of being an undefined reference.
264 ``linkonce_odr``, ``weak_odr``
265 Some languages allow differing globals to be merged, such as two
266 functions with different semantics. Other languages, such as
267 ``C++``, ensure that only equivalent globals are ever merged (the
268 "one definition rule" --- "ODR"). Such languages can use the
269 ``linkonce_odr`` and ``weak_odr`` linkage types to indicate that the
270 global will only be merged with equivalent globals. These linkage
271 types are otherwise the same as their non-``odr`` versions.
273 If none of the above identifiers are used, the global is externally
274 visible, meaning that it participates in linkage and can be used to
275 resolve external symbol references.
277 The next two types of linkage are targeted for Microsoft Windows
278 platform only. They are designed to support importing (exporting)
279 symbols from (to) DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries).
282 "``dllimport``" linkage causes the compiler to reference a function
283 or variable via a global pointer to a pointer that is set up by the
284 DLL exporting the symbol. On Microsoft Windows targets, the pointer
285 name is formed by combining ``__imp_`` and the function or variable
288 "``dllexport``" linkage causes the compiler to provide a global
289 pointer to a pointer in a DLL, so that it can be referenced with the
290 ``dllimport`` attribute. On Microsoft Windows targets, the pointer
291 name is formed by combining ``__imp_`` and the function or variable
292 name. Since this linkage exists for defining a dll interface, the
293 compiler, assembler and linker know it is externally referenced and
294 must refrain from deleting the symbol.
296 It is illegal for a function *declaration* to have any linkage type
297 other than ``external``, ``dllimport`` or ``extern_weak``.
304 LLVM :ref:`functions <functionstructure>`, :ref:`calls <i_call>` and
305 :ref:`invokes <i_invoke>` can all have an optional calling convention
306 specified for the call. The calling convention of any pair of dynamic
307 caller/callee must match, or the behavior of the program is undefined.
308 The following calling conventions are supported by LLVM, and more may be
311 "``ccc``" - The C calling convention
312 This calling convention (the default if no other calling convention
313 is specified) matches the target C calling conventions. This calling
314 convention supports varargs function calls and tolerates some
315 mismatch in the declared prototype and implemented declaration of
316 the function (as does normal C).
317 "``fastcc``" - The fast calling convention
318 This calling convention attempts to make calls as fast as possible
319 (e.g. by passing things in registers). This calling convention
320 allows the target to use whatever tricks it wants to produce fast
321 code for the target, without having to conform to an externally
322 specified ABI (Application Binary Interface). `Tail calls can only
323 be optimized when this, the GHC or the HiPE convention is
324 used. <CodeGenerator.html#id80>`_ This calling convention does not
325 support varargs and requires the prototype of all callees to exactly
326 match the prototype of the function definition.
327 "``coldcc``" - The cold calling convention
328 This calling convention attempts to make code in the caller as
329 efficient as possible under the assumption that the call is not
330 commonly executed. As such, these calls often preserve all registers
331 so that the call does not break any live ranges in the caller side.
332 This calling convention does not support varargs and requires the
333 prototype of all callees to exactly match the prototype of the
335 "``cc 10``" - GHC convention
336 This calling convention has been implemented specifically for use by
337 the `Glasgow Haskell Compiler (GHC) <http://www.haskell.org/ghc>`_.
338 It passes everything in registers, going to extremes to achieve this
339 by disabling callee save registers. This calling convention should
340 not be used lightly but only for specific situations such as an
341 alternative to the *register pinning* performance technique often
342 used when implementing functional programming languages. At the
343 moment only X86 supports this convention and it has the following
346 - On *X86-32* only supports up to 4 bit type parameters. No
347 floating point types are supported.
348 - On *X86-64* only supports up to 10 bit type parameters and 6
349 floating point parameters.
351 This calling convention supports `tail call
352 optimization <CodeGenerator.html#id80>`_ but requires both the
353 caller and callee are using it.
354 "``cc 11``" - The HiPE calling convention
355 This calling convention has been implemented specifically for use by
356 the `High-Performance Erlang
357 (HiPE) <http://www.it.uu.se/research/group/hipe/>`_ compiler, *the*
358 native code compiler of the `Ericsson's Open Source Erlang/OTP
359 system <http://www.erlang.org/download.shtml>`_. It uses more
360 registers for argument passing than the ordinary C calling
361 convention and defines no callee-saved registers. The calling
362 convention properly supports `tail call
363 optimization <CodeGenerator.html#id80>`_ but requires that both the
364 caller and the callee use it. It uses a *register pinning*
365 mechanism, similar to GHC's convention, for keeping frequently
366 accessed runtime components pinned to specific hardware registers.
367 At the moment only X86 supports this convention (both 32 and 64
369 "``cc <n>``" - Numbered convention
370 Any calling convention may be specified by number, allowing
371 target-specific calling conventions to be used. Target specific
372 calling conventions start at 64.
374 More calling conventions can be added/defined on an as-needed basis, to
375 support Pascal conventions or any other well-known target-independent
378 .. _visibilitystyles:
383 All Global Variables and Functions have one of the following visibility
386 "``default``" - Default style
387 On targets that use the ELF object file format, default visibility
388 means that the declaration is visible to other modules and, in
389 shared libraries, means that the declared entity may be overridden.
390 On Darwin, default visibility means that the declaration is visible
391 to other modules. Default visibility corresponds to "external
392 linkage" in the language.
393 "``hidden``" - Hidden style
394 Two declarations of an object with hidden visibility refer to the
395 same object if they are in the same shared object. Usually, hidden
396 visibility indicates that the symbol will not be placed into the
397 dynamic symbol table, so no other module (executable or shared
398 library) can reference it directly.
399 "``protected``" - Protected style
400 On ELF, protected visibility indicates that the symbol will be
401 placed in the dynamic symbol table, but that references within the
402 defining module will bind to the local symbol. That is, the symbol
403 cannot be overridden by another module.
410 LLVM IR allows you to specify name aliases for certain types. This can
411 make it easier to read the IR and make the IR more condensed
412 (particularly when recursive types are involved). An example of a name
417 %mytype = type { %mytype*, i32 }
419 You may give a name to any :ref:`type <typesystem>` except
420 ":ref:`void <t_void>`". Type name aliases may be used anywhere a type is
421 expected with the syntax "%mytype".
423 Note that type names are aliases for the structural type that they
424 indicate, and that you can therefore specify multiple names for the same
425 type. This often leads to confusing behavior when dumping out a .ll
426 file. Since LLVM IR uses structural typing, the name is not part of the
427 type. When printing out LLVM IR, the printer will pick *one name* to
428 render all types of a particular shape. This means that if you have code
429 where two different source types end up having the same LLVM type, that
430 the dumper will sometimes print the "wrong" or unexpected type. This is
431 an important design point and isn't going to change.
438 Global variables define regions of memory allocated at compilation time
441 Global variables definitions must be initialized, may have an explicit section
442 to be placed in, and may have an optional explicit alignment specified.
444 Global variables in other translation units can also be declared, in which
445 case they don't have an initializer.
447 A variable may be defined as ``thread_local``, which means that it will
448 not be shared by threads (each thread will have a separated copy of the
449 variable). Not all targets support thread-local variables. Optionally, a
450 TLS model may be specified:
453 For variables that are only used within the current shared library.
455 For variables in modules that will not be loaded dynamically.
457 For variables defined in the executable and only used within it.
459 The models correspond to the ELF TLS models; see `ELF Handling For
460 Thread-Local Storage <http://people.redhat.com/drepper/tls.pdf>`_ for
461 more information on under which circumstances the different models may
462 be used. The target may choose a different TLS model if the specified
463 model is not supported, or if a better choice of model can be made.
465 A variable may be defined as a global ``constant``, which indicates that
466 the contents of the variable will **never** be modified (enabling better
467 optimization, allowing the global data to be placed in the read-only
468 section of an executable, etc). Note that variables that need runtime
469 initialization cannot be marked ``constant`` as there is a store to the
472 LLVM explicitly allows *declarations* of global variables to be marked
473 constant, even if the final definition of the global is not. This
474 capability can be used to enable slightly better optimization of the
475 program, but requires the language definition to guarantee that
476 optimizations based on the 'constantness' are valid for the translation
477 units that do not include the definition.
479 As SSA values, global variables define pointer values that are in scope
480 (i.e. they dominate) all basic blocks in the program. Global variables
481 always define a pointer to their "content" type because they describe a
482 region of memory, and all memory objects in LLVM are accessed through
485 Global variables can be marked with ``unnamed_addr`` which indicates
486 that the address is not significant, only the content. Constants marked
487 like this can be merged with other constants if they have the same
488 initializer. Note that a constant with significant address *can* be
489 merged with a ``unnamed_addr`` constant, the result being a constant
490 whose address is significant.
492 A global variable may be declared to reside in a target-specific
493 numbered address space. For targets that support them, address spaces
494 may affect how optimizations are performed and/or what target
495 instructions are used to access the variable. The default address space
496 is zero. The address space qualifier must precede any other attributes.
498 LLVM allows an explicit section to be specified for globals. If the
499 target supports it, it will emit globals to the section specified.
501 By default, global initializers are optimized by assuming that global
502 variables defined within the module are not modified from their
503 initial values before the start of the global initializer. This is
504 true even for variables potentially accessible from outside the
505 module, including those with external linkage or appearing in
506 ``@llvm.used`` or dllexported variables. This assumption may be suppressed
507 by marking the variable with ``externally_initialized``.
509 An explicit alignment may be specified for a global, which must be a
510 power of 2. If not present, or if the alignment is set to zero, the
511 alignment of the global is set by the target to whatever it feels
512 convenient. If an explicit alignment is specified, the global is forced
513 to have exactly that alignment. Targets and optimizers are not allowed
514 to over-align the global if the global has an assigned section. In this
515 case, the extra alignment could be observable: for example, code could
516 assume that the globals are densely packed in their section and try to
517 iterate over them as an array, alignment padding would break this
520 For example, the following defines a global in a numbered address space
521 with an initializer, section, and alignment:
525 @G = addrspace(5) constant float 1.0, section "foo", align 4
527 The following example just declares a global variable
531 @G = external global i32
533 The following example defines a thread-local global with the
534 ``initialexec`` TLS model:
538 @G = thread_local(initialexec) global i32 0, align 4
540 .. _functionstructure:
545 LLVM function definitions consist of the "``define``" keyword, an
546 optional :ref:`linkage type <linkage>`, an optional :ref:`visibility
547 style <visibility>`, an optional :ref:`calling convention <callingconv>`,
548 an optional ``unnamed_addr`` attribute, a return type, an optional
549 :ref:`parameter attribute <paramattrs>` for the return type, a function
550 name, a (possibly empty) argument list (each with optional :ref:`parameter
551 attributes <paramattrs>`), optional :ref:`function attributes <fnattrs>`,
552 an optional section, an optional alignment, an optional :ref:`garbage
553 collector name <gc>`, an optional :ref:`prefix <prefixdata>`, an opening
554 curly brace, a list of basic blocks, and a closing curly brace.
556 LLVM function declarations consist of the "``declare``" keyword, an
557 optional :ref:`linkage type <linkage>`, an optional :ref:`visibility
558 style <visibility>`, an optional :ref:`calling convention <callingconv>`,
559 an optional ``unnamed_addr`` attribute, a return type, an optional
560 :ref:`parameter attribute <paramattrs>` for the return type, a function
561 name, a possibly empty list of arguments, an optional alignment, an optional
562 :ref:`garbage collector name <gc>` and an optional :ref:`prefix <prefixdata>`.
564 A function definition contains a list of basic blocks, forming the CFG (Control
565 Flow Graph) for the function. Each basic block may optionally start with a label
566 (giving the basic block a symbol table entry), contains a list of instructions,
567 and ends with a :ref:`terminator <terminators>` instruction (such as a branch or
568 function return). If an explicit label is not provided, a block is assigned an
569 implicit numbered label, using the next value from the same counter as used for
570 unnamed temporaries (:ref:`see above<identifiers>`). For example, if a function
571 entry block does not have an explicit label, it will be assigned label "%0",
572 then the first unnamed temporary in that block will be "%1", etc.
574 The first basic block in a function is special in two ways: it is
575 immediately executed on entrance to the function, and it is not allowed
576 to have predecessor basic blocks (i.e. there can not be any branches to
577 the entry block of a function). Because the block can have no
578 predecessors, it also cannot have any :ref:`PHI nodes <i_phi>`.
580 LLVM allows an explicit section to be specified for functions. If the
581 target supports it, it will emit functions to the section specified.
583 An explicit alignment may be specified for a function. If not present,
584 or if the alignment is set to zero, the alignment of the function is set
585 by the target to whatever it feels convenient. If an explicit alignment
586 is specified, the function is forced to have at least that much
587 alignment. All alignments must be a power of 2.
589 If the ``unnamed_addr`` attribute is given, the address is know to not
590 be significant and two identical functions can be merged.
594 define [linkage] [visibility]
596 <ResultType> @<FunctionName> ([argument list])
597 [fn Attrs] [section "name"] [align N]
598 [gc] [prefix Constant] { ... }
605 Aliases act as "second name" for the aliasee value (which can be either
606 function, global variable, another alias or bitcast of global value).
607 Aliases may have an optional :ref:`linkage type <linkage>`, and an optional
608 :ref:`visibility style <visibility>`.
612 @<Name> = alias [Linkage] [Visibility] <AliaseeTy> @<Aliasee>
614 The linkage must be one of ``private``, ``linker_private``,
615 ``linker_private_weak``, ``internal``, ``linkonce``, ``weak``,
616 ``linkonce_odr``, ``weak_odr``, ``external``. Note that some system linkers
617 might not correctly handle dropping a weak symbol that is aliased by a non-weak
620 .. _namedmetadatastructure:
625 Named metadata is a collection of metadata. :ref:`Metadata
626 nodes <metadata>` (but not metadata strings) are the only valid
627 operands for a named metadata.
631 ; Some unnamed metadata nodes, which are referenced by the named metadata.
632 !0 = metadata !{metadata !"zero"}
633 !1 = metadata !{metadata !"one"}
634 !2 = metadata !{metadata !"two"}
636 !name = !{!0, !1, !2}
643 The return type and each parameter of a function type may have a set of
644 *parameter attributes* associated with them. Parameter attributes are
645 used to communicate additional information about the result or
646 parameters of a function. Parameter attributes are considered to be part
647 of the function, not of the function type, so functions with different
648 parameter attributes can have the same function type.
650 Parameter attributes are simple keywords that follow the type specified.
651 If multiple parameter attributes are needed, they are space separated.
656 declare i32 @printf(i8* noalias nocapture, ...)
657 declare i32 @atoi(i8 zeroext)
658 declare signext i8 @returns_signed_char()
660 Note that any attributes for the function result (``nounwind``,
661 ``readonly``) come immediately after the argument list.
663 Currently, only the following parameter attributes are defined:
666 This indicates to the code generator that the parameter or return
667 value should be zero-extended to the extent required by the target's
668 ABI (which is usually 32-bits, but is 8-bits for a i1 on x86-64) by
669 the caller (for a parameter) or the callee (for a return value).
671 This indicates to the code generator that the parameter or return
672 value should be sign-extended to the extent required by the target's
673 ABI (which is usually 32-bits) by the caller (for a parameter) or
674 the callee (for a return value).
676 This indicates that this parameter or return value should be treated
677 in a special target-dependent fashion during while emitting code for
678 a function call or return (usually, by putting it in a register as
679 opposed to memory, though some targets use it to distinguish between
680 two different kinds of registers). Use of this attribute is
683 This indicates that the pointer parameter should really be passed by
684 value to the function. The attribute implies that a hidden copy of
685 the pointee is made between the caller and the callee, so the callee
686 is unable to modify the value in the caller. This attribute is only
687 valid on LLVM pointer arguments. It is generally used to pass
688 structs and arrays by value, but is also valid on pointers to
689 scalars. The copy is considered to belong to the caller not the
690 callee (for example, ``readonly`` functions should not write to
691 ``byval`` parameters). This is not a valid attribute for return
694 The byval attribute also supports specifying an alignment with the
695 align attribute. It indicates the alignment of the stack slot to
696 form and the known alignment of the pointer specified to the call
697 site. If the alignment is not specified, then the code generator
698 makes a target-specific assumption.
701 This indicates that the pointer parameter specifies the address of a
702 structure that is the return value of the function in the source
703 program. This pointer must be guaranteed by the caller to be valid:
704 loads and stores to the structure may be assumed by the callee
705 not to trap and to be properly aligned. This may only be applied to
706 the first parameter. This is not a valid attribute for return
709 This indicates that pointer values :ref:`based <pointeraliasing>` on
710 the argument or return value do not alias pointer values which are
711 not *based* on it, ignoring certain "irrelevant" dependencies. For a
712 call to the parent function, dependencies between memory references
713 from before or after the call and from those during the call are
714 "irrelevant" to the ``noalias`` keyword for the arguments and return
715 value used in that call. The caller shares the responsibility with
716 the callee for ensuring that these requirements are met. For further
717 details, please see the discussion of the NoAlias response in `alias
718 analysis <AliasAnalysis.html#MustMayNo>`_.
720 Note that this definition of ``noalias`` is intentionally similar
721 to the definition of ``restrict`` in C99 for function arguments,
722 though it is slightly weaker.
724 For function return values, C99's ``restrict`` is not meaningful,
725 while LLVM's ``noalias`` is.
727 This indicates that the callee does not make any copies of the
728 pointer that outlive the callee itself. This is not a valid
729 attribute for return values.
734 This indicates that the pointer parameter can be excised using the
735 :ref:`trampoline intrinsics <int_trampoline>`. This is not a valid
736 attribute for return values and can only be applied to one parameter.
739 This indicates that the function always returns the argument as its return
740 value. This is an optimization hint to the code generator when generating
741 the caller, allowing tail call optimization and omission of register saves
742 and restores in some cases; it is not checked or enforced when generating
743 the callee. The parameter and the function return type must be valid
744 operands for the :ref:`bitcast instruction <i_bitcast>`. This is not a
745 valid attribute for return values and can only be applied to one parameter.
749 Garbage Collector Names
750 -----------------------
752 Each function may specify a garbage collector name, which is simply a
757 define void @f() gc "name" { ... }
759 The compiler declares the supported values of *name*. Specifying a
760 collector which will cause the compiler to alter its output in order to
761 support the named garbage collection algorithm.
768 Prefix data is data associated with a function which the code generator
769 will emit immediately before the function body. The purpose of this feature
770 is to allow frontends to associate language-specific runtime metadata with
771 specific functions and make it available through the function pointer while
772 still allowing the function pointer to be called. To access the data for a
773 given function, a program may bitcast the function pointer to a pointer to
774 the constant's type. This implies that the IR symbol points to the start
777 To maintain the semantics of ordinary function calls, the prefix data must
778 have a particular format. Specifically, it must begin with a sequence of
779 bytes which decode to a sequence of machine instructions, valid for the
780 module's target, which transfer control to the point immediately succeeding
781 the prefix data, without performing any other visible action. This allows
782 the inliner and other passes to reason about the semantics of the function
783 definition without needing to reason about the prefix data. Obviously this
784 makes the format of the prefix data highly target dependent.
786 Prefix data is laid out as if it were an initializer for a global variable
787 of the prefix data's type. No padding is automatically placed between the
788 prefix data and the function body. If padding is required, it must be part
791 A trivial example of valid prefix data for the x86 architecture is ``i8 144``,
792 which encodes the ``nop`` instruction:
796 define void @f() prefix i8 144 { ... }
798 Generally prefix data can be formed by encoding a relative branch instruction
799 which skips the metadata, as in this example of valid prefix data for the
800 x86_64 architecture, where the first two bytes encode ``jmp .+10``:
804 %0 = type <{ i8, i8, i8* }>
806 define void @f() prefix %0 <{ i8 235, i8 8, i8* @md}> { ... }
808 A function may have prefix data but no body. This has similar semantics
809 to the ``available_externally`` linkage in that the data may be used by the
810 optimizers but will not be emitted in the object file.
817 Attribute groups are groups of attributes that are referenced by objects within
818 the IR. They are important for keeping ``.ll`` files readable, because a lot of
819 functions will use the same set of attributes. In the degenerative case of a
820 ``.ll`` file that corresponds to a single ``.c`` file, the single attribute
821 group will capture the important command line flags used to build that file.
823 An attribute group is a module-level object. To use an attribute group, an
824 object references the attribute group's ID (e.g. ``#37``). An object may refer
825 to more than one attribute group. In that situation, the attributes from the
826 different groups are merged.
828 Here is an example of attribute groups for a function that should always be
829 inlined, has a stack alignment of 4, and which shouldn't use SSE instructions:
833 ; Target-independent attributes:
834 attributes #0 = { alwaysinline alignstack=4 }
836 ; Target-dependent attributes:
837 attributes #1 = { "no-sse" }
839 ; Function @f has attributes: alwaysinline, alignstack=4, and "no-sse".
840 define void @f() #0 #1 { ... }
847 Function attributes are set to communicate additional information about
848 a function. Function attributes are considered to be part of the
849 function, not of the function type, so functions with different function
850 attributes can have the same function type.
852 Function attributes are simple keywords that follow the type specified.
853 If multiple attributes are needed, they are space separated. For
858 define void @f() noinline { ... }
859 define void @f() alwaysinline { ... }
860 define void @f() alwaysinline optsize { ... }
861 define void @f() optsize { ... }
864 This attribute indicates that, when emitting the prologue and
865 epilogue, the backend should forcibly align the stack pointer.
866 Specify the desired alignment, which must be a power of two, in
869 This attribute indicates that the inliner should attempt to inline
870 this function into callers whenever possible, ignoring any active
871 inlining size threshold for this caller.
873 This indicates that the callee function at a call site should be
874 recognized as a built-in function, even though the function's declaration
875 uses the ``nobuiltin`` attribute. This is only valid at call sites for
876 direct calls to functions which are declared with the ``nobuiltin``
879 This attribute indicates that this function is rarely called. When
880 computing edge weights, basic blocks post-dominated by a cold
881 function call are also considered to be cold; and, thus, given low
884 This attribute indicates that the source code contained a hint that
885 inlining this function is desirable (such as the "inline" keyword in
886 C/C++). It is just a hint; it imposes no requirements on the
889 This attribute suggests that optimization passes and code generator
890 passes make choices that keep the code size of this function as small
891 as possible and perform optimizations that may sacrifice runtime
892 performance in order to minimize the size of the generated code.
894 This attribute disables prologue / epilogue emission for the
895 function. This can have very system-specific consequences.
897 This indicates that the callee function at a call site is not recognized as
898 a built-in function. LLVM will retain the original call and not replace it
899 with equivalent code based on the semantics of the built-in function, unless
900 the call site uses the ``builtin`` attribute. This is valid at call sites
901 and on function declarations and definitions.
903 This attribute indicates that calls to the function cannot be
904 duplicated. A call to a ``noduplicate`` function may be moved
905 within its parent function, but may not be duplicated within
908 A function containing a ``noduplicate`` call may still
909 be an inlining candidate, provided that the call is not
910 duplicated by inlining. That implies that the function has
911 internal linkage and only has one call site, so the original
912 call is dead after inlining.
914 This attributes disables implicit floating point instructions.
916 This attribute indicates that the inliner should never inline this
917 function in any situation. This attribute may not be used together
918 with the ``alwaysinline`` attribute.
920 This attribute suppresses lazy symbol binding for the function. This
921 may make calls to the function faster, at the cost of extra program
922 startup time if the function is not called during program startup.
924 This attribute indicates that the code generator should not use a
925 red zone, even if the target-specific ABI normally permits it.
927 This function attribute indicates that the function never returns
928 normally. This produces undefined behavior at runtime if the
929 function ever does dynamically return.
931 This function attribute indicates that the function never returns
932 with an unwind or exceptional control flow. If the function does
933 unwind, its runtime behavior is undefined.
935 This function attribute indicates that the function is not optimized
936 by any optimization or code generator passes with the
937 exception of interprocedural optimization passes.
938 This attribute cannot be used together with the ``alwaysinline``
939 attribute; this attribute is also incompatible
940 with the ``minsize`` attribute and the ``optsize`` attribute.
942 This attribute requires the ``noinline`` attribute to be specified on
943 the function as well, so the function is never inlined into any caller.
944 Only functions with the ``alwaysinline`` attribute are valid
945 candidates for inlining into the body of this function.
947 This attribute suggests that optimization passes and code generator
948 passes make choices that keep the code size of this function low,
949 and otherwise do optimizations specifically to reduce code size as
950 long as they do not significantly impact runtime performance.
952 On a function, this attribute indicates that the function computes its
953 result (or decides to unwind an exception) based strictly on its arguments,
954 without dereferencing any pointer arguments or otherwise accessing
955 any mutable state (e.g. memory, control registers, etc) visible to
956 caller functions. It does not write through any pointer arguments
957 (including ``byval`` arguments) and never changes any state visible
958 to callers. This means that it cannot unwind exceptions by calling
959 the ``C++`` exception throwing methods.
961 On an argument, this attribute indicates that the function does not
962 dereference that pointer argument, even though it may read or write the
963 memory that the pointer points to if accessed through other pointers.
965 On a function, this attribute indicates that the function does not write
966 through any pointer arguments (including ``byval`` arguments) or otherwise
967 modify any state (e.g. memory, control registers, etc) visible to
968 caller functions. It may dereference pointer arguments and read
969 state that may be set in the caller. A readonly function always
970 returns the same value (or unwinds an exception identically) when
971 called with the same set of arguments and global state. It cannot
972 unwind an exception by calling the ``C++`` exception throwing
975 On an argument, this attribute indicates that the function does not write
976 through this pointer argument, even though it may write to the memory that
977 the pointer points to.
979 This attribute indicates that this function can return twice. The C
980 ``setjmp`` is an example of such a function. The compiler disables
981 some optimizations (like tail calls) in the caller of these
984 This attribute indicates that AddressSanitizer checks
985 (dynamic address safety analysis) are enabled for this function.
987 This attribute indicates that MemorySanitizer checks (dynamic detection
988 of accesses to uninitialized memory) are enabled for this function.
990 This attribute indicates that ThreadSanitizer checks
991 (dynamic thread safety analysis) are enabled for this function.
993 This attribute indicates that the function should emit a stack
994 smashing protector. It is in the form of a "canary" --- a random value
995 placed on the stack before the local variables that's checked upon
996 return from the function to see if it has been overwritten. A
997 heuristic is used to determine if a function needs stack protectors
998 or not. The heuristic used will enable protectors for functions with:
1000 - Character arrays larger than ``ssp-buffer-size`` (default 8).
1001 - Aggregates containing character arrays larger than ``ssp-buffer-size``.
1002 - Calls to alloca() with variable sizes or constant sizes greater than
1003 ``ssp-buffer-size``.
1005 If a function that has an ``ssp`` attribute is inlined into a
1006 function that doesn't have an ``ssp`` attribute, then the resulting
1007 function will have an ``ssp`` attribute.
1009 This attribute indicates that the function should *always* emit a
1010 stack smashing protector. This overrides the ``ssp`` function
1013 If a function that has an ``sspreq`` attribute is inlined into a
1014 function that doesn't have an ``sspreq`` attribute or which has an
1015 ``ssp`` or ``sspstrong`` attribute, then the resulting function will have
1016 an ``sspreq`` attribute.
1018 This attribute indicates that the function should emit a stack smashing
1019 protector. This attribute causes a strong heuristic to be used when
1020 determining if a function needs stack protectors. The strong heuristic
1021 will enable protectors for functions with:
1023 - Arrays of any size and type
1024 - Aggregates containing an array of any size and type.
1025 - Calls to alloca().
1026 - Local variables that have had their address taken.
1028 This overrides the ``ssp`` function attribute.
1030 If a function that has an ``sspstrong`` attribute is inlined into a
1031 function that doesn't have an ``sspstrong`` attribute, then the
1032 resulting function will have an ``sspstrong`` attribute.
1034 This attribute indicates that the ABI being targeted requires that
1035 an unwind table entry be produce for this function even if we can
1036 show that no exceptions passes by it. This is normally the case for
1037 the ELF x86-64 abi, but it can be disabled for some compilation
1042 Module-Level Inline Assembly
1043 ----------------------------
1045 Modules may contain "module-level inline asm" blocks, which corresponds
1046 to the GCC "file scope inline asm" blocks. These blocks are internally
1047 concatenated by LLVM and treated as a single unit, but may be separated
1048 in the ``.ll`` file if desired. The syntax is very simple:
1050 .. code-block:: llvm
1052 module asm "inline asm code goes here"
1053 module asm "more can go here"
1055 The strings can contain any character by escaping non-printable
1056 characters. The escape sequence used is simply "\\xx" where "xx" is the
1057 two digit hex code for the number.
1059 The inline asm code is simply printed to the machine code .s file when
1060 assembly code is generated.
1062 .. _langref_datalayout:
1067 A module may specify a target specific data layout string that specifies
1068 how data is to be laid out in memory. The syntax for the data layout is
1071 .. code-block:: llvm
1073 target datalayout = "layout specification"
1075 The *layout specification* consists of a list of specifications
1076 separated by the minus sign character ('-'). Each specification starts
1077 with a letter and may include other information after the letter to
1078 define some aspect of the data layout. The specifications accepted are
1082 Specifies that the target lays out data in big-endian form. That is,
1083 the bits with the most significance have the lowest address
1086 Specifies that the target lays out data in little-endian form. That
1087 is, the bits with the least significance have the lowest address
1090 Specifies the natural alignment of the stack in bits. Alignment
1091 promotion of stack variables is limited to the natural stack
1092 alignment to avoid dynamic stack realignment. The stack alignment
1093 must be a multiple of 8-bits. If omitted, the natural stack
1094 alignment defaults to "unspecified", which does not prevent any
1095 alignment promotions.
1096 ``p[n]:<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
1097 This specifies the *size* of a pointer and its ``<abi>`` and
1098 ``<pref>``\erred alignments for address space ``n``. All sizes are in
1099 bits. Specifying the ``<pref>`` alignment is optional. If omitted, the
1100 preceding ``:`` should be omitted too. The address space, ``n`` is
1101 optional, and if not specified, denotes the default address space 0.
1102 The value of ``n`` must be in the range [1,2^23).
1103 ``i<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
1104 This specifies the alignment for an integer type of a given bit
1105 ``<size>``. The value of ``<size>`` must be in the range [1,2^23).
1106 ``v<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
1107 This specifies the alignment for a vector type of a given bit
1109 ``f<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
1110 This specifies the alignment for a floating point type of a given bit
1111 ``<size>``. Only values of ``<size>`` that are supported by the target
1112 will work. 32 (float) and 64 (double) are supported on all targets; 80
1113 or 128 (different flavors of long double) are also supported on some
1115 ``a<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
1116 This specifies the alignment for an aggregate type of a given bit
1118 ``s<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
1119 This specifies the alignment for a stack object of a given bit
1121 ``n<size1>:<size2>:<size3>...``
1122 This specifies a set of native integer widths for the target CPU in
1123 bits. For example, it might contain ``n32`` for 32-bit PowerPC,
1124 ``n32:64`` for PowerPC 64, or ``n8:16:32:64`` for X86-64. Elements of
1125 this set are considered to support most general arithmetic operations
1128 When constructing the data layout for a given target, LLVM starts with a
1129 default set of specifications which are then (possibly) overridden by
1130 the specifications in the ``datalayout`` keyword. The default
1131 specifications are given in this list:
1133 - ``E`` - big endian
1134 - ``p:64:64:64`` - 64-bit pointers with 64-bit alignment.
1135 - ``p[n]:64:64:64`` - Other address spaces are assumed to be the
1136 same as the default address space.
1137 - ``S0`` - natural stack alignment is unspecified
1138 - ``i1:8:8`` - i1 is 8-bit (byte) aligned
1139 - ``i8:8:8`` - i8 is 8-bit (byte) aligned
1140 - ``i16:16:16`` - i16 is 16-bit aligned
1141 - ``i32:32:32`` - i32 is 32-bit aligned
1142 - ``i64:32:64`` - i64 has ABI alignment of 32-bits but preferred
1143 alignment of 64-bits
1144 - ``f16:16:16`` - half is 16-bit aligned
1145 - ``f32:32:32`` - float is 32-bit aligned
1146 - ``f64:64:64`` - double is 64-bit aligned
1147 - ``f128:128:128`` - quad is 128-bit aligned
1148 - ``v64:64:64`` - 64-bit vector is 64-bit aligned
1149 - ``v128:128:128`` - 128-bit vector is 128-bit aligned
1150 - ``a:0:64`` - aggregates are 64-bit aligned
1152 When LLVM is determining the alignment for a given type, it uses the
1155 #. If the type sought is an exact match for one of the specifications,
1156 that specification is used.
1157 #. If no match is found, and the type sought is an integer type, then
1158 the smallest integer type that is larger than the bitwidth of the
1159 sought type is used. If none of the specifications are larger than
1160 the bitwidth then the largest integer type is used. For example,
1161 given the default specifications above, the i7 type will use the
1162 alignment of i8 (next largest) while both i65 and i256 will use the
1163 alignment of i64 (largest specified).
1164 #. If no match is found, and the type sought is a vector type, then the
1165 largest vector type that is smaller than the sought vector type will
1166 be used as a fall back. This happens because <128 x double> can be
1167 implemented in terms of 64 <2 x double>, for example.
1169 The function of the data layout string may not be what you expect.
1170 Notably, this is not a specification from the frontend of what alignment
1171 the code generator should use.
1173 Instead, if specified, the target data layout is required to match what
1174 the ultimate *code generator* expects. This string is used by the
1175 mid-level optimizers to improve code, and this only works if it matches
1176 what the ultimate code generator uses. If you would like to generate IR
1177 that does not embed this target-specific detail into the IR, then you
1178 don't have to specify the string. This will disable some optimizations
1179 that require precise layout information, but this also prevents those
1180 optimizations from introducing target specificity into the IR.
1187 A module may specify a target triple string that describes the target
1188 host. The syntax for the target triple is simply:
1190 .. code-block:: llvm
1192 target triple = "x86_64-apple-macosx10.7.0"
1194 The *target triple* string consists of a series of identifiers delimited
1195 by the minus sign character ('-'). The canonical forms are:
1199 ARCHITECTURE-VENDOR-OPERATING_SYSTEM
1200 ARCHITECTURE-VENDOR-OPERATING_SYSTEM-ENVIRONMENT
1202 This information is passed along to the backend so that it generates
1203 code for the proper architecture. It's possible to override this on the
1204 command line with the ``-mtriple`` command line option.
1206 .. _pointeraliasing:
1208 Pointer Aliasing Rules
1209 ----------------------
1211 Any memory access must be done through a pointer value associated with
1212 an address range of the memory access, otherwise the behavior is
1213 undefined. Pointer values are associated with address ranges according
1214 to the following rules:
1216 - A pointer value is associated with the addresses associated with any
1217 value it is *based* on.
1218 - An address of a global variable is associated with the address range
1219 of the variable's storage.
1220 - The result value of an allocation instruction is associated with the
1221 address range of the allocated storage.
1222 - A null pointer in the default address-space is associated with no
1224 - An integer constant other than zero or a pointer value returned from
1225 a function not defined within LLVM may be associated with address
1226 ranges allocated through mechanisms other than those provided by
1227 LLVM. Such ranges shall not overlap with any ranges of addresses
1228 allocated by mechanisms provided by LLVM.
1230 A pointer value is *based* on another pointer value according to the
1233 - A pointer value formed from a ``getelementptr`` operation is *based*
1234 on the first operand of the ``getelementptr``.
1235 - The result value of a ``bitcast`` is *based* on the operand of the
1237 - A pointer value formed by an ``inttoptr`` is *based* on all pointer
1238 values that contribute (directly or indirectly) to the computation of
1239 the pointer's value.
1240 - The "*based* on" relationship is transitive.
1242 Note that this definition of *"based"* is intentionally similar to the
1243 definition of *"based"* in C99, though it is slightly weaker.
1245 LLVM IR does not associate types with memory. The result type of a
1246 ``load`` merely indicates the size and alignment of the memory from
1247 which to load, as well as the interpretation of the value. The first
1248 operand type of a ``store`` similarly only indicates the size and
1249 alignment of the store.
1251 Consequently, type-based alias analysis, aka TBAA, aka
1252 ``-fstrict-aliasing``, is not applicable to general unadorned LLVM IR.
1253 :ref:`Metadata <metadata>` may be used to encode additional information
1254 which specialized optimization passes may use to implement type-based
1259 Volatile Memory Accesses
1260 ------------------------
1262 Certain memory accesses, such as :ref:`load <i_load>`'s,
1263 :ref:`store <i_store>`'s, and :ref:`llvm.memcpy <int_memcpy>`'s may be
1264 marked ``volatile``. The optimizers must not change the number of
1265 volatile operations or change their order of execution relative to other
1266 volatile operations. The optimizers *may* change the order of volatile
1267 operations relative to non-volatile operations. This is not Java's
1268 "volatile" and has no cross-thread synchronization behavior.
1270 IR-level volatile loads and stores cannot safely be optimized into
1271 llvm.memcpy or llvm.memmove intrinsics even when those intrinsics are
1272 flagged volatile. Likewise, the backend should never split or merge
1273 target-legal volatile load/store instructions.
1275 .. admonition:: Rationale
1277 Platforms may rely on volatile loads and stores of natively supported
1278 data width to be executed as single instruction. For example, in C
1279 this holds for an l-value of volatile primitive type with native
1280 hardware support, but not necessarily for aggregate types. The
1281 frontend upholds these expectations, which are intentionally
1282 unspecified in the IR. The rules above ensure that IR transformation
1283 do not violate the frontend's contract with the language.
1287 Memory Model for Concurrent Operations
1288 --------------------------------------
1290 The LLVM IR does not define any way to start parallel threads of
1291 execution or to register signal handlers. Nonetheless, there are
1292 platform-specific ways to create them, and we define LLVM IR's behavior
1293 in their presence. This model is inspired by the C++0x memory model.
1295 For a more informal introduction to this model, see the :doc:`Atomics`.
1297 We define a *happens-before* partial order as the least partial order
1300 - Is a superset of single-thread program order, and
1301 - When a *synchronizes-with* ``b``, includes an edge from ``a`` to
1302 ``b``. *Synchronizes-with* pairs are introduced by platform-specific
1303 techniques, like pthread locks, thread creation, thread joining,
1304 etc., and by atomic instructions. (See also :ref:`Atomic Memory Ordering
1305 Constraints <ordering>`).
1307 Note that program order does not introduce *happens-before* edges
1308 between a thread and signals executing inside that thread.
1310 Every (defined) read operation (load instructions, memcpy, atomic
1311 loads/read-modify-writes, etc.) R reads a series of bytes written by
1312 (defined) write operations (store instructions, atomic
1313 stores/read-modify-writes, memcpy, etc.). For the purposes of this
1314 section, initialized globals are considered to have a write of the
1315 initializer which is atomic and happens before any other read or write
1316 of the memory in question. For each byte of a read R, R\ :sub:`byte`
1317 may see any write to the same byte, except:
1319 - If write\ :sub:`1` happens before write\ :sub:`2`, and
1320 write\ :sub:`2` happens before R\ :sub:`byte`, then
1321 R\ :sub:`byte` does not see write\ :sub:`1`.
1322 - If R\ :sub:`byte` happens before write\ :sub:`3`, then
1323 R\ :sub:`byte` does not see write\ :sub:`3`.
1325 Given that definition, R\ :sub:`byte` is defined as follows:
1327 - If R is volatile, the result is target-dependent. (Volatile is
1328 supposed to give guarantees which can support ``sig_atomic_t`` in
1329 C/C++, and may be used for accesses to addresses which do not behave
1330 like normal memory. It does not generally provide cross-thread
1332 - Otherwise, if there is no write to the same byte that happens before
1333 R\ :sub:`byte`, R\ :sub:`byte` returns ``undef`` for that byte.
1334 - Otherwise, if R\ :sub:`byte` may see exactly one write,
1335 R\ :sub:`byte` returns the value written by that write.
1336 - Otherwise, if R is atomic, and all the writes R\ :sub:`byte` may
1337 see are atomic, it chooses one of the values written. See the :ref:`Atomic
1338 Memory Ordering Constraints <ordering>` section for additional
1339 constraints on how the choice is made.
1340 - Otherwise R\ :sub:`byte` returns ``undef``.
1342 R returns the value composed of the series of bytes it read. This
1343 implies that some bytes within the value may be ``undef`` **without**
1344 the entire value being ``undef``. Note that this only defines the
1345 semantics of the operation; it doesn't mean that targets will emit more
1346 than one instruction to read the series of bytes.
1348 Note that in cases where none of the atomic intrinsics are used, this
1349 model places only one restriction on IR transformations on top of what
1350 is required for single-threaded execution: introducing a store to a byte
1351 which might not otherwise be stored is not allowed in general.
1352 (Specifically, in the case where another thread might write to and read
1353 from an address, introducing a store can change a load that may see
1354 exactly one write into a load that may see multiple writes.)
1358 Atomic Memory Ordering Constraints
1359 ----------------------------------
1361 Atomic instructions (:ref:`cmpxchg <i_cmpxchg>`,
1362 :ref:`atomicrmw <i_atomicrmw>`, :ref:`fence <i_fence>`,
1363 :ref:`atomic load <i_load>`, and :ref:`atomic store <i_store>`) take
1364 an ordering parameter that determines which other atomic instructions on
1365 the same address they *synchronize with*. These semantics are borrowed
1366 from Java and C++0x, but are somewhat more colloquial. If these
1367 descriptions aren't precise enough, check those specs (see spec
1368 references in the :doc:`atomics guide <Atomics>`).
1369 :ref:`fence <i_fence>` instructions treat these orderings somewhat
1370 differently since they don't take an address. See that instruction's
1371 documentation for details.
1373 For a simpler introduction to the ordering constraints, see the
1377 The set of values that can be read is governed by the happens-before
1378 partial order. A value cannot be read unless some operation wrote
1379 it. This is intended to provide a guarantee strong enough to model
1380 Java's non-volatile shared variables. This ordering cannot be
1381 specified for read-modify-write operations; it is not strong enough
1382 to make them atomic in any interesting way.
1384 In addition to the guarantees of ``unordered``, there is a single
1385 total order for modifications by ``monotonic`` operations on each
1386 address. All modification orders must be compatible with the
1387 happens-before order. There is no guarantee that the modification
1388 orders can be combined to a global total order for the whole program
1389 (and this often will not be possible). The read in an atomic
1390 read-modify-write operation (:ref:`cmpxchg <i_cmpxchg>` and
1391 :ref:`atomicrmw <i_atomicrmw>`) reads the value in the modification
1392 order immediately before the value it writes. If one atomic read
1393 happens before another atomic read of the same address, the later
1394 read must see the same value or a later value in the address's
1395 modification order. This disallows reordering of ``monotonic`` (or
1396 stronger) operations on the same address. If an address is written
1397 ``monotonic``-ally by one thread, and other threads ``monotonic``-ally
1398 read that address repeatedly, the other threads must eventually see
1399 the write. This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x
1400 ``memory_order_relaxed``.
1402 In addition to the guarantees of ``monotonic``, a
1403 *synchronizes-with* edge may be formed with a ``release`` operation.
1404 This is intended to model C++'s ``memory_order_acquire``.
1406 In addition to the guarantees of ``monotonic``, if this operation
1407 writes a value which is subsequently read by an ``acquire``
1408 operation, it *synchronizes-with* that operation. (This isn't a
1409 complete description; see the C++0x definition of a release
1410 sequence.) This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x
1411 ``memory_order_release``.
1412 ``acq_rel`` (acquire+release)
1413 Acts as both an ``acquire`` and ``release`` operation on its
1414 address. This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x ``memory_order_acq_rel``.
1415 ``seq_cst`` (sequentially consistent)
1416 In addition to the guarantees of ``acq_rel`` (``acquire`` for an
1417 operation which only reads, ``release`` for an operation which only
1418 writes), there is a global total order on all
1419 sequentially-consistent operations on all addresses, which is
1420 consistent with the *happens-before* partial order and with the
1421 modification orders of all the affected addresses. Each
1422 sequentially-consistent read sees the last preceding write to the
1423 same address in this global order. This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x
1424 ``memory_order_seq_cst`` and Java volatile.
1428 If an atomic operation is marked ``singlethread``, it only *synchronizes
1429 with* or participates in modification and seq\_cst total orderings with
1430 other operations running in the same thread (for example, in signal
1438 LLVM IR floating-point binary ops (:ref:`fadd <i_fadd>`,
1439 :ref:`fsub <i_fsub>`, :ref:`fmul <i_fmul>`, :ref:`fdiv <i_fdiv>`,
1440 :ref:`frem <i_frem>`) have the following flags that can set to enable
1441 otherwise unsafe floating point operations
1444 No NaNs - Allow optimizations to assume the arguments and result are not
1445 NaN. Such optimizations are required to retain defined behavior over
1446 NaNs, but the value of the result is undefined.
1449 No Infs - Allow optimizations to assume the arguments and result are not
1450 +/-Inf. Such optimizations are required to retain defined behavior over
1451 +/-Inf, but the value of the result is undefined.
1454 No Signed Zeros - Allow optimizations to treat the sign of a zero
1455 argument or result as insignificant.
1458 Allow Reciprocal - Allow optimizations to use the reciprocal of an
1459 argument rather than perform division.
1462 Fast - Allow algebraically equivalent transformations that may
1463 dramatically change results in floating point (e.g. reassociate). This
1464 flag implies all the others.
1471 The LLVM type system is one of the most important features of the
1472 intermediate representation. Being typed enables a number of
1473 optimizations to be performed on the intermediate representation
1474 directly, without having to do extra analyses on the side before the
1475 transformation. A strong type system makes it easier to read the
1476 generated code and enables novel analyses and transformations that are
1477 not feasible to perform on normal three address code representations.
1487 The void type does not represent any value and has no size.
1505 The function type can be thought of as a function signature. It consists of a
1506 return type and a list of formal parameter types. The return type of a function
1507 type is a void type or first class type --- except for :ref:`label <t_label>`
1508 and :ref:`metadata <t_metadata>` types.
1514 <returntype> (<parameter list>)
1516 ...where '``<parameter list>``' is a comma-separated list of type
1517 specifiers. Optionally, the parameter list may include a type ``...``, which
1518 indicates that the function takes a variable number of arguments. Variable
1519 argument functions can access their arguments with the :ref:`variable argument
1520 handling intrinsic <int_varargs>` functions. '``<returntype>``' is any type
1521 except :ref:`label <t_label>` and :ref:`metadata <t_metadata>`.
1525 +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1526 | ``i32 (i32)`` | function taking an ``i32``, returning an ``i32`` |
1527 +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1528 | ``float (i16, i32 *) *`` | :ref:`Pointer <t_pointer>` to a function that takes an ``i16`` and a :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` to ``i32``, returning ``float``. |
1529 +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1530 | ``i32 (i8*, ...)`` | A vararg function that takes at least one :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` to ``i8`` (char in C), which returns an integer. This is the signature for ``printf`` in LLVM. |
1531 +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1532 | ``{i32, i32} (i32)`` | A function taking an ``i32``, returning a :ref:`structure <t_struct>` containing two ``i32`` values |
1533 +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1540 The :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` types are perhaps the most important.
1541 Values of these types are the only ones which can be produced by
1549 These are the types that are valid in registers from CodeGen's perspective.
1558 The integer type is a very simple type that simply specifies an
1559 arbitrary bit width for the integer type desired. Any bit width from 1
1560 bit to 2\ :sup:`23`\ -1 (about 8 million) can be specified.
1568 The number of bits the integer will occupy is specified by the ``N``
1574 +----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1575 | ``i1`` | a single-bit integer. |
1576 +----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1577 | ``i32`` | a 32-bit integer. |
1578 +----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1579 | ``i1942652`` | a really big integer of over 1 million bits. |
1580 +----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1584 Floating Point Types
1585 """"""""""""""""""""
1594 - 16-bit floating point value
1597 - 32-bit floating point value
1600 - 64-bit floating point value
1603 - 128-bit floating point value (112-bit mantissa)
1606 - 80-bit floating point value (X87)
1609 - 128-bit floating point value (two 64-bits)
1618 The x86mmx type represents a value held in an MMX register on an x86
1619 machine. The operations allowed on it are quite limited: parameters and
1620 return values, load and store, and bitcast. User-specified MMX
1621 instructions are represented as intrinsic or asm calls with arguments
1622 and/or results of this type. There are no arrays, vectors or constants
1639 The pointer type is used to specify memory locations. Pointers are
1640 commonly used to reference objects in memory.
1642 Pointer types may have an optional address space attribute defining the
1643 numbered address space where the pointed-to object resides. The default
1644 address space is number zero. The semantics of non-zero address spaces
1645 are target-specific.
1647 Note that LLVM does not permit pointers to void (``void*``) nor does it
1648 permit pointers to labels (``label*``). Use ``i8*`` instead.
1658 +-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1659 | ``[4 x i32]*`` | A :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` to :ref:`array <t_array>` of four ``i32`` values. |
1660 +-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1661 | ``i32 (i32*) *`` | A :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` to a :ref:`function <t_function>` that takes an ``i32*``, returning an ``i32``. |
1662 +-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1663 | ``i32 addrspace(5)*`` | A :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` to an ``i32`` value that resides in address space #5. |
1664 +-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1673 A vector type is a simple derived type that represents a vector of
1674 elements. Vector types are used when multiple primitive data are
1675 operated in parallel using a single instruction (SIMD). A vector type
1676 requires a size (number of elements) and an underlying primitive data
1677 type. Vector types are considered :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>`.
1683 < <# elements> x <elementtype> >
1685 The number of elements is a constant integer value larger than 0;
1686 elementtype may be any integer or floating point type, or a pointer to
1687 these types. Vectors of size zero are not allowed.
1691 +-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1692 | ``<4 x i32>`` | Vector of 4 32-bit integer values. |
1693 +-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1694 | ``<8 x float>`` | Vector of 8 32-bit floating-point values. |
1695 +-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1696 | ``<2 x i64>`` | Vector of 2 64-bit integer values. |
1697 +-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1698 | ``<4 x i64*>`` | Vector of 4 pointers to 64-bit integer values. |
1699 +-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1708 The label type represents code labels.
1723 The metadata type represents embedded metadata. No derived types may be
1724 created from metadata except for :ref:`function <t_function>` arguments.
1737 Aggregate Types are a subset of derived types that can contain multiple
1738 member types. :ref:`Arrays <t_array>` and :ref:`structs <t_struct>` are
1739 aggregate types. :ref:`Vectors <t_vector>` are not considered to be
1749 The array type is a very simple derived type that arranges elements
1750 sequentially in memory. The array type requires a size (number of
1751 elements) and an underlying data type.
1757 [<# elements> x <elementtype>]
1759 The number of elements is a constant integer value; ``elementtype`` may
1760 be any type with a size.
1764 +------------------+--------------------------------------+
1765 | ``[40 x i32]`` | Array of 40 32-bit integer values. |
1766 +------------------+--------------------------------------+
1767 | ``[41 x i32]`` | Array of 41 32-bit integer values. |
1768 +------------------+--------------------------------------+
1769 | ``[4 x i8]`` | Array of 4 8-bit integer values. |
1770 +------------------+--------------------------------------+
1772 Here are some examples of multidimensional arrays:
1774 +-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1775 | ``[3 x [4 x i32]]`` | 3x4 array of 32-bit integer values. |
1776 +-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1777 | ``[12 x [10 x float]]`` | 12x10 array of single precision floating point values. |
1778 +-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1779 | ``[2 x [3 x [4 x i16]]]`` | 2x3x4 array of 16-bit integer values. |
1780 +-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1782 There is no restriction on indexing beyond the end of the array implied
1783 by a static type (though there are restrictions on indexing beyond the
1784 bounds of an allocated object in some cases). This means that
1785 single-dimension 'variable sized array' addressing can be implemented in
1786 LLVM with a zero length array type. An implementation of 'pascal style
1787 arrays' in LLVM could use the type "``{ i32, [0 x float]}``", for
1797 The structure type is used to represent a collection of data members
1798 together in memory. The elements of a structure may be any type that has
1801 Structures in memory are accessed using '``load``' and '``store``' by
1802 getting a pointer to a field with the '``getelementptr``' instruction.
1803 Structures in registers are accessed using the '``extractvalue``' and
1804 '``insertvalue``' instructions.
1806 Structures may optionally be "packed" structures, which indicate that
1807 the alignment of the struct is one byte, and that there is no padding
1808 between the elements. In non-packed structs, padding between field types
1809 is inserted as defined by the DataLayout string in the module, which is
1810 required to match what the underlying code generator expects.
1812 Structures can either be "literal" or "identified". A literal structure
1813 is defined inline with other types (e.g. ``{i32, i32}*``) whereas
1814 identified types are always defined at the top level with a name.
1815 Literal types are uniqued by their contents and can never be recursive
1816 or opaque since there is no way to write one. Identified types can be
1817 recursive, can be opaqued, and are never uniqued.
1823 %T1 = type { <type list> } ; Identified normal struct type
1824 %T2 = type <{ <type list> }> ; Identified packed struct type
1828 +------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1829 | ``{ i32, i32, i32 }`` | A triple of three ``i32`` values |
1830 +------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1831 | ``{ float, i32 (i32) * }`` | A pair, where the first element is a ``float`` and the second element is a :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` to a :ref:`function <t_function>` that takes an ``i32``, returning an ``i32``. |
1832 +------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1833 | ``<{ i8, i32 }>`` | A packed struct known to be 5 bytes in size. |
1834 +------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1838 Opaque Structure Types
1839 """"""""""""""""""""""
1843 Opaque structure types are used to represent named structure types that
1844 do not have a body specified. This corresponds (for example) to the C
1845 notion of a forward declared structure.
1856 +--------------+-------------------+
1857 | ``opaque`` | An opaque type. |
1858 +--------------+-------------------+
1863 LLVM has several different basic types of constants. This section
1864 describes them all and their syntax.
1869 **Boolean constants**
1870 The two strings '``true``' and '``false``' are both valid constants
1872 **Integer constants**
1873 Standard integers (such as '4') are constants of the
1874 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` type. Negative numbers may be used with
1876 **Floating point constants**
1877 Floating point constants use standard decimal notation (e.g.
1878 123.421), exponential notation (e.g. 1.23421e+2), or a more precise
1879 hexadecimal notation (see below). The assembler requires the exact
1880 decimal value of a floating-point constant. For example, the
1881 assembler accepts 1.25 but rejects 1.3 because 1.3 is a repeating
1882 decimal in binary. Floating point constants must have a :ref:`floating
1883 point <t_floating>` type.
1884 **Null pointer constants**
1885 The identifier '``null``' is recognized as a null pointer constant
1886 and must be of :ref:`pointer type <t_pointer>`.
1888 The one non-intuitive notation for constants is the hexadecimal form of
1889 floating point constants. For example, the form
1890 '``double 0x432ff973cafa8000``' is equivalent to (but harder to read
1891 than) '``double 4.5e+15``'. The only time hexadecimal floating point
1892 constants are required (and the only time that they are generated by the
1893 disassembler) is when a floating point constant must be emitted but it
1894 cannot be represented as a decimal floating point number in a reasonable
1895 number of digits. For example, NaN's, infinities, and other special
1896 values are represented in their IEEE hexadecimal format so that assembly
1897 and disassembly do not cause any bits to change in the constants.
1899 When using the hexadecimal form, constants of types half, float, and
1900 double are represented using the 16-digit form shown above (which
1901 matches the IEEE754 representation for double); half and float values
1902 must, however, be exactly representable as IEEE 754 half and single
1903 precision, respectively. Hexadecimal format is always used for long
1904 double, and there are three forms of long double. The 80-bit format used
1905 by x86 is represented as ``0xK`` followed by 20 hexadecimal digits. The
1906 128-bit format used by PowerPC (two adjacent doubles) is represented by
1907 ``0xM`` followed by 32 hexadecimal digits. The IEEE 128-bit format is
1908 represented by ``0xL`` followed by 32 hexadecimal digits. Long doubles
1909 will only work if they match the long double format on your target.
1910 The IEEE 16-bit format (half precision) is represented by ``0xH``
1911 followed by 4 hexadecimal digits. All hexadecimal formats are big-endian
1912 (sign bit at the left).
1914 There are no constants of type x86mmx.
1916 .. _complexconstants:
1921 Complex constants are a (potentially recursive) combination of simple
1922 constants and smaller complex constants.
1924 **Structure constants**
1925 Structure constants are represented with notation similar to
1926 structure type definitions (a comma separated list of elements,
1927 surrounded by braces (``{}``)). For example:
1928 "``{ i32 4, float 17.0, i32* @G }``", where "``@G``" is declared as
1929 "``@G = external global i32``". Structure constants must have
1930 :ref:`structure type <t_struct>`, and the number and types of elements
1931 must match those specified by the type.
1933 Array constants are represented with notation similar to array type
1934 definitions (a comma separated list of elements, surrounded by
1935 square brackets (``[]``)). For example:
1936 "``[ i32 42, i32 11, i32 74 ]``". Array constants must have
1937 :ref:`array type <t_array>`, and the number and types of elements must
1938 match those specified by the type.
1939 **Vector constants**
1940 Vector constants are represented with notation similar to vector
1941 type definitions (a comma separated list of elements, surrounded by
1942 less-than/greater-than's (``<>``)). For example:
1943 "``< i32 42, i32 11, i32 74, i32 100 >``". Vector constants
1944 must have :ref:`vector type <t_vector>`, and the number and types of
1945 elements must match those specified by the type.
1946 **Zero initialization**
1947 The string '``zeroinitializer``' can be used to zero initialize a
1948 value to zero of *any* type, including scalar and
1949 :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` types. This is often used to avoid
1950 having to print large zero initializers (e.g. for large arrays) and
1951 is always exactly equivalent to using explicit zero initializers.
1953 A metadata node is a structure-like constant with :ref:`metadata
1954 type <t_metadata>`. For example:
1955 "``metadata !{ i32 0, metadata !"test" }``". Unlike other
1956 constants that are meant to be interpreted as part of the
1957 instruction stream, metadata is a place to attach additional
1958 information such as debug info.
1960 Global Variable and Function Addresses
1961 --------------------------------------
1963 The addresses of :ref:`global variables <globalvars>` and
1964 :ref:`functions <functionstructure>` are always implicitly valid
1965 (link-time) constants. These constants are explicitly referenced when
1966 the :ref:`identifier for the global <identifiers>` is used and always have
1967 :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` type. For example, the following is a legal LLVM
1970 .. code-block:: llvm
1974 @Z = global [2 x i32*] [ i32* @X, i32* @Y ]
1981 The string '``undef``' can be used anywhere a constant is expected, and
1982 indicates that the user of the value may receive an unspecified
1983 bit-pattern. Undefined values may be of any type (other than '``label``'
1984 or '``void``') and be used anywhere a constant is permitted.
1986 Undefined values are useful because they indicate to the compiler that
1987 the program is well defined no matter what value is used. This gives the
1988 compiler more freedom to optimize. Here are some examples of
1989 (potentially surprising) transformations that are valid (in pseudo IR):
1991 .. code-block:: llvm
2001 This is safe because all of the output bits are affected by the undef
2002 bits. Any output bit can have a zero or one depending on the input bits.
2004 .. code-block:: llvm
2015 These logical operations have bits that are not always affected by the
2016 input. For example, if ``%X`` has a zero bit, then the output of the
2017 '``and``' operation will always be a zero for that bit, no matter what
2018 the corresponding bit from the '``undef``' is. As such, it is unsafe to
2019 optimize or assume that the result of the '``and``' is '``undef``'.
2020 However, it is safe to assume that all bits of the '``undef``' could be
2021 0, and optimize the '``and``' to 0. Likewise, it is safe to assume that
2022 all the bits of the '``undef``' operand to the '``or``' could be set,
2023 allowing the '``or``' to be folded to -1.
2025 .. code-block:: llvm
2027 %A = select undef, %X, %Y
2028 %B = select undef, 42, %Y
2029 %C = select %X, %Y, undef
2039 This set of examples shows that undefined '``select``' (and conditional
2040 branch) conditions can go *either way*, but they have to come from one
2041 of the two operands. In the ``%A`` example, if ``%X`` and ``%Y`` were
2042 both known to have a clear low bit, then ``%A`` would have to have a
2043 cleared low bit. However, in the ``%C`` example, the optimizer is
2044 allowed to assume that the '``undef``' operand could be the same as
2045 ``%Y``, allowing the whole '``select``' to be eliminated.
2047 .. code-block:: llvm
2049 %A = xor undef, undef
2066 This example points out that two '``undef``' operands are not
2067 necessarily the same. This can be surprising to people (and also matches
2068 C semantics) where they assume that "``X^X``" is always zero, even if
2069 ``X`` is undefined. This isn't true for a number of reasons, but the
2070 short answer is that an '``undef``' "variable" can arbitrarily change
2071 its value over its "live range". This is true because the variable
2072 doesn't actually *have a live range*. Instead, the value is logically
2073 read from arbitrary registers that happen to be around when needed, so
2074 the value is not necessarily consistent over time. In fact, ``%A`` and
2075 ``%C`` need to have the same semantics or the core LLVM "replace all
2076 uses with" concept would not hold.
2078 .. code-block:: llvm
2086 These examples show the crucial difference between an *undefined value*
2087 and *undefined behavior*. An undefined value (like '``undef``') is
2088 allowed to have an arbitrary bit-pattern. This means that the ``%A``
2089 operation can be constant folded to '``undef``', because the '``undef``'
2090 could be an SNaN, and ``fdiv`` is not (currently) defined on SNaN's.
2091 However, in the second example, we can make a more aggressive
2092 assumption: because the ``undef`` is allowed to be an arbitrary value,
2093 we are allowed to assume that it could be zero. Since a divide by zero
2094 has *undefined behavior*, we are allowed to assume that the operation
2095 does not execute at all. This allows us to delete the divide and all
2096 code after it. Because the undefined operation "can't happen", the
2097 optimizer can assume that it occurs in dead code.
2099 .. code-block:: llvm
2101 a: store undef -> %X
2102 b: store %X -> undef
2107 These examples reiterate the ``fdiv`` example: a store *of* an undefined
2108 value can be assumed to not have any effect; we can assume that the
2109 value is overwritten with bits that happen to match what was already
2110 there. However, a store *to* an undefined location could clobber
2111 arbitrary memory, therefore, it has undefined behavior.
2118 Poison values are similar to :ref:`undef values <undefvalues>`, however
2119 they also represent the fact that an instruction or constant expression
2120 which cannot evoke side effects has nevertheless detected a condition
2121 which results in undefined behavior.
2123 There is currently no way of representing a poison value in the IR; they
2124 only exist when produced by operations such as :ref:`add <i_add>` with
2127 Poison value behavior is defined in terms of value *dependence*:
2129 - Values other than :ref:`phi <i_phi>` nodes depend on their operands.
2130 - :ref:`Phi <i_phi>` nodes depend on the operand corresponding to
2131 their dynamic predecessor basic block.
2132 - Function arguments depend on the corresponding actual argument values
2133 in the dynamic callers of their functions.
2134 - :ref:`Call <i_call>` instructions depend on the :ref:`ret <i_ret>`
2135 instructions that dynamically transfer control back to them.
2136 - :ref:`Invoke <i_invoke>` instructions depend on the
2137 :ref:`ret <i_ret>`, :ref:`resume <i_resume>`, or exception-throwing
2138 call instructions that dynamically transfer control back to them.
2139 - Non-volatile loads and stores depend on the most recent stores to all
2140 of the referenced memory addresses, following the order in the IR
2141 (including loads and stores implied by intrinsics such as
2142 :ref:`@llvm.memcpy <int_memcpy>`.)
2143 - An instruction with externally visible side effects depends on the
2144 most recent preceding instruction with externally visible side
2145 effects, following the order in the IR. (This includes :ref:`volatile
2146 operations <volatile>`.)
2147 - An instruction *control-depends* on a :ref:`terminator
2148 instruction <terminators>` if the terminator instruction has
2149 multiple successors and the instruction is always executed when
2150 control transfers to one of the successors, and may not be executed
2151 when control is transferred to another.
2152 - Additionally, an instruction also *control-depends* on a terminator
2153 instruction if the set of instructions it otherwise depends on would
2154 be different if the terminator had transferred control to a different
2156 - Dependence is transitive.
2158 Poison Values have the same behavior as :ref:`undef values <undefvalues>`,
2159 with the additional affect that any instruction which has a *dependence*
2160 on a poison value has undefined behavior.
2162 Here are some examples:
2164 .. code-block:: llvm
2167 %poison = sub nuw i32 0, 1 ; Results in a poison value.
2168 %still_poison = and i32 %poison, 0 ; 0, but also poison.
2169 %poison_yet_again = getelementptr i32* @h, i32 %still_poison
2170 store i32 0, i32* %poison_yet_again ; memory at @h[0] is poisoned
2172 store i32 %poison, i32* @g ; Poison value stored to memory.
2173 %poison2 = load i32* @g ; Poison value loaded back from memory.
2175 store volatile i32 %poison, i32* @g ; External observation; undefined behavior.
2177 %narrowaddr = bitcast i32* @g to i16*
2178 %wideaddr = bitcast i32* @g to i64*
2179 %poison3 = load i16* %narrowaddr ; Returns a poison value.
2180 %poison4 = load i64* %wideaddr ; Returns a poison value.
2182 %cmp = icmp slt i32 %poison, 0 ; Returns a poison value.
2183 br i1 %cmp, label %true, label %end ; Branch to either destination.
2186 store volatile i32 0, i32* @g ; This is control-dependent on %cmp, so
2187 ; it has undefined behavior.
2191 %p = phi i32 [ 0, %entry ], [ 1, %true ]
2192 ; Both edges into this PHI are
2193 ; control-dependent on %cmp, so this
2194 ; always results in a poison value.
2196 store volatile i32 0, i32* @g ; This would depend on the store in %true
2197 ; if %cmp is true, or the store in %entry
2198 ; otherwise, so this is undefined behavior.
2200 br i1 %cmp, label %second_true, label %second_end
2201 ; The same branch again, but this time the
2202 ; true block doesn't have side effects.
2209 store volatile i32 0, i32* @g ; This time, the instruction always depends
2210 ; on the store in %end. Also, it is
2211 ; control-equivalent to %end, so this is
2212 ; well-defined (ignoring earlier undefined
2213 ; behavior in this example).
2217 Addresses of Basic Blocks
2218 -------------------------
2220 ``blockaddress(@function, %block)``
2222 The '``blockaddress``' constant computes the address of the specified
2223 basic block in the specified function, and always has an ``i8*`` type.
2224 Taking the address of the entry block is illegal.
2226 This value only has defined behavior when used as an operand to the
2227 ':ref:`indirectbr <i_indirectbr>`' instruction, or for comparisons
2228 against null. Pointer equality tests between labels addresses results in
2229 undefined behavior --- though, again, comparison against null is ok, and
2230 no label is equal to the null pointer. This may be passed around as an
2231 opaque pointer sized value as long as the bits are not inspected. This
2232 allows ``ptrtoint`` and arithmetic to be performed on these values so
2233 long as the original value is reconstituted before the ``indirectbr``
2236 Finally, some targets may provide defined semantics when using the value
2237 as the operand to an inline assembly, but that is target specific.
2241 Constant Expressions
2242 --------------------
2244 Constant expressions are used to allow expressions involving other
2245 constants to be used as constants. Constant expressions may be of any
2246 :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type and may involve any LLVM operation
2247 that does not have side effects (e.g. load and call are not supported).
2248 The following is the syntax for constant expressions:
2250 ``trunc (CST to TYPE)``
2251 Truncate a constant to another type. The bit size of CST must be
2252 larger than the bit size of TYPE. Both types must be integers.
2253 ``zext (CST to TYPE)``
2254 Zero extend a constant to another type. The bit size of CST must be
2255 smaller than the bit size of TYPE. Both types must be integers.
2256 ``sext (CST to TYPE)``
2257 Sign extend a constant to another type. The bit size of CST must be
2258 smaller than the bit size of TYPE. Both types must be integers.
2259 ``fptrunc (CST to TYPE)``
2260 Truncate a floating point constant to another floating point type.
2261 The size of CST must be larger than the size of TYPE. Both types
2262 must be floating point.
2263 ``fpext (CST to TYPE)``
2264 Floating point extend a constant to another type. The size of CST
2265 must be smaller or equal to the size of TYPE. Both types must be
2267 ``fptoui (CST to TYPE)``
2268 Convert a floating point constant to the corresponding unsigned
2269 integer constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector integer type. CST
2270 must be of scalar or vector floating point type. Both CST and TYPE
2271 must be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the
2272 value won't fit in the integer type, the results are undefined.
2273 ``fptosi (CST to TYPE)``
2274 Convert a floating point constant to the corresponding signed
2275 integer constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector integer type. CST
2276 must be of scalar or vector floating point type. Both CST and TYPE
2277 must be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the
2278 value won't fit in the integer type, the results are undefined.
2279 ``uitofp (CST to TYPE)``
2280 Convert an unsigned integer constant to the corresponding floating
2281 point constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector floating point type.
2282 CST must be of scalar or vector integer type. Both CST and TYPE must
2283 be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the value
2284 won't fit in the floating point type, the results are undefined.
2285 ``sitofp (CST to TYPE)``
2286 Convert a signed integer constant to the corresponding floating
2287 point constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector floating point type.
2288 CST must be of scalar or vector integer type. Both CST and TYPE must
2289 be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the value
2290 won't fit in the floating point type, the results are undefined.
2291 ``ptrtoint (CST to TYPE)``
2292 Convert a pointer typed constant to the corresponding integer
2293 constant. ``TYPE`` must be an integer type. ``CST`` must be of
2294 pointer type. The ``CST`` value is zero extended, truncated, or
2295 unchanged to make it fit in ``TYPE``.
2296 ``inttoptr (CST to TYPE)``
2297 Convert an integer constant to a pointer constant. TYPE must be a
2298 pointer type. CST must be of integer type. The CST value is zero
2299 extended, truncated, or unchanged to make it fit in a pointer size.
2300 This one is *really* dangerous!
2301 ``bitcast (CST to TYPE)``
2302 Convert a constant, CST, to another TYPE. The constraints of the
2303 operands are the same as those for the :ref:`bitcast
2304 instruction <i_bitcast>`.
2305 ``addrspacecast (CST to TYPE)``
2306 Convert a constant pointer or constant vector of pointer, CST, to another
2307 TYPE in a different address space. The constraints of the operands are the
2308 same as those for the :ref:`addrspacecast instruction <i_addrspacecast>`.
2309 ``getelementptr (CSTPTR, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``, ``getelementptr inbounds (CSTPTR, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``
2310 Perform the :ref:`getelementptr operation <i_getelementptr>` on
2311 constants. As with the :ref:`getelementptr <i_getelementptr>`
2312 instruction, the index list may have zero or more indexes, which are
2313 required to make sense for the type of "CSTPTR".
2314 ``select (COND, VAL1, VAL2)``
2315 Perform the :ref:`select operation <i_select>` on constants.
2316 ``icmp COND (VAL1, VAL2)``
2317 Performs the :ref:`icmp operation <i_icmp>` on constants.
2318 ``fcmp COND (VAL1, VAL2)``
2319 Performs the :ref:`fcmp operation <i_fcmp>` on constants.
2320 ``extractelement (VAL, IDX)``
2321 Perform the :ref:`extractelement operation <i_extractelement>` on
2323 ``insertelement (VAL, ELT, IDX)``
2324 Perform the :ref:`insertelement operation <i_insertelement>` on
2326 ``shufflevector (VEC1, VEC2, IDXMASK)``
2327 Perform the :ref:`shufflevector operation <i_shufflevector>` on
2329 ``extractvalue (VAL, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``
2330 Perform the :ref:`extractvalue operation <i_extractvalue>` on
2331 constants. The index list is interpreted in a similar manner as
2332 indices in a ':ref:`getelementptr <i_getelementptr>`' operation. At
2333 least one index value must be specified.
2334 ``insertvalue (VAL, ELT, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``
2335 Perform the :ref:`insertvalue operation <i_insertvalue>` on constants.
2336 The index list is interpreted in a similar manner as indices in a
2337 ':ref:`getelementptr <i_getelementptr>`' operation. At least one index
2338 value must be specified.
2339 ``OPCODE (LHS, RHS)``
2340 Perform the specified operation of the LHS and RHS constants. OPCODE
2341 may be any of the :ref:`binary <binaryops>` or :ref:`bitwise
2342 binary <bitwiseops>` operations. The constraints on operands are
2343 the same as those for the corresponding instruction (e.g. no bitwise
2344 operations on floating point values are allowed).
2351 Inline Assembler Expressions
2352 ----------------------------
2354 LLVM supports inline assembler expressions (as opposed to :ref:`Module-Level
2355 Inline Assembly <moduleasm>`) through the use of a special value. This
2356 value represents the inline assembler as a string (containing the
2357 instructions to emit), a list of operand constraints (stored as a
2358 string), a flag that indicates whether or not the inline asm expression
2359 has side effects, and a flag indicating whether the function containing
2360 the asm needs to align its stack conservatively. An example inline
2361 assembler expression is:
2363 .. code-block:: llvm
2365 i32 (i32) asm "bswap $0", "=r,r"
2367 Inline assembler expressions may **only** be used as the callee operand
2368 of a :ref:`call <i_call>` or an :ref:`invoke <i_invoke>` instruction.
2369 Thus, typically we have:
2371 .. code-block:: llvm
2373 %X = call i32 asm "bswap $0", "=r,r"(i32 %Y)
2375 Inline asms with side effects not visible in the constraint list must be
2376 marked as having side effects. This is done through the use of the
2377 '``sideeffect``' keyword, like so:
2379 .. code-block:: llvm
2381 call void asm sideeffect "eieio", ""()
2383 In some cases inline asms will contain code that will not work unless
2384 the stack is aligned in some way, such as calls or SSE instructions on
2385 x86, yet will not contain code that does that alignment within the asm.
2386 The compiler should make conservative assumptions about what the asm
2387 might contain and should generate its usual stack alignment code in the
2388 prologue if the '``alignstack``' keyword is present:
2390 .. code-block:: llvm
2392 call void asm alignstack "eieio", ""()
2394 Inline asms also support using non-standard assembly dialects. The
2395 assumed dialect is ATT. When the '``inteldialect``' keyword is present,
2396 the inline asm is using the Intel dialect. Currently, ATT and Intel are
2397 the only supported dialects. An example is:
2399 .. code-block:: llvm
2401 call void asm inteldialect "eieio", ""()
2403 If multiple keywords appear the '``sideeffect``' keyword must come
2404 first, the '``alignstack``' keyword second and the '``inteldialect``'
2410 The call instructions that wrap inline asm nodes may have a
2411 "``!srcloc``" MDNode attached to it that contains a list of constant
2412 integers. If present, the code generator will use the integer as the
2413 location cookie value when report errors through the ``LLVMContext``
2414 error reporting mechanisms. This allows a front-end to correlate backend
2415 errors that occur with inline asm back to the source code that produced
2418 .. code-block:: llvm
2420 call void asm sideeffect "something bad", ""(), !srcloc !42
2422 !42 = !{ i32 1234567 }
2424 It is up to the front-end to make sense of the magic numbers it places
2425 in the IR. If the MDNode contains multiple constants, the code generator
2426 will use the one that corresponds to the line of the asm that the error
2431 Metadata Nodes and Metadata Strings
2432 -----------------------------------
2434 LLVM IR allows metadata to be attached to instructions in the program
2435 that can convey extra information about the code to the optimizers and
2436 code generator. One example application of metadata is source-level
2437 debug information. There are two metadata primitives: strings and nodes.
2438 All metadata has the ``metadata`` type and is identified in syntax by a
2439 preceding exclamation point ('``!``').
2441 A metadata string is a string surrounded by double quotes. It can
2442 contain any character by escaping non-printable characters with
2443 "``\xx``" where "``xx``" is the two digit hex code. For example:
2446 Metadata nodes are represented with notation similar to structure
2447 constants (a comma separated list of elements, surrounded by braces and
2448 preceded by an exclamation point). Metadata nodes can have any values as
2449 their operand. For example:
2451 .. code-block:: llvm
2453 !{ metadata !"test\00", i32 10}
2455 A :ref:`named metadata <namedmetadatastructure>` is a collection of
2456 metadata nodes, which can be looked up in the module symbol table. For
2459 .. code-block:: llvm
2461 !foo = metadata !{!4, !3}
2463 Metadata can be used as function arguments. Here ``llvm.dbg.value``
2464 function is using two metadata arguments:
2466 .. code-block:: llvm
2468 call void @llvm.dbg.value(metadata !24, i64 0, metadata !25)
2470 Metadata can be attached with an instruction. Here metadata ``!21`` is
2471 attached to the ``add`` instruction using the ``!dbg`` identifier:
2473 .. code-block:: llvm
2475 %indvar.next = add i64 %indvar, 1, !dbg !21
2477 More information about specific metadata nodes recognized by the
2478 optimizers and code generator is found below.
2483 In LLVM IR, memory does not have types, so LLVM's own type system is not
2484 suitable for doing TBAA. Instead, metadata is added to the IR to
2485 describe a type system of a higher level language. This can be used to
2486 implement typical C/C++ TBAA, but it can also be used to implement
2487 custom alias analysis behavior for other languages.
2489 The current metadata format is very simple. TBAA metadata nodes have up
2490 to three fields, e.g.:
2492 .. code-block:: llvm
2494 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !"an example type tree" }
2495 !1 = metadata !{ metadata !"int", metadata !0 }
2496 !2 = metadata !{ metadata !"float", metadata !0 }
2497 !3 = metadata !{ metadata !"const float", metadata !2, i64 1 }
2499 The first field is an identity field. It can be any value, usually a
2500 metadata string, which uniquely identifies the type. The most important
2501 name in the tree is the name of the root node. Two trees with different
2502 root node names are entirely disjoint, even if they have leaves with
2505 The second field identifies the type's parent node in the tree, or is
2506 null or omitted for a root node. A type is considered to alias all of
2507 its descendants and all of its ancestors in the tree. Also, a type is
2508 considered to alias all types in other trees, so that bitcode produced
2509 from multiple front-ends is handled conservatively.
2511 If the third field is present, it's an integer which if equal to 1
2512 indicates that the type is "constant" (meaning
2513 ``pointsToConstantMemory`` should return true; see `other useful
2514 AliasAnalysis methods <AliasAnalysis.html#OtherItfs>`_).
2516 '``tbaa.struct``' Metadata
2517 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2519 The :ref:`llvm.memcpy <int_memcpy>` is often used to implement
2520 aggregate assignment operations in C and similar languages, however it
2521 is defined to copy a contiguous region of memory, which is more than
2522 strictly necessary for aggregate types which contain holes due to
2523 padding. Also, it doesn't contain any TBAA information about the fields
2526 ``!tbaa.struct`` metadata can describe which memory subregions in a
2527 memcpy are padding and what the TBAA tags of the struct are.
2529 The current metadata format is very simple. ``!tbaa.struct`` metadata
2530 nodes are a list of operands which are in conceptual groups of three.
2531 For each group of three, the first operand gives the byte offset of a
2532 field in bytes, the second gives its size in bytes, and the third gives
2535 .. code-block:: llvm
2537 !4 = metadata !{ i64 0, i64 4, metadata !1, i64 8, i64 4, metadata !2 }
2539 This describes a struct with two fields. The first is at offset 0 bytes
2540 with size 4 bytes, and has tbaa tag !1. The second is at offset 8 bytes
2541 and has size 4 bytes and has tbaa tag !2.
2543 Note that the fields need not be contiguous. In this example, there is a
2544 4 byte gap between the two fields. This gap represents padding which
2545 does not carry useful data and need not be preserved.
2547 '``fpmath``' Metadata
2548 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2550 ``fpmath`` metadata may be attached to any instruction of floating point
2551 type. It can be used to express the maximum acceptable error in the
2552 result of that instruction, in ULPs, thus potentially allowing the
2553 compiler to use a more efficient but less accurate method of computing
2554 it. ULP is defined as follows:
2556 If ``x`` is a real number that lies between two finite consecutive
2557 floating-point numbers ``a`` and ``b``, without being equal to one
2558 of them, then ``ulp(x) = |b - a|``, otherwise ``ulp(x)`` is the
2559 distance between the two non-equal finite floating-point numbers
2560 nearest ``x``. Moreover, ``ulp(NaN)`` is ``NaN``.
2562 The metadata node shall consist of a single positive floating point
2563 number representing the maximum relative error, for example:
2565 .. code-block:: llvm
2567 !0 = metadata !{ float 2.5 } ; maximum acceptable inaccuracy is 2.5 ULPs
2569 '``range``' Metadata
2570 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2572 ``range`` metadata may be attached only to loads of integer types. It
2573 expresses the possible ranges the loaded value is in. The ranges are
2574 represented with a flattened list of integers. The loaded value is known
2575 to be in the union of the ranges defined by each consecutive pair. Each
2576 pair has the following properties:
2578 - The type must match the type loaded by the instruction.
2579 - The pair ``a,b`` represents the range ``[a,b)``.
2580 - Both ``a`` and ``b`` are constants.
2581 - The range is allowed to wrap.
2582 - The range should not represent the full or empty set. That is,
2585 In addition, the pairs must be in signed order of the lower bound and
2586 they must be non-contiguous.
2590 .. code-block:: llvm
2592 %a = load i8* %x, align 1, !range !0 ; Can only be 0 or 1
2593 %b = load i8* %y, align 1, !range !1 ; Can only be 255 (-1), 0 or 1
2594 %c = load i8* %z, align 1, !range !2 ; Can only be 0, 1, 3, 4 or 5
2595 %d = load i8* %z, align 1, !range !3 ; Can only be -2, -1, 3, 4 or 5
2597 !0 = metadata !{ i8 0, i8 2 }
2598 !1 = metadata !{ i8 255, i8 2 }
2599 !2 = metadata !{ i8 0, i8 2, i8 3, i8 6 }
2600 !3 = metadata !{ i8 -2, i8 0, i8 3, i8 6 }
2605 It is sometimes useful to attach information to loop constructs. Currently,
2606 loop metadata is implemented as metadata attached to the branch instruction
2607 in the loop latch block. This type of metadata refer to a metadata node that is
2608 guaranteed to be separate for each loop. The loop identifier metadata is
2609 specified with the name ``llvm.loop``.
2611 The loop identifier metadata is implemented using a metadata that refers to
2612 itself to avoid merging it with any other identifier metadata, e.g.,
2613 during module linkage or function inlining. That is, each loop should refer
2614 to their own identification metadata even if they reside in separate functions.
2615 The following example contains loop identifier metadata for two separate loop
2618 .. code-block:: llvm
2620 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !0 }
2621 !1 = metadata !{ metadata !1 }
2623 The loop identifier metadata can be used to specify additional per-loop
2624 metadata. Any operands after the first operand can be treated as user-defined
2625 metadata. For example the ``llvm.vectorizer.unroll`` metadata is understood
2626 by the loop vectorizer to indicate how many times to unroll the loop:
2628 .. code-block:: llvm
2630 br i1 %exitcond, label %._crit_edge, label %.lr.ph, !llvm.loop !0
2632 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !0, metadata !1 }
2633 !1 = metadata !{ metadata !"llvm.vectorizer.unroll", i32 2 }
2638 Metadata types used to annotate memory accesses with information helpful
2639 for optimizations are prefixed with ``llvm.mem``.
2641 '``llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access``' Metadata
2642 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2644 For a loop to be parallel, in addition to using
2645 the ``llvm.loop`` metadata to mark the loop latch branch instruction,
2646 also all of the memory accessing instructions in the loop body need to be
2647 marked with the ``llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access`` metadata. If there
2648 is at least one memory accessing instruction not marked with the metadata,
2649 the loop must be considered a sequential loop. This causes parallel loops to be
2650 converted to sequential loops due to optimization passes that are unaware of
2651 the parallel semantics and that insert new memory instructions to the loop
2654 Example of a loop that is considered parallel due to its correct use of
2655 both ``llvm.loop`` and ``llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access``
2656 metadata types that refer to the same loop identifier metadata.
2658 .. code-block:: llvm
2662 %0 = load i32* %arrayidx, align 4, !llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access !0
2664 store i32 %0, i32* %arrayidx4, align 4, !llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access !0
2666 br i1 %exitcond, label %for.end, label %for.body, !llvm.loop !0
2670 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !0 }
2672 It is also possible to have nested parallel loops. In that case the
2673 memory accesses refer to a list of loop identifier metadata nodes instead of
2674 the loop identifier metadata node directly:
2676 .. code-block:: llvm
2683 %0 = load i32* %arrayidx, align 4, !llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access !0
2685 store i32 %0, i32* %arrayidx4, align 4, !llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access !0
2687 br i1 %exitcond, label %inner.for.end, label %inner.for.body, !llvm.loop !1
2691 %0 = load i32* %arrayidx, align 4, !llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access !0
2693 store i32 %0, i32* %arrayidx4, align 4, !llvm.mem.parallel_loop_access !0
2695 br i1 %exitcond, label %outer.for.end, label %outer.for.body, !llvm.loop !2
2697 outer.for.end: ; preds = %for.body
2699 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !1, metadata !2 } ; a list of loop identifiers
2700 !1 = metadata !{ metadata !1 } ; an identifier for the inner loop
2701 !2 = metadata !{ metadata !2 } ; an identifier for the outer loop
2703 '``llvm.vectorizer``'
2704 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2706 Metadata prefixed with ``llvm.vectorizer`` is used to control per-loop
2707 vectorization parameters such as vectorization factor and unroll factor.
2709 ``llvm.vectorizer`` metadata should be used in conjunction with ``llvm.loop``
2710 loop identification metadata.
2712 '``llvm.vectorizer.unroll``' Metadata
2713 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2715 This metadata instructs the loop vectorizer to unroll the specified
2716 loop exactly ``N`` times.
2718 The first operand is the string ``llvm.vectorizer.unroll`` and the second
2719 operand is an integer specifying the unroll factor. For example:
2721 .. code-block:: llvm
2723 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !"llvm.vectorizer.unroll", i32 4 }
2725 Note that setting ``llvm.vectorizer.unroll`` to 1 disables unrolling of the
2728 If ``llvm.vectorizer.unroll`` is set to 0 then the amount of unrolling will be
2729 determined automatically.
2731 '``llvm.vectorizer.width``' Metadata
2732 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2734 This metadata sets the target width of the vectorizer to ``N``. Without
2735 this metadata, the vectorizer will choose a width automatically.
2736 Regardless of this metadata, the vectorizer will only vectorize loops if
2737 it believes it is valid to do so.
2739 The first operand is the string ``llvm.vectorizer.width`` and the second
2740 operand is an integer specifying the width. For example:
2742 .. code-block:: llvm
2744 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !"llvm.vectorizer.width", i32 4 }
2746 Note that setting ``llvm.vectorizer.width`` to 1 disables vectorization of the
2749 If ``llvm.vectorizer.width`` is set to 0 then the width will be determined
2752 Module Flags Metadata
2753 =====================
2755 Information about the module as a whole is difficult to convey to LLVM's
2756 subsystems. The LLVM IR isn't sufficient to transmit this information.
2757 The ``llvm.module.flags`` named metadata exists in order to facilitate
2758 this. These flags are in the form of key / value pairs --- much like a
2759 dictionary --- making it easy for any subsystem who cares about a flag to
2762 The ``llvm.module.flags`` metadata contains a list of metadata triplets.
2763 Each triplet has the following form:
2765 - The first element is a *behavior* flag, which specifies the behavior
2766 when two (or more) modules are merged together, and it encounters two
2767 (or more) metadata with the same ID. The supported behaviors are
2769 - The second element is a metadata string that is a unique ID for the
2770 metadata. Each module may only have one flag entry for each unique ID (not
2771 including entries with the **Require** behavior).
2772 - The third element is the value of the flag.
2774 When two (or more) modules are merged together, the resulting
2775 ``llvm.module.flags`` metadata is the union of the modules' flags. That is, for
2776 each unique metadata ID string, there will be exactly one entry in the merged
2777 modules ``llvm.module.flags`` metadata table, and the value for that entry will
2778 be determined by the merge behavior flag, as described below. The only exception
2779 is that entries with the *Require* behavior are always preserved.
2781 The following behaviors are supported:
2792 Emits an error if two values disagree, otherwise the resulting value
2793 is that of the operands.
2797 Emits a warning if two values disagree. The result value will be the
2798 operand for the flag from the first module being linked.
2802 Adds a requirement that another module flag be present and have a
2803 specified value after linking is performed. The value must be a
2804 metadata pair, where the first element of the pair is the ID of the
2805 module flag to be restricted, and the second element of the pair is
2806 the value the module flag should be restricted to. This behavior can
2807 be used to restrict the allowable results (via triggering of an
2808 error) of linking IDs with the **Override** behavior.
2812 Uses the specified value, regardless of the behavior or value of the
2813 other module. If both modules specify **Override**, but the values
2814 differ, an error will be emitted.
2818 Appends the two values, which are required to be metadata nodes.
2822 Appends the two values, which are required to be metadata
2823 nodes. However, duplicate entries in the second list are dropped
2824 during the append operation.
2826 It is an error for a particular unique flag ID to have multiple behaviors,
2827 except in the case of **Require** (which adds restrictions on another metadata
2828 value) or **Override**.
2830 An example of module flags:
2832 .. code-block:: llvm
2834 !0 = metadata !{ i32 1, metadata !"foo", i32 1 }
2835 !1 = metadata !{ i32 4, metadata !"bar", i32 37 }
2836 !2 = metadata !{ i32 2, metadata !"qux", i32 42 }
2837 !3 = metadata !{ i32 3, metadata !"qux",
2839 metadata !"foo", i32 1
2842 !llvm.module.flags = !{ !0, !1, !2, !3 }
2844 - Metadata ``!0`` has the ID ``!"foo"`` and the value '1'. The behavior
2845 if two or more ``!"foo"`` flags are seen is to emit an error if their
2846 values are not equal.
2848 - Metadata ``!1`` has the ID ``!"bar"`` and the value '37'. The
2849 behavior if two or more ``!"bar"`` flags are seen is to use the value
2852 - Metadata ``!2`` has the ID ``!"qux"`` and the value '42'. The
2853 behavior if two or more ``!"qux"`` flags are seen is to emit a
2854 warning if their values are not equal.
2856 - Metadata ``!3`` has the ID ``!"qux"`` and the value:
2860 metadata !{ metadata !"foo", i32 1 }
2862 The behavior is to emit an error if the ``llvm.module.flags`` does not
2863 contain a flag with the ID ``!"foo"`` that has the value '1' after linking is
2866 Objective-C Garbage Collection Module Flags Metadata
2867 ----------------------------------------------------
2869 On the Mach-O platform, Objective-C stores metadata about garbage
2870 collection in a special section called "image info". The metadata
2871 consists of a version number and a bitmask specifying what types of
2872 garbage collection are supported (if any) by the file. If two or more
2873 modules are linked together their garbage collection metadata needs to
2874 be merged rather than appended together.
2876 The Objective-C garbage collection module flags metadata consists of the
2877 following key-value pairs:
2886 * - ``Objective-C Version``
2887 - **[Required]** --- The Objective-C ABI version. Valid values are 1 and 2.
2889 * - ``Objective-C Image Info Version``
2890 - **[Required]** --- The version of the image info section. Currently
2893 * - ``Objective-C Image Info Section``
2894 - **[Required]** --- The section to place the metadata. Valid values are
2895 ``"__OBJC, __image_info, regular"`` for Objective-C ABI version 1, and
2896 ``"__DATA,__objc_imageinfo, regular, no_dead_strip"`` for
2897 Objective-C ABI version 2.
2899 * - ``Objective-C Garbage Collection``
2900 - **[Required]** --- Specifies whether garbage collection is supported or
2901 not. Valid values are 0, for no garbage collection, and 2, for garbage
2902 collection supported.
2904 * - ``Objective-C GC Only``
2905 - **[Optional]** --- Specifies that only garbage collection is supported.
2906 If present, its value must be 6. This flag requires that the
2907 ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` flag have the value 2.
2909 Some important flag interactions:
2911 - If a module with ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` set to 0 is
2912 merged with a module with ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` set to
2913 2, then the resulting module has the
2914 ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` flag set to 0.
2915 - A module with ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` set to 0 cannot be
2916 merged with a module with ``Objective-C GC Only`` set to 6.
2918 Automatic Linker Flags Module Flags Metadata
2919 --------------------------------------------
2921 Some targets support embedding flags to the linker inside individual object
2922 files. Typically this is used in conjunction with language extensions which
2923 allow source files to explicitly declare the libraries they depend on, and have
2924 these automatically be transmitted to the linker via object files.
2926 These flags are encoded in the IR using metadata in the module flags section,
2927 using the ``Linker Options`` key. The merge behavior for this flag is required
2928 to be ``AppendUnique``, and the value for the key is expected to be a metadata
2929 node which should be a list of other metadata nodes, each of which should be a
2930 list of metadata strings defining linker options.
2932 For example, the following metadata section specifies two separate sets of
2933 linker options, presumably to link against ``libz`` and the ``Cocoa``
2936 !0 = metadata !{ i32 6, metadata !"Linker Options",
2938 metadata !{ metadata !"-lz" },
2939 metadata !{ metadata !"-framework", metadata !"Cocoa" } } }
2940 !llvm.module.flags = !{ !0 }
2942 The metadata encoding as lists of lists of options, as opposed to a collapsed
2943 list of options, is chosen so that the IR encoding can use multiple option
2944 strings to specify e.g., a single library, while still having that specifier be
2945 preserved as an atomic element that can be recognized by a target specific
2946 assembly writer or object file emitter.
2948 Each individual option is required to be either a valid option for the target's
2949 linker, or an option that is reserved by the target specific assembly writer or
2950 object file emitter. No other aspect of these options is defined by the IR.
2952 .. _intrinsicglobalvariables:
2954 Intrinsic Global Variables
2955 ==========================
2957 LLVM has a number of "magic" global variables that contain data that
2958 affect code generation or other IR semantics. These are documented here.
2959 All globals of this sort should have a section specified as
2960 "``llvm.metadata``". This section and all globals that start with
2961 "``llvm.``" are reserved for use by LLVM.
2965 The '``llvm.used``' Global Variable
2966 -----------------------------------
2968 The ``@llvm.used`` global is an array which has
2969 :ref:`appending linkage <linkage_appending>`. This array contains a list of
2970 pointers to named global variables, functions and aliases which may optionally
2971 have a pointer cast formed of bitcast or getelementptr. For example, a legal
2974 .. code-block:: llvm
2979 @llvm.used = appending global [2 x i8*] [
2981 i8* bitcast (i32* @Y to i8*)
2982 ], section "llvm.metadata"
2984 If a symbol appears in the ``@llvm.used`` list, then the compiler, assembler,
2985 and linker are required to treat the symbol as if there is a reference to the
2986 symbol that it cannot see (which is why they have to be named). For example, if
2987 a variable has internal linkage and no references other than that from the
2988 ``@llvm.used`` list, it cannot be deleted. This is commonly used to represent
2989 references from inline asms and other things the compiler cannot "see", and
2990 corresponds to "``attribute((used))``" in GNU C.
2992 On some targets, the code generator must emit a directive to the
2993 assembler or object file to prevent the assembler and linker from
2994 molesting the symbol.
2996 .. _gv_llvmcompilerused:
2998 The '``llvm.compiler.used``' Global Variable
2999 --------------------------------------------
3001 The ``@llvm.compiler.used`` directive is the same as the ``@llvm.used``
3002 directive, except that it only prevents the compiler from touching the
3003 symbol. On targets that support it, this allows an intelligent linker to
3004 optimize references to the symbol without being impeded as it would be
3007 This is a rare construct that should only be used in rare circumstances,
3008 and should not be exposed to source languages.
3010 .. _gv_llvmglobalctors:
3012 The '``llvm.global_ctors``' Global Variable
3013 -------------------------------------------
3015 .. code-block:: llvm
3017 %0 = type { i32, void ()* }
3018 @llvm.global_ctors = appending global [1 x %0] [%0 { i32 65535, void ()* @ctor }]
3020 The ``@llvm.global_ctors`` array contains a list of constructor
3021 functions and associated priorities. The functions referenced by this
3022 array will be called in ascending order of priority (i.e. lowest first)
3023 when the module is loaded. The order of functions with the same priority
3026 .. _llvmglobaldtors:
3028 The '``llvm.global_dtors``' Global Variable
3029 -------------------------------------------
3031 .. code-block:: llvm
3033 %0 = type { i32, void ()* }
3034 @llvm.global_dtors = appending global [1 x %0] [%0 { i32 65535, void ()* @dtor }]
3036 The ``@llvm.global_dtors`` array contains a list of destructor functions
3037 and associated priorities. The functions referenced by this array will
3038 be called in descending order of priority (i.e. highest first) when the
3039 module is loaded. The order of functions with the same priority is not
3042 Instruction Reference
3043 =====================
3045 The LLVM instruction set consists of several different classifications
3046 of instructions: :ref:`terminator instructions <terminators>`, :ref:`binary
3047 instructions <binaryops>`, :ref:`bitwise binary
3048 instructions <bitwiseops>`, :ref:`memory instructions <memoryops>`, and
3049 :ref:`other instructions <otherops>`.
3053 Terminator Instructions
3054 -----------------------
3056 As mentioned :ref:`previously <functionstructure>`, every basic block in a
3057 program ends with a "Terminator" instruction, which indicates which
3058 block should be executed after the current block is finished. These
3059 terminator instructions typically yield a '``void``' value: they produce
3060 control flow, not values (the one exception being the
3061 ':ref:`invoke <i_invoke>`' instruction).
3063 The terminator instructions are: ':ref:`ret <i_ret>`',
3064 ':ref:`br <i_br>`', ':ref:`switch <i_switch>`',
3065 ':ref:`indirectbr <i_indirectbr>`', ':ref:`invoke <i_invoke>`',
3066 ':ref:`resume <i_resume>`', and ':ref:`unreachable <i_unreachable>`'.
3070 '``ret``' Instruction
3071 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3078 ret <type> <value> ; Return a value from a non-void function
3079 ret void ; Return from void function
3084 The '``ret``' instruction is used to return control flow (and optionally
3085 a value) from a function back to the caller.
3087 There are two forms of the '``ret``' instruction: one that returns a
3088 value and then causes control flow, and one that just causes control
3094 The '``ret``' instruction optionally accepts a single argument, the
3095 return value. The type of the return value must be a ':ref:`first
3096 class <t_firstclass>`' type.
3098 A function is not :ref:`well formed <wellformed>` if it it has a non-void
3099 return type and contains a '``ret``' instruction with no return value or
3100 a return value with a type that does not match its type, or if it has a
3101 void return type and contains a '``ret``' instruction with a return
3107 When the '``ret``' instruction is executed, control flow returns back to
3108 the calling function's context. If the caller is a
3109 ":ref:`call <i_call>`" instruction, execution continues at the
3110 instruction after the call. If the caller was an
3111 ":ref:`invoke <i_invoke>`" instruction, execution continues at the
3112 beginning of the "normal" destination block. If the instruction returns
3113 a value, that value shall set the call or invoke instruction's return
3119 .. code-block:: llvm
3121 ret i32 5 ; Return an integer value of 5
3122 ret void ; Return from a void function
3123 ret { i32, i8 } { i32 4, i8 2 } ; Return a struct of values 4 and 2
3127 '``br``' Instruction
3128 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3135 br i1 <cond>, label <iftrue>, label <iffalse>
3136 br label <dest> ; Unconditional branch
3141 The '``br``' instruction is used to cause control flow to transfer to a
3142 different basic block in the current function. There are two forms of
3143 this instruction, corresponding to a conditional branch and an
3144 unconditional branch.
3149 The conditional branch form of the '``br``' instruction takes a single
3150 '``i1``' value and two '``label``' values. The unconditional form of the
3151 '``br``' instruction takes a single '``label``' value as a target.
3156 Upon execution of a conditional '``br``' instruction, the '``i1``'
3157 argument is evaluated. If the value is ``true``, control flows to the
3158 '``iftrue``' ``label`` argument. If "cond" is ``false``, control flows
3159 to the '``iffalse``' ``label`` argument.
3164 .. code-block:: llvm
3167 %cond = icmp eq i32 %a, %b
3168 br i1 %cond, label %IfEqual, label %IfUnequal
3176 '``switch``' Instruction
3177 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3184 switch <intty> <value>, label <defaultdest> [ <intty> <val>, label <dest> ... ]
3189 The '``switch``' instruction is used to transfer control flow to one of
3190 several different places. It is a generalization of the '``br``'
3191 instruction, allowing a branch to occur to one of many possible
3197 The '``switch``' instruction uses three parameters: an integer
3198 comparison value '``value``', a default '``label``' destination, and an
3199 array of pairs of comparison value constants and '``label``'s. The table
3200 is not allowed to contain duplicate constant entries.
3205 The ``switch`` instruction specifies a table of values and destinations.
3206 When the '``switch``' instruction is executed, this table is searched
3207 for the given value. If the value is found, control flow is transferred
3208 to the corresponding destination; otherwise, control flow is transferred
3209 to the default destination.
3214 Depending on properties of the target machine and the particular
3215 ``switch`` instruction, this instruction may be code generated in
3216 different ways. For example, it could be generated as a series of
3217 chained conditional branches or with a lookup table.
3222 .. code-block:: llvm
3224 ; Emulate a conditional br instruction
3225 %Val = zext i1 %value to i32
3226 switch i32 %Val, label %truedest [ i32 0, label %falsedest ]
3228 ; Emulate an unconditional br instruction
3229 switch i32 0, label %dest [ ]
3231 ; Implement a jump table:
3232 switch i32 %val, label %otherwise [ i32 0, label %onzero
3234 i32 2, label %ontwo ]
3238 '``indirectbr``' Instruction
3239 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3246 indirectbr <somety>* <address>, [ label <dest1>, label <dest2>, ... ]
3251 The '``indirectbr``' instruction implements an indirect branch to a
3252 label within the current function, whose address is specified by
3253 "``address``". Address must be derived from a
3254 :ref:`blockaddress <blockaddress>` constant.
3259 The '``address``' argument is the address of the label to jump to. The
3260 rest of the arguments indicate the full set of possible destinations
3261 that the address may point to. Blocks are allowed to occur multiple
3262 times in the destination list, though this isn't particularly useful.
3264 This destination list is required so that dataflow analysis has an
3265 accurate understanding of the CFG.
3270 Control transfers to the block specified in the address argument. All
3271 possible destination blocks must be listed in the label list, otherwise
3272 this instruction has undefined behavior. This implies that jumps to
3273 labels defined in other functions have undefined behavior as well.
3278 This is typically implemented with a jump through a register.
3283 .. code-block:: llvm
3285 indirectbr i8* %Addr, [ label %bb1, label %bb2, label %bb3 ]
3289 '``invoke``' Instruction
3290 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3297 <result> = invoke [cconv] [ret attrs] <ptr to function ty> <function ptr val>(<function args>) [fn attrs]
3298 to label <normal label> unwind label <exception label>
3303 The '``invoke``' instruction causes control to transfer to a specified
3304 function, with the possibility of control flow transfer to either the
3305 '``normal``' label or the '``exception``' label. If the callee function
3306 returns with the "``ret``" instruction, control flow will return to the
3307 "normal" label. If the callee (or any indirect callees) returns via the
3308 ":ref:`resume <i_resume>`" instruction or other exception handling
3309 mechanism, control is interrupted and continued at the dynamically
3310 nearest "exception" label.
3312 The '``exception``' label is a `landing
3313 pad <ExceptionHandling.html#overview>`_ for the exception. As such,
3314 '``exception``' label is required to have the
3315 ":ref:`landingpad <i_landingpad>`" instruction, which contains the
3316 information about the behavior of the program after unwinding happens,
3317 as its first non-PHI instruction. The restrictions on the
3318 "``landingpad``" instruction's tightly couples it to the "``invoke``"
3319 instruction, so that the important information contained within the
3320 "``landingpad``" instruction can't be lost through normal code motion.
3325 This instruction requires several arguments:
3327 #. The optional "cconv" marker indicates which :ref:`calling
3328 convention <callingconv>` the call should use. If none is
3329 specified, the call defaults to using C calling conventions.
3330 #. The optional :ref:`Parameter Attributes <paramattrs>` list for return
3331 values. Only '``zeroext``', '``signext``', and '``inreg``' attributes
3333 #. '``ptr to function ty``': shall be the signature of the pointer to
3334 function value being invoked. In most cases, this is a direct
3335 function invocation, but indirect ``invoke``'s are just as possible,
3336 branching off an arbitrary pointer to function value.
3337 #. '``function ptr val``': An LLVM value containing a pointer to a
3338 function to be invoked.
3339 #. '``function args``': argument list whose types match the function
3340 signature argument types and parameter attributes. All arguments must
3341 be of :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type. If the function signature
3342 indicates the function accepts a variable number of arguments, the
3343 extra arguments can be specified.
3344 #. '``normal label``': the label reached when the called function
3345 executes a '``ret``' instruction.
3346 #. '``exception label``': the label reached when a callee returns via
3347 the :ref:`resume <i_resume>` instruction or other exception handling
3349 #. The optional :ref:`function attributes <fnattrs>` list. Only
3350 '``noreturn``', '``nounwind``', '``readonly``' and '``readnone``'
3351 attributes are valid here.
3356 This instruction is designed to operate as a standard '``call``'
3357 instruction in most regards. The primary difference is that it
3358 establishes an association with a label, which is used by the runtime
3359 library to unwind the stack.
3361 This instruction is used in languages with destructors to ensure that
3362 proper cleanup is performed in the case of either a ``longjmp`` or a
3363 thrown exception. Additionally, this is important for implementation of
3364 '``catch``' clauses in high-level languages that support them.
3366 For the purposes of the SSA form, the definition of the value returned
3367 by the '``invoke``' instruction is deemed to occur on the edge from the
3368 current block to the "normal" label. If the callee unwinds then no
3369 return value is available.
3374 .. code-block:: llvm
3376 %retval = invoke i32 @Test(i32 15) to label %Continue
3377 unwind label %TestCleanup ; {i32}:retval set
3378 %retval = invoke coldcc i32 %Testfnptr(i32 15) to label %Continue
3379 unwind label %TestCleanup ; {i32}:retval set
3383 '``resume``' Instruction
3384 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3391 resume <type> <value>
3396 The '``resume``' instruction is a terminator instruction that has no
3402 The '``resume``' instruction requires one argument, which must have the
3403 same type as the result of any '``landingpad``' instruction in the same
3409 The '``resume``' instruction resumes propagation of an existing
3410 (in-flight) exception whose unwinding was interrupted with a
3411 :ref:`landingpad <i_landingpad>` instruction.
3416 .. code-block:: llvm
3418 resume { i8*, i32 } %exn
3422 '``unreachable``' Instruction
3423 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3435 The '``unreachable``' instruction has no defined semantics. This
3436 instruction is used to inform the optimizer that a particular portion of
3437 the code is not reachable. This can be used to indicate that the code
3438 after a no-return function cannot be reached, and other facts.
3443 The '``unreachable``' instruction has no defined semantics.
3450 Binary operators are used to do most of the computation in a program.
3451 They require two operands of the same type, execute an operation on
3452 them, and produce a single value. The operands might represent multiple
3453 data, as is the case with the :ref:`vector <t_vector>` data type. The
3454 result value has the same type as its operands.
3456 There are several different binary operators:
3460 '``add``' Instruction
3461 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3468 <result> = add <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3469 <result> = add nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3470 <result> = add nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3471 <result> = add nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3476 The '``add``' instruction returns the sum of its two operands.
3481 The two arguments to the '``add``' instruction must be
3482 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3483 arguments must have identical types.
3488 The value produced is the integer sum of the two operands.
3490 If the sum has unsigned overflow, the result returned is the
3491 mathematical result modulo 2\ :sup:`n`\ , where n is the bit width of
3494 Because LLVM integers use a two's complement representation, this
3495 instruction is appropriate for both signed and unsigned integers.
3497 ``nuw`` and ``nsw`` stand for "No Unsigned Wrap" and "No Signed Wrap",
3498 respectively. If the ``nuw`` and/or ``nsw`` keywords are present, the
3499 result value of the ``add`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if
3500 unsigned and/or signed overflow, respectively, occurs.
3505 .. code-block:: llvm
3507 <result> = add i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 + %var
3511 '``fadd``' Instruction
3512 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3519 <result> = fadd [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3524 The '``fadd``' instruction returns the sum of its two operands.
3529 The two arguments to the '``fadd``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3530 point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3531 Both arguments must have identical types.
3536 The value produced is the floating point sum of the two operands. This
3537 instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math flags <fastmath>`,
3538 which are optimization hints to enable otherwise unsafe floating point
3544 .. code-block:: llvm
3546 <result> = fadd float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 + %var
3548 '``sub``' Instruction
3549 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3556 <result> = sub <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3557 <result> = sub nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3558 <result> = sub nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3559 <result> = sub nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3564 The '``sub``' instruction returns the difference of its two operands.
3566 Note that the '``sub``' instruction is used to represent the '``neg``'
3567 instruction present in most other intermediate representations.
3572 The two arguments to the '``sub``' instruction must be
3573 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3574 arguments must have identical types.
3579 The value produced is the integer difference of the two operands.
3581 If the difference has unsigned overflow, the result returned is the
3582 mathematical result modulo 2\ :sup:`n`\ , where n is the bit width of
3585 Because LLVM integers use a two's complement representation, this
3586 instruction is appropriate for both signed and unsigned integers.
3588 ``nuw`` and ``nsw`` stand for "No Unsigned Wrap" and "No Signed Wrap",
3589 respectively. If the ``nuw`` and/or ``nsw`` keywords are present, the
3590 result value of the ``sub`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if
3591 unsigned and/or signed overflow, respectively, occurs.
3596 .. code-block:: llvm
3598 <result> = sub i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 - %var
3599 <result> = sub i32 0, %val ; yields {i32}:result = -%var
3603 '``fsub``' Instruction
3604 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3611 <result> = fsub [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3616 The '``fsub``' instruction returns the difference of its two operands.
3618 Note that the '``fsub``' instruction is used to represent the '``fneg``'
3619 instruction present in most other intermediate representations.
3624 The two arguments to the '``fsub``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3625 point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3626 Both arguments must have identical types.
3631 The value produced is the floating point difference of the two operands.
3632 This instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math
3633 flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints to enable otherwise
3634 unsafe floating point optimizations:
3639 .. code-block:: llvm
3641 <result> = fsub float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 - %var
3642 <result> = fsub float -0.0, %val ; yields {float}:result = -%var
3644 '``mul``' Instruction
3645 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3652 <result> = mul <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3653 <result> = mul nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3654 <result> = mul nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3655 <result> = mul nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3660 The '``mul``' instruction returns the product of its two operands.
3665 The two arguments to the '``mul``' instruction must be
3666 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3667 arguments must have identical types.
3672 The value produced is the integer product of the two operands.
3674 If the result of the multiplication has unsigned overflow, the result
3675 returned is the mathematical result modulo 2\ :sup:`n`\ , where n is the
3676 bit width of the result.
3678 Because LLVM integers use a two's complement representation, and the
3679 result is the same width as the operands, this instruction returns the
3680 correct result for both signed and unsigned integers. If a full product
3681 (e.g. ``i32`` * ``i32`` -> ``i64``) is needed, the operands should be
3682 sign-extended or zero-extended as appropriate to the width of the full
3685 ``nuw`` and ``nsw`` stand for "No Unsigned Wrap" and "No Signed Wrap",
3686 respectively. If the ``nuw`` and/or ``nsw`` keywords are present, the
3687 result value of the ``mul`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if
3688 unsigned and/or signed overflow, respectively, occurs.
3693 .. code-block:: llvm
3695 <result> = mul i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 * %var
3699 '``fmul``' Instruction
3700 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3707 <result> = fmul [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3712 The '``fmul``' instruction returns the product of its two operands.
3717 The two arguments to the '``fmul``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3718 point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3719 Both arguments must have identical types.
3724 The value produced is the floating point product of the two operands.
3725 This instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math
3726 flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints to enable otherwise
3727 unsafe floating point optimizations:
3732 .. code-block:: llvm
3734 <result> = fmul float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 * %var
3736 '``udiv``' Instruction
3737 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3744 <result> = udiv <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3745 <result> = udiv exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3750 The '``udiv``' instruction returns the quotient of its two operands.
3755 The two arguments to the '``udiv``' instruction must be
3756 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3757 arguments must have identical types.
3762 The value produced is the unsigned integer quotient of the two operands.
3764 Note that unsigned integer division and signed integer division are
3765 distinct operations; for signed integer division, use '``sdiv``'.
3767 Division by zero leads to undefined behavior.
3769 If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``udiv`` is
3770 a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if %op1 is not a multiple of %op2 (as
3771 such, "((a udiv exact b) mul b) == a").
3776 .. code-block:: llvm
3778 <result> = udiv i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 / %var
3780 '``sdiv``' Instruction
3781 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3788 <result> = sdiv <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3789 <result> = sdiv exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3794 The '``sdiv``' instruction returns the quotient of its two operands.
3799 The two arguments to the '``sdiv``' instruction must be
3800 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3801 arguments must have identical types.
3806 The value produced is the signed integer quotient of the two operands
3807 rounded towards zero.
3809 Note that signed integer division and unsigned integer division are
3810 distinct operations; for unsigned integer division, use '``udiv``'.
3812 Division by zero leads to undefined behavior. Overflow also leads to
3813 undefined behavior; this is a rare case, but can occur, for example, by
3814 doing a 32-bit division of -2147483648 by -1.
3816 If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``sdiv`` is
3817 a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if the result would be rounded.
3822 .. code-block:: llvm
3824 <result> = sdiv i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 / %var
3828 '``fdiv``' Instruction
3829 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3836 <result> = fdiv [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3841 The '``fdiv``' instruction returns the quotient of its two operands.
3846 The two arguments to the '``fdiv``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3847 point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3848 Both arguments must have identical types.
3853 The value produced is the floating point quotient of the two operands.
3854 This instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math
3855 flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints to enable otherwise
3856 unsafe floating point optimizations:
3861 .. code-block:: llvm
3863 <result> = fdiv float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 / %var
3865 '``urem``' Instruction
3866 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3873 <result> = urem <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3878 The '``urem``' instruction returns the remainder from the unsigned
3879 division of its two arguments.
3884 The two arguments to the '``urem``' instruction must be
3885 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3886 arguments must have identical types.
3891 This instruction returns the unsigned integer *remainder* of a division.
3892 This instruction always performs an unsigned division to get the
3895 Note that unsigned integer remainder and signed integer remainder are
3896 distinct operations; for signed integer remainder, use '``srem``'.
3898 Taking the remainder of a division by zero leads to undefined behavior.
3903 .. code-block:: llvm
3905 <result> = urem i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 % %var
3907 '``srem``' Instruction
3908 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3915 <result> = srem <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3920 The '``srem``' instruction returns the remainder from the signed
3921 division of its two operands. This instruction can also take
3922 :ref:`vector <t_vector>` versions of the values in which case the elements
3928 The two arguments to the '``srem``' instruction must be
3929 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3930 arguments must have identical types.
3935 This instruction returns the *remainder* of a division (where the result
3936 is either zero or has the same sign as the dividend, ``op1``), not the
3937 *modulo* operator (where the result is either zero or has the same sign
3938 as the divisor, ``op2``) of a value. For more information about the
3939 difference, see `The Math
3940 Forum <http://mathforum.org/dr.math/problems/anne.4.28.99.html>`_. For a
3941 table of how this is implemented in various languages, please see
3943 operation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modulo_operation>`_.
3945 Note that signed integer remainder and unsigned integer remainder are
3946 distinct operations; for unsigned integer remainder, use '``urem``'.
3948 Taking the remainder of a division by zero leads to undefined behavior.
3949 Overflow also leads to undefined behavior; this is a rare case, but can
3950 occur, for example, by taking the remainder of a 32-bit division of
3951 -2147483648 by -1. (The remainder doesn't actually overflow, but this
3952 rule lets srem be implemented using instructions that return both the
3953 result of the division and the remainder.)
3958 .. code-block:: llvm
3960 <result> = srem i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 % %var
3964 '``frem``' Instruction
3965 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3972 <result> = frem [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3977 The '``frem``' instruction returns the remainder from the division of
3983 The two arguments to the '``frem``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3984 point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3985 Both arguments must have identical types.
3990 This instruction returns the *remainder* of a division. The remainder
3991 has the same sign as the dividend. This instruction can also take any
3992 number of :ref:`fast-math flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints
3993 to enable otherwise unsafe floating point optimizations:
3998 .. code-block:: llvm
4000 <result> = frem float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 % %var
4004 Bitwise Binary Operations
4005 -------------------------
4007 Bitwise binary operators are used to do various forms of bit-twiddling
4008 in a program. They are generally very efficient instructions and can
4009 commonly be strength reduced from other instructions. They require two
4010 operands of the same type, execute an operation on them, and produce a
4011 single value. The resulting value is the same type as its operands.
4013 '``shl``' Instruction
4014 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4021 <result> = shl <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4022 <result> = shl nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4023 <result> = shl nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4024 <result> = shl nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4029 The '``shl``' instruction returns the first operand shifted to the left
4030 a specified number of bits.
4035 Both arguments to the '``shl``' instruction must be the same
4036 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer type.
4037 '``op2``' is treated as an unsigned value.
4042 The value produced is ``op1`` \* 2\ :sup:`op2` mod 2\ :sup:`n`,
4043 where ``n`` is the width of the result. If ``op2`` is (statically or
4044 dynamically) negative or equal to or larger than the number of bits in
4045 ``op1``, the result is undefined. If the arguments are vectors, each
4046 vector element of ``op1`` is shifted by the corresponding shift amount
4049 If the ``nuw`` keyword is present, then the shift produces a :ref:`poison
4050 value <poisonvalues>` if it shifts out any non-zero bits. If the
4051 ``nsw`` keyword is present, then the shift produces a :ref:`poison
4052 value <poisonvalues>` if it shifts out any bits that disagree with the
4053 resultant sign bit. As such, NUW/NSW have the same semantics as they
4054 would if the shift were expressed as a mul instruction with the same
4055 nsw/nuw bits in (mul %op1, (shl 1, %op2)).
4060 .. code-block:: llvm
4062 <result> = shl i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}: 4 << %var
4063 <result> = shl i32 4, 2 ; yields {i32}: 16
4064 <result> = shl i32 1, 10 ; yields {i32}: 1024
4065 <result> = shl i32 1, 32 ; undefined
4066 <result> = shl <2 x i32> < i32 1, i32 1>, < i32 1, i32 2> ; yields: result=<2 x i32> < i32 2, i32 4>
4068 '``lshr``' Instruction
4069 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4076 <result> = lshr <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4077 <result> = lshr exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4082 The '``lshr``' instruction (logical shift right) returns the first
4083 operand shifted to the right a specified number of bits with zero fill.
4088 Both arguments to the '``lshr``' instruction must be the same
4089 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer type.
4090 '``op2``' is treated as an unsigned value.
4095 This instruction always performs a logical shift right operation. The
4096 most significant bits of the result will be filled with zero bits after
4097 the shift. If ``op2`` is (statically or dynamically) equal to or larger
4098 than the number of bits in ``op1``, the result is undefined. If the
4099 arguments are vectors, each vector element of ``op1`` is shifted by the
4100 corresponding shift amount in ``op2``.
4102 If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``lshr`` is
4103 a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if any of the bits shifted out are
4109 .. code-block:: llvm
4111 <result> = lshr i32 4, 1 ; yields {i32}:result = 2
4112 <result> = lshr i32 4, 2 ; yields {i32}:result = 1
4113 <result> = lshr i8 4, 3 ; yields {i8}:result = 0
4114 <result> = lshr i8 -2, 1 ; yields {i8}:result = 0x7F
4115 <result> = lshr i32 1, 32 ; undefined
4116 <result> = lshr <2 x i32> < i32 -2, i32 4>, < i32 1, i32 2> ; yields: result=<2 x i32> < i32 0x7FFFFFFF, i32 1>
4118 '``ashr``' Instruction
4119 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4126 <result> = ashr <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4127 <result> = ashr exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4132 The '``ashr``' instruction (arithmetic shift right) returns the first
4133 operand shifted to the right a specified number of bits with sign
4139 Both arguments to the '``ashr``' instruction must be the same
4140 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer type.
4141 '``op2``' is treated as an unsigned value.
4146 This instruction always performs an arithmetic shift right operation,
4147 The most significant bits of the result will be filled with the sign bit
4148 of ``op1``. If ``op2`` is (statically or dynamically) equal to or larger
4149 than the number of bits in ``op1``, the result is undefined. If the
4150 arguments are vectors, each vector element of ``op1`` is shifted by the
4151 corresponding shift amount in ``op2``.
4153 If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``ashr`` is
4154 a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if any of the bits shifted out are
4160 .. code-block:: llvm
4162 <result> = ashr i32 4, 1 ; yields {i32}:result = 2
4163 <result> = ashr i32 4, 2 ; yields {i32}:result = 1
4164 <result> = ashr i8 4, 3 ; yields {i8}:result = 0
4165 <result> = ashr i8 -2, 1 ; yields {i8}:result = -1
4166 <result> = ashr i32 1, 32 ; undefined
4167 <result> = ashr <2 x i32> < i32 -2, i32 4>, < i32 1, i32 3> ; yields: result=<2 x i32> < i32 -1, i32 0>
4169 '``and``' Instruction
4170 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4177 <result> = and <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4182 The '``and``' instruction returns the bitwise logical and of its two
4188 The two arguments to the '``and``' instruction must be
4189 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
4190 arguments must have identical types.
4195 The truth table used for the '``and``' instruction is:
4212 .. code-block:: llvm
4214 <result> = and i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 & %var
4215 <result> = and i32 15, 40 ; yields {i32}:result = 8
4216 <result> = and i32 4, 8 ; yields {i32}:result = 0
4218 '``or``' Instruction
4219 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4226 <result> = or <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4231 The '``or``' instruction returns the bitwise logical inclusive or of its
4237 The two arguments to the '``or``' instruction must be
4238 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
4239 arguments must have identical types.
4244 The truth table used for the '``or``' instruction is:
4263 <result> = or i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 | %var
4264 <result> = or i32 15, 40 ; yields {i32}:result = 47
4265 <result> = or i32 4, 8 ; yields {i32}:result = 12
4267 '``xor``' Instruction
4268 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4275 <result> = xor <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
4280 The '``xor``' instruction returns the bitwise logical exclusive or of
4281 its two operands. The ``xor`` is used to implement the "one's
4282 complement" operation, which is the "~" operator in C.
4287 The two arguments to the '``xor``' instruction must be
4288 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
4289 arguments must have identical types.
4294 The truth table used for the '``xor``' instruction is:
4311 .. code-block:: llvm
4313 <result> = xor i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 ^ %var
4314 <result> = xor i32 15, 40 ; yields {i32}:result = 39
4315 <result> = xor i32 4, 8 ; yields {i32}:result = 12
4316 <result> = xor i32 %V, -1 ; yields {i32}:result = ~%V
4321 LLVM supports several instructions to represent vector operations in a
4322 target-independent manner. These instructions cover the element-access
4323 and vector-specific operations needed to process vectors effectively.
4324 While LLVM does directly support these vector operations, many
4325 sophisticated algorithms will want to use target-specific intrinsics to
4326 take full advantage of a specific target.
4328 .. _i_extractelement:
4330 '``extractelement``' Instruction
4331 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4338 <result> = extractelement <n x <ty>> <val>, i32 <idx> ; yields <ty>
4343 The '``extractelement``' instruction extracts a single scalar element
4344 from a vector at a specified index.
4349 The first operand of an '``extractelement``' instruction is a value of
4350 :ref:`vector <t_vector>` type. The second operand is an index indicating
4351 the position from which to extract the element. The index may be a
4357 The result is a scalar of the same type as the element type of ``val``.
4358 Its value is the value at position ``idx`` of ``val``. If ``idx``
4359 exceeds the length of ``val``, the results are undefined.
4364 .. code-block:: llvm
4366 <result> = extractelement <4 x i32> %vec, i32 0 ; yields i32
4368 .. _i_insertelement:
4370 '``insertelement``' Instruction
4371 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4378 <result> = insertelement <n x <ty>> <val>, <ty> <elt>, i32 <idx> ; yields <n x <ty>>
4383 The '``insertelement``' instruction inserts a scalar element into a
4384 vector at a specified index.
4389 The first operand of an '``insertelement``' instruction is a value of
4390 :ref:`vector <t_vector>` type. The second operand is a scalar value whose
4391 type must equal the element type of the first operand. The third operand
4392 is an index indicating the position at which to insert the value. The
4393 index may be a variable.
4398 The result is a vector of the same type as ``val``. Its element values
4399 are those of ``val`` except at position ``idx``, where it gets the value
4400 ``elt``. If ``idx`` exceeds the length of ``val``, the results are
4406 .. code-block:: llvm
4408 <result> = insertelement <4 x i32> %vec, i32 1, i32 0 ; yields <4 x i32>
4410 .. _i_shufflevector:
4412 '``shufflevector``' Instruction
4413 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4420 <result> = shufflevector <n x <ty>> <v1>, <n x <ty>> <v2>, <m x i32> <mask> ; yields <m x <ty>>
4425 The '``shufflevector``' instruction constructs a permutation of elements
4426 from two input vectors, returning a vector with the same element type as
4427 the input and length that is the same as the shuffle mask.
4432 The first two operands of a '``shufflevector``' instruction are vectors
4433 with the same type. The third argument is a shuffle mask whose element
4434 type is always 'i32'. The result of the instruction is a vector whose
4435 length is the same as the shuffle mask and whose element type is the
4436 same as the element type of the first two operands.
4438 The shuffle mask operand is required to be a constant vector with either
4439 constant integer or undef values.
4444 The elements of the two input vectors are numbered from left to right
4445 across both of the vectors. The shuffle mask operand specifies, for each
4446 element of the result vector, which element of the two input vectors the
4447 result element gets. The element selector may be undef (meaning "don't
4448 care") and the second operand may be undef if performing a shuffle from
4454 .. code-block:: llvm
4456 <result> = shufflevector <4 x i32> %v1, <4 x i32> %v2,
4457 <4 x i32> <i32 0, i32 4, i32 1, i32 5> ; yields <4 x i32>
4458 <result> = shufflevector <4 x i32> %v1, <4 x i32> undef,
4459 <4 x i32> <i32 0, i32 1, i32 2, i32 3> ; yields <4 x i32> - Identity shuffle.
4460 <result> = shufflevector <8 x i32> %v1, <8 x i32> undef,
4461 <4 x i32> <i32 0, i32 1, i32 2, i32 3> ; yields <4 x i32>
4462 <result> = shufflevector <4 x i32> %v1, <4 x i32> %v2,
4463 <8 x i32> <i32 0, i32 1, i32 2, i32 3, i32 4, i32 5, i32 6, i32 7 > ; yields <8 x i32>
4465 Aggregate Operations
4466 --------------------
4468 LLVM supports several instructions for working with
4469 :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` values.
4473 '``extractvalue``' Instruction
4474 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4481 <result> = extractvalue <aggregate type> <val>, <idx>{, <idx>}*
4486 The '``extractvalue``' instruction extracts the value of a member field
4487 from an :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` value.
4492 The first operand of an '``extractvalue``' instruction is a value of
4493 :ref:`struct <t_struct>` or :ref:`array <t_array>` type. The operands are
4494 constant indices to specify which value to extract in a similar manner
4495 as indices in a '``getelementptr``' instruction.
4497 The major differences to ``getelementptr`` indexing are:
4499 - Since the value being indexed is not a pointer, the first index is
4500 omitted and assumed to be zero.
4501 - At least one index must be specified.
4502 - Not only struct indices but also array indices must be in bounds.
4507 The result is the value at the position in the aggregate specified by
4513 .. code-block:: llvm
4515 <result> = extractvalue {i32, float} %agg, 0 ; yields i32
4519 '``insertvalue``' Instruction
4520 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4527 <result> = insertvalue <aggregate type> <val>, <ty> <elt>, <idx>{, <idx>}* ; yields <aggregate type>
4532 The '``insertvalue``' instruction inserts a value into a member field in
4533 an :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` value.
4538 The first operand of an '``insertvalue``' instruction is a value of
4539 :ref:`struct <t_struct>` or :ref:`array <t_array>` type. The second operand is
4540 a first-class value to insert. The following operands are constant
4541 indices indicating the position at which to insert the value in a
4542 similar manner as indices in a '``extractvalue``' instruction. The value
4543 to insert must have the same type as the value identified by the
4549 The result is an aggregate of the same type as ``val``. Its value is
4550 that of ``val`` except that the value at the position specified by the
4551 indices is that of ``elt``.
4556 .. code-block:: llvm
4558 %agg1 = insertvalue {i32, float} undef, i32 1, 0 ; yields {i32 1, float undef}
4559 %agg2 = insertvalue {i32, float} %agg1, float %val, 1 ; yields {i32 1, float %val}
4560 %agg3 = insertvalue {i32, {float}} %agg1, float %val, 1, 0 ; yields {i32 1, float %val}
4564 Memory Access and Addressing Operations
4565 ---------------------------------------
4567 A key design point of an SSA-based representation is how it represents
4568 memory. In LLVM, no memory locations are in SSA form, which makes things
4569 very simple. This section describes how to read, write, and allocate
4574 '``alloca``' Instruction
4575 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4582 <result> = alloca <type>[, <ty> <NumElements>][, align <alignment>] ; yields {type*}:result
4587 The '``alloca``' instruction allocates memory on the stack frame of the
4588 currently executing function, to be automatically released when this
4589 function returns to its caller. The object is always allocated in the
4590 generic address space (address space zero).
4595 The '``alloca``' instruction allocates ``sizeof(<type>)*NumElements``
4596 bytes of memory on the runtime stack, returning a pointer of the
4597 appropriate type to the program. If "NumElements" is specified, it is
4598 the number of elements allocated, otherwise "NumElements" is defaulted
4599 to be one. If a constant alignment is specified, the value result of the
4600 allocation is guaranteed to be aligned to at least that boundary. If not
4601 specified, or if zero, the target can choose to align the allocation on
4602 any convenient boundary compatible with the type.
4604 '``type``' may be any sized type.
4609 Memory is allocated; a pointer is returned. The operation is undefined
4610 if there is insufficient stack space for the allocation. '``alloca``'d
4611 memory is automatically released when the function returns. The
4612 '``alloca``' instruction is commonly used to represent automatic
4613 variables that must have an address available. When the function returns
4614 (either with the ``ret`` or ``resume`` instructions), the memory is
4615 reclaimed. Allocating zero bytes is legal, but the result is undefined.
4616 The order in which memory is allocated (ie., which way the stack grows)
4622 .. code-block:: llvm
4624 %ptr = alloca i32 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4625 %ptr = alloca i32, i32 4 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4626 %ptr = alloca i32, i32 4, align 1024 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4627 %ptr = alloca i32, align 1024 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4631 '``load``' Instruction
4632 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4639 <result> = load [volatile] <ty>* <pointer>[, align <alignment>][, !nontemporal !<index>][, !invariant.load !<index>]
4640 <result> = load atomic [volatile] <ty>* <pointer> [singlethread] <ordering>, align <alignment>
4641 !<index> = !{ i32 1 }
4646 The '``load``' instruction is used to read from memory.
4651 The argument to the ``load`` instruction specifies the memory address
4652 from which to load. The pointer must point to a :ref:`first
4653 class <t_firstclass>` type. If the ``load`` is marked as ``volatile``,
4654 then the optimizer is not allowed to modify the number or order of
4655 execution of this ``load`` with other :ref:`volatile
4656 operations <volatile>`.
4658 If the ``load`` is marked as ``atomic``, it takes an extra
4659 :ref:`ordering <ordering>` and optional ``singlethread`` argument. The
4660 ``release`` and ``acq_rel`` orderings are not valid on ``load``
4661 instructions. Atomic loads produce :ref:`defined <memmodel>` results
4662 when they may see multiple atomic stores. The type of the pointee must
4663 be an integer type whose bit width is a power of two greater than or
4664 equal to eight and less than or equal to a target-specific size limit.
4665 ``align`` must be explicitly specified on atomic loads, and the load has
4666 undefined behavior if the alignment is not set to a value which is at
4667 least the size in bytes of the pointee. ``!nontemporal`` does not have
4668 any defined semantics for atomic loads.
4670 The optional constant ``align`` argument specifies the alignment of the
4671 operation (that is, the alignment of the memory address). A value of 0
4672 or an omitted ``align`` argument means that the operation has the ABI
4673 alignment for the target. It is the responsibility of the code emitter
4674 to ensure that the alignment information is correct. Overestimating the
4675 alignment results in undefined behavior. Underestimating the alignment
4676 may produce less efficient code. An alignment of 1 is always safe.
4678 The optional ``!nontemporal`` metadata must reference a single
4679 metadata name ``<index>`` corresponding to a metadata node with one
4680 ``i32`` entry of value 1. The existence of the ``!nontemporal``
4681 metadata on the instruction tells the optimizer and code generator
4682 that this load is not expected to be reused in the cache. The code
4683 generator may select special instructions to save cache bandwidth, such
4684 as the ``MOVNT`` instruction on x86.
4686 The optional ``!invariant.load`` metadata must reference a single
4687 metadata name ``<index>`` corresponding to a metadata node with no
4688 entries. The existence of the ``!invariant.load`` metadata on the
4689 instruction tells the optimizer and code generator that this load
4690 address points to memory which does not change value during program
4691 execution. The optimizer may then move this load around, for example, by
4692 hoisting it out of loops using loop invariant code motion.
4697 The location of memory pointed to is loaded. If the value being loaded
4698 is of scalar type then the number of bytes read does not exceed the
4699 minimum number of bytes needed to hold all bits of the type. For
4700 example, loading an ``i24`` reads at most three bytes. When loading a
4701 value of a type like ``i20`` with a size that is not an integral number
4702 of bytes, the result is undefined if the value was not originally
4703 written using a store of the same type.
4708 .. code-block:: llvm
4710 %ptr = alloca i32 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4711 store i32 3, i32* %ptr ; yields {void}
4712 %val = load i32* %ptr ; yields {i32}:val = i32 3
4716 '``store``' Instruction
4717 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4724 store [volatile] <ty> <value>, <ty>* <pointer>[, align <alignment>][, !nontemporal !<index>] ; yields {void}
4725 store atomic [volatile] <ty> <value>, <ty>* <pointer> [singlethread] <ordering>, align <alignment> ; yields {void}
4730 The '``store``' instruction is used to write to memory.
4735 There are two arguments to the ``store`` instruction: a value to store
4736 and an address at which to store it. The type of the ``<pointer>``
4737 operand must be a pointer to the :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type of
4738 the ``<value>`` operand. If the ``store`` is marked as ``volatile``,
4739 then the optimizer is not allowed to modify the number or order of
4740 execution of this ``store`` with other :ref:`volatile
4741 operations <volatile>`.
4743 If the ``store`` is marked as ``atomic``, it takes an extra
4744 :ref:`ordering <ordering>` and optional ``singlethread`` argument. The
4745 ``acquire`` and ``acq_rel`` orderings aren't valid on ``store``
4746 instructions. Atomic loads produce :ref:`defined <memmodel>` results
4747 when they may see multiple atomic stores. The type of the pointee must
4748 be an integer type whose bit width is a power of two greater than or
4749 equal to eight and less than or equal to a target-specific size limit.
4750 ``align`` must be explicitly specified on atomic stores, and the store
4751 has undefined behavior if the alignment is not set to a value which is
4752 at least the size in bytes of the pointee. ``!nontemporal`` does not
4753 have any defined semantics for atomic stores.
4755 The optional constant ``align`` argument specifies the alignment of the
4756 operation (that is, the alignment of the memory address). A value of 0
4757 or an omitted ``align`` argument means that the operation has the ABI
4758 alignment for the target. It is the responsibility of the code emitter
4759 to ensure that the alignment information is correct. Overestimating the
4760 alignment results in undefined behavior. Underestimating the
4761 alignment may produce less efficient code. An alignment of 1 is always
4764 The optional ``!nontemporal`` metadata must reference a single metadata
4765 name ``<index>`` corresponding to a metadata node with one ``i32`` entry of
4766 value 1. The existence of the ``!nontemporal`` metadata on the instruction
4767 tells the optimizer and code generator that this load is not expected to
4768 be reused in the cache. The code generator may select special
4769 instructions to save cache bandwidth, such as the MOVNT instruction on
4775 The contents of memory are updated to contain ``<value>`` at the
4776 location specified by the ``<pointer>`` operand. If ``<value>`` is
4777 of scalar type then the number of bytes written does not exceed the
4778 minimum number of bytes needed to hold all bits of the type. For
4779 example, storing an ``i24`` writes at most three bytes. When writing a
4780 value of a type like ``i20`` with a size that is not an integral number
4781 of bytes, it is unspecified what happens to the extra bits that do not
4782 belong to the type, but they will typically be overwritten.
4787 .. code-block:: llvm
4789 %ptr = alloca i32 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4790 store i32 3, i32* %ptr ; yields {void}
4791 %val = load i32* %ptr ; yields {i32}:val = i32 3
4795 '``fence``' Instruction
4796 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4803 fence [singlethread] <ordering> ; yields {void}
4808 The '``fence``' instruction is used to introduce happens-before edges
4814 '``fence``' instructions take an :ref:`ordering <ordering>` argument which
4815 defines what *synchronizes-with* edges they add. They can only be given
4816 ``acquire``, ``release``, ``acq_rel``, and ``seq_cst`` orderings.
4821 A fence A which has (at least) ``release`` ordering semantics
4822 *synchronizes with* a fence B with (at least) ``acquire`` ordering
4823 semantics if and only if there exist atomic operations X and Y, both
4824 operating on some atomic object M, such that A is sequenced before X, X
4825 modifies M (either directly or through some side effect of a sequence
4826 headed by X), Y is sequenced before B, and Y observes M. This provides a
4827 *happens-before* dependency between A and B. Rather than an explicit
4828 ``fence``, one (but not both) of the atomic operations X or Y might
4829 provide a ``release`` or ``acquire`` (resp.) ordering constraint and
4830 still *synchronize-with* the explicit ``fence`` and establish the
4831 *happens-before* edge.
4833 A ``fence`` which has ``seq_cst`` ordering, in addition to having both
4834 ``acquire`` and ``release`` semantics specified above, participates in
4835 the global program order of other ``seq_cst`` operations and/or fences.
4837 The optional ":ref:`singlethread <singlethread>`" argument specifies
4838 that the fence only synchronizes with other fences in the same thread.
4839 (This is useful for interacting with signal handlers.)
4844 .. code-block:: llvm
4846 fence acquire ; yields {void}
4847 fence singlethread seq_cst ; yields {void}
4851 '``cmpxchg``' Instruction
4852 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4859 cmpxchg [volatile] <ty>* <pointer>, <ty> <cmp>, <ty> <new> [singlethread] <ordering> ; yields {ty}
4864 The '``cmpxchg``' instruction is used to atomically modify memory. It
4865 loads a value in memory and compares it to a given value. If they are
4866 equal, it stores a new value into the memory.
4871 There are three arguments to the '``cmpxchg``' instruction: an address
4872 to operate on, a value to compare to the value currently be at that
4873 address, and a new value to place at that address if the compared values
4874 are equal. The type of '<cmp>' must be an integer type whose bit width
4875 is a power of two greater than or equal to eight and less than or equal
4876 to a target-specific size limit. '<cmp>' and '<new>' must have the same
4877 type, and the type of '<pointer>' must be a pointer to that type. If the
4878 ``cmpxchg`` is marked as ``volatile``, then the optimizer is not allowed
4879 to modify the number or order of execution of this ``cmpxchg`` with
4880 other :ref:`volatile operations <volatile>`.
4882 The :ref:`ordering <ordering>` argument specifies how this ``cmpxchg``
4883 synchronizes with other atomic operations.
4885 The optional "``singlethread``" argument declares that the ``cmpxchg``
4886 is only atomic with respect to code (usually signal handlers) running in
4887 the same thread as the ``cmpxchg``. Otherwise the cmpxchg is atomic with
4888 respect to all other code in the system.
4890 The pointer passed into cmpxchg must have alignment greater than or
4891 equal to the size in memory of the operand.
4896 The contents of memory at the location specified by the '``<pointer>``'
4897 operand is read and compared to '``<cmp>``'; if the read value is the
4898 equal, '``<new>``' is written. The original value at the location is
4901 A successful ``cmpxchg`` is a read-modify-write instruction for the purpose
4902 of identifying release sequences. A failed ``cmpxchg`` is equivalent to an
4903 atomic load with an ordering parameter determined by dropping any
4904 ``release`` part of the ``cmpxchg``'s ordering.
4909 .. code-block:: llvm
4912 %orig = atomic load i32* %ptr unordered ; yields {i32}
4916 %cmp = phi i32 [ %orig, %entry ], [%old, %loop]
4917 %squared = mul i32 %cmp, %cmp
4918 %old = cmpxchg i32* %ptr, i32 %cmp, i32 %squared ; yields {i32}
4919 %success = icmp eq i32 %cmp, %old
4920 br i1 %success, label %done, label %loop
4927 '``atomicrmw``' Instruction
4928 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4935 atomicrmw [volatile] <operation> <ty>* <pointer>, <ty> <value> [singlethread] <ordering> ; yields {ty}
4940 The '``atomicrmw``' instruction is used to atomically modify memory.
4945 There are three arguments to the '``atomicrmw``' instruction: an
4946 operation to apply, an address whose value to modify, an argument to the
4947 operation. The operation must be one of the following keywords:
4961 The type of '<value>' must be an integer type whose bit width is a power
4962 of two greater than or equal to eight and less than or equal to a
4963 target-specific size limit. The type of the '``<pointer>``' operand must
4964 be a pointer to that type. If the ``atomicrmw`` is marked as
4965 ``volatile``, then the optimizer is not allowed to modify the number or
4966 order of execution of this ``atomicrmw`` with other :ref:`volatile
4967 operations <volatile>`.
4972 The contents of memory at the location specified by the '``<pointer>``'
4973 operand are atomically read, modified, and written back. The original
4974 value at the location is returned. The modification is specified by the
4977 - xchg: ``*ptr = val``
4978 - add: ``*ptr = *ptr + val``
4979 - sub: ``*ptr = *ptr - val``
4980 - and: ``*ptr = *ptr & val``
4981 - nand: ``*ptr = ~(*ptr & val)``
4982 - or: ``*ptr = *ptr | val``
4983 - xor: ``*ptr = *ptr ^ val``
4984 - max: ``*ptr = *ptr > val ? *ptr : val`` (using a signed comparison)
4985 - min: ``*ptr = *ptr < val ? *ptr : val`` (using a signed comparison)
4986 - umax: ``*ptr = *ptr > val ? *ptr : val`` (using an unsigned
4988 - umin: ``*ptr = *ptr < val ? *ptr : val`` (using an unsigned
4994 .. code-block:: llvm
4996 %old = atomicrmw add i32* %ptr, i32 1 acquire ; yields {i32}
4998 .. _i_getelementptr:
5000 '``getelementptr``' Instruction
5001 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5008 <result> = getelementptr <pty>* <ptrval>{, <ty> <idx>}*
5009 <result> = getelementptr inbounds <pty>* <ptrval>{, <ty> <idx>}*
5010 <result> = getelementptr <ptr vector> ptrval, <vector index type> idx
5015 The '``getelementptr``' instruction is used to get the address of a
5016 subelement of an :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` data structure. It performs
5017 address calculation only and does not access memory.
5022 The first argument is always a pointer or a vector of pointers, and
5023 forms the basis of the calculation. The remaining arguments are indices
5024 that indicate which of the elements of the aggregate object are indexed.
5025 The interpretation of each index is dependent on the type being indexed
5026 into. The first index always indexes the pointer value given as the
5027 first argument, the second index indexes a value of the type pointed to
5028 (not necessarily the value directly pointed to, since the first index
5029 can be non-zero), etc. The first type indexed into must be a pointer
5030 value, subsequent types can be arrays, vectors, and structs. Note that
5031 subsequent types being indexed into can never be pointers, since that
5032 would require loading the pointer before continuing calculation.
5034 The type of each index argument depends on the type it is indexing into.
5035 When indexing into a (optionally packed) structure, only ``i32`` integer
5036 **constants** are allowed (when using a vector of indices they must all
5037 be the **same** ``i32`` integer constant). When indexing into an array,
5038 pointer or vector, integers of any width are allowed, and they are not
5039 required to be constant. These integers are treated as signed values
5042 For example, let's consider a C code fragment and how it gets compiled
5058 int *foo(struct ST *s) {
5059 return &s[1].Z.B[5][13];
5062 The LLVM code generated by Clang is:
5064 .. code-block:: llvm
5066 %struct.RT = type { i8, [10 x [20 x i32]], i8 }
5067 %struct.ST = type { i32, double, %struct.RT }
5069 define i32* @foo(%struct.ST* %s) nounwind uwtable readnone optsize ssp {
5071 %arrayidx = getelementptr inbounds %struct.ST* %s, i64 1, i32 2, i32 1, i64 5, i64 13
5078 In the example above, the first index is indexing into the
5079 '``%struct.ST*``' type, which is a pointer, yielding a '``%struct.ST``'
5080 = '``{ i32, double, %struct.RT }``' type, a structure. The second index
5081 indexes into the third element of the structure, yielding a
5082 '``%struct.RT``' = '``{ i8 , [10 x [20 x i32]], i8 }``' type, another
5083 structure. The third index indexes into the second element of the
5084 structure, yielding a '``[10 x [20 x i32]]``' type, an array. The two
5085 dimensions of the array are subscripted into, yielding an '``i32``'
5086 type. The '``getelementptr``' instruction returns a pointer to this
5087 element, thus computing a value of '``i32*``' type.
5089 Note that it is perfectly legal to index partially through a structure,
5090 returning a pointer to an inner element. Because of this, the LLVM code
5091 for the given testcase is equivalent to:
5093 .. code-block:: llvm
5095 define i32* @foo(%struct.ST* %s) {
5096 %t1 = getelementptr %struct.ST* %s, i32 1 ; yields %struct.ST*:%t1
5097 %t2 = getelementptr %struct.ST* %t1, i32 0, i32 2 ; yields %struct.RT*:%t2
5098 %t3 = getelementptr %struct.RT* %t2, i32 0, i32 1 ; yields [10 x [20 x i32]]*:%t3
5099 %t4 = getelementptr [10 x [20 x i32]]* %t3, i32 0, i32 5 ; yields [20 x i32]*:%t4
5100 %t5 = getelementptr [20 x i32]* %t4, i32 0, i32 13 ; yields i32*:%t5
5104 If the ``inbounds`` keyword is present, the result value of the
5105 ``getelementptr`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if the base
5106 pointer is not an *in bounds* address of an allocated object, or if any
5107 of the addresses that would be formed by successive addition of the
5108 offsets implied by the indices to the base address with infinitely
5109 precise signed arithmetic are not an *in bounds* address of that
5110 allocated object. The *in bounds* addresses for an allocated object are
5111 all the addresses that point into the object, plus the address one byte
5112 past the end. In cases where the base is a vector of pointers the
5113 ``inbounds`` keyword applies to each of the computations element-wise.
5115 If the ``inbounds`` keyword is not present, the offsets are added to the
5116 base address with silently-wrapping two's complement arithmetic. If the
5117 offsets have a different width from the pointer, they are sign-extended
5118 or truncated to the width of the pointer. The result value of the
5119 ``getelementptr`` may be outside the object pointed to by the base
5120 pointer. The result value may not necessarily be used to access memory
5121 though, even if it happens to point into allocated storage. See the
5122 :ref:`Pointer Aliasing Rules <pointeraliasing>` section for more
5125 The getelementptr instruction is often confusing. For some more insight
5126 into how it works, see :doc:`the getelementptr FAQ <GetElementPtr>`.
5131 .. code-block:: llvm
5133 ; yields [12 x i8]*:aptr
5134 %aptr = getelementptr {i32, [12 x i8]}* %saptr, i64 0, i32 1
5136 %vptr = getelementptr {i32, <2 x i8>}* %svptr, i64 0, i32 1, i32 1
5138 %eptr = getelementptr [12 x i8]* %aptr, i64 0, i32 1
5140 %iptr = getelementptr [10 x i32]* @arr, i16 0, i16 0
5142 In cases where the pointer argument is a vector of pointers, each index
5143 must be a vector with the same number of elements. For example:
5145 .. code-block:: llvm
5147 %A = getelementptr <4 x i8*> %ptrs, <4 x i64> %offsets,
5149 Conversion Operations
5150 ---------------------
5152 The instructions in this category are the conversion instructions
5153 (casting) which all take a single operand and a type. They perform
5154 various bit conversions on the operand.
5156 '``trunc .. to``' Instruction
5157 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5164 <result> = trunc <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5169 The '``trunc``' instruction truncates its operand to the type ``ty2``.
5174 The '``trunc``' instruction takes a value to trunc, and a type to trunc
5175 it to. Both types must be of :ref:`integer <t_integer>` types, or vectors
5176 of the same number of integers. The bit size of the ``value`` must be
5177 larger than the bit size of the destination type, ``ty2``. Equal sized
5178 types are not allowed.
5183 The '``trunc``' instruction truncates the high order bits in ``value``
5184 and converts the remaining bits to ``ty2``. Since the source size must
5185 be larger than the destination size, ``trunc`` cannot be a *no-op cast*.
5186 It will always truncate bits.
5191 .. code-block:: llvm
5193 %X = trunc i32 257 to i8 ; yields i8:1
5194 %Y = trunc i32 123 to i1 ; yields i1:true
5195 %Z = trunc i32 122 to i1 ; yields i1:false
5196 %W = trunc <2 x i16> <i16 8, i16 7> to <2 x i8> ; yields <i8 8, i8 7>
5198 '``zext .. to``' Instruction
5199 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5206 <result> = zext <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5211 The '``zext``' instruction zero extends its operand to type ``ty2``.
5216 The '``zext``' instruction takes a value to cast, and a type to cast it
5217 to. Both types must be of :ref:`integer <t_integer>` types, or vectors of
5218 the same number of integers. The bit size of the ``value`` must be
5219 smaller than the bit size of the destination type, ``ty2``.
5224 The ``zext`` fills the high order bits of the ``value`` with zero bits
5225 until it reaches the size of the destination type, ``ty2``.
5227 When zero extending from i1, the result will always be either 0 or 1.
5232 .. code-block:: llvm
5234 %X = zext i32 257 to i64 ; yields i64:257
5235 %Y = zext i1 true to i32 ; yields i32:1
5236 %Z = zext <2 x i16> <i16 8, i16 7> to <2 x i32> ; yields <i32 8, i32 7>
5238 '``sext .. to``' Instruction
5239 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5246 <result> = sext <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5251 The '``sext``' sign extends ``value`` to the type ``ty2``.
5256 The '``sext``' instruction takes a value to cast, and a type to cast it
5257 to. Both types must be of :ref:`integer <t_integer>` types, or vectors of
5258 the same number of integers. The bit size of the ``value`` must be
5259 smaller than the bit size of the destination type, ``ty2``.
5264 The '``sext``' instruction performs a sign extension by copying the sign
5265 bit (highest order bit) of the ``value`` until it reaches the bit size
5266 of the type ``ty2``.
5268 When sign extending from i1, the extension always results in -1 or 0.
5273 .. code-block:: llvm
5275 %X = sext i8 -1 to i16 ; yields i16 :65535
5276 %Y = sext i1 true to i32 ; yields i32:-1
5277 %Z = sext <2 x i16> <i16 8, i16 7> to <2 x i32> ; yields <i32 8, i32 7>
5279 '``fptrunc .. to``' Instruction
5280 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5287 <result> = fptrunc <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5292 The '``fptrunc``' instruction truncates ``value`` to type ``ty2``.
5297 The '``fptrunc``' instruction takes a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`
5298 value to cast and a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to cast it to.
5299 The size of ``value`` must be larger than the size of ``ty2``. This
5300 implies that ``fptrunc`` cannot be used to make a *no-op cast*.
5305 The '``fptrunc``' instruction truncates a ``value`` from a larger
5306 :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to a smaller :ref:`floating
5307 point <t_floating>` type. If the value cannot fit within the
5308 destination type, ``ty2``, then the results are undefined.
5313 .. code-block:: llvm
5315 %X = fptrunc double 123.0 to float ; yields float:123.0
5316 %Y = fptrunc double 1.0E+300 to float ; yields undefined
5318 '``fpext .. to``' Instruction
5319 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5326 <result> = fpext <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5331 The '``fpext``' extends a floating point ``value`` to a larger floating
5337 The '``fpext``' instruction takes a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`
5338 ``value`` to cast, and a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to cast it
5339 to. The source type must be smaller than the destination type.
5344 The '``fpext``' instruction extends the ``value`` from a smaller
5345 :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to a larger :ref:`floating
5346 point <t_floating>` type. The ``fpext`` cannot be used to make a
5347 *no-op cast* because it always changes bits. Use ``bitcast`` to make a
5348 *no-op cast* for a floating point cast.
5353 .. code-block:: llvm
5355 %X = fpext float 3.125 to double ; yields double:3.125000e+00
5356 %Y = fpext double %X to fp128 ; yields fp128:0xL00000000000000004000900000000000
5358 '``fptoui .. to``' Instruction
5359 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5366 <result> = fptoui <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5371 The '``fptoui``' converts a floating point ``value`` to its unsigned
5372 integer equivalent of type ``ty2``.
5377 The '``fptoui``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5378 scalar or vector :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` value, and a type to
5379 cast it to ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` type. If
5380 ``ty`` is a vector floating point type, ``ty2`` must be a vector integer
5381 type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5386 The '``fptoui``' instruction converts its :ref:`floating
5387 point <t_floating>` operand into the nearest (rounding towards zero)
5388 unsigned integer value. If the value cannot fit in ``ty2``, the results
5394 .. code-block:: llvm
5396 %X = fptoui double 123.0 to i32 ; yields i32:123
5397 %Y = fptoui float 1.0E+300 to i1 ; yields undefined:1
5398 %Z = fptoui float 1.04E+17 to i8 ; yields undefined:1
5400 '``fptosi .. to``' Instruction
5401 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5408 <result> = fptosi <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5413 The '``fptosi``' instruction converts :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`
5414 ``value`` to type ``ty2``.
5419 The '``fptosi``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5420 scalar or vector :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` value, and a type to
5421 cast it to ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` type. If
5422 ``ty`` is a vector floating point type, ``ty2`` must be a vector integer
5423 type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5428 The '``fptosi``' instruction converts its :ref:`floating
5429 point <t_floating>` operand into the nearest (rounding towards zero)
5430 signed integer value. If the value cannot fit in ``ty2``, the results
5436 .. code-block:: llvm
5438 %X = fptosi double -123.0 to i32 ; yields i32:-123
5439 %Y = fptosi float 1.0E-247 to i1 ; yields undefined:1
5440 %Z = fptosi float 1.04E+17 to i8 ; yields undefined:1
5442 '``uitofp .. to``' Instruction
5443 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5450 <result> = uitofp <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5455 The '``uitofp``' instruction regards ``value`` as an unsigned integer
5456 and converts that value to the ``ty2`` type.
5461 The '``uitofp``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5462 scalar or vector :ref:`integer <t_integer>` value, and a type to cast it to
5463 ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type. If
5464 ``ty`` is a vector integer type, ``ty2`` must be a vector floating point
5465 type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5470 The '``uitofp``' instruction interprets its operand as an unsigned
5471 integer quantity and converts it to the corresponding floating point
5472 value. If the value cannot fit in the floating point value, the results
5478 .. code-block:: llvm
5480 %X = uitofp i32 257 to float ; yields float:257.0
5481 %Y = uitofp i8 -1 to double ; yields double:255.0
5483 '``sitofp .. to``' Instruction
5484 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5491 <result> = sitofp <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5496 The '``sitofp``' instruction regards ``value`` as a signed integer and
5497 converts that value to the ``ty2`` type.
5502 The '``sitofp``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5503 scalar or vector :ref:`integer <t_integer>` value, and a type to cast it to
5504 ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type. If
5505 ``ty`` is a vector integer type, ``ty2`` must be a vector floating point
5506 type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5511 The '``sitofp``' instruction interprets its operand as a signed integer
5512 quantity and converts it to the corresponding floating point value. If
5513 the value cannot fit in the floating point value, the results are
5519 .. code-block:: llvm
5521 %X = sitofp i32 257 to float ; yields float:257.0
5522 %Y = sitofp i8 -1 to double ; yields double:-1.0
5526 '``ptrtoint .. to``' Instruction
5527 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5534 <result> = ptrtoint <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5539 The '``ptrtoint``' instruction converts the pointer or a vector of
5540 pointers ``value`` to the integer (or vector of integers) type ``ty2``.
5545 The '``ptrtoint``' instruction takes a ``value`` to cast, which must be
5546 a a value of type :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` or a vector of pointers, and a
5547 type to cast it to ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or
5548 a vector of integers type.
5553 The '``ptrtoint``' instruction converts ``value`` to integer type
5554 ``ty2`` by interpreting the pointer value as an integer and either
5555 truncating or zero extending that value to the size of the integer type.
5556 If ``value`` is smaller than ``ty2`` then a zero extension is done. If
5557 ``value`` is larger than ``ty2`` then a truncation is done. If they are
5558 the same size, then nothing is done (*no-op cast*) other than a type
5564 .. code-block:: llvm
5566 %X = ptrtoint i32* %P to i8 ; yields truncation on 32-bit architecture
5567 %Y = ptrtoint i32* %P to i64 ; yields zero extension on 32-bit architecture
5568 %Z = ptrtoint <4 x i32*> %P to <4 x i64>; yields vector zero extension for a vector of addresses on 32-bit architecture
5572 '``inttoptr .. to``' Instruction
5573 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5580 <result> = inttoptr <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5585 The '``inttoptr``' instruction converts an integer ``value`` to a
5586 pointer type, ``ty2``.
5591 The '``inttoptr``' instruction takes an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` value to
5592 cast, and a type to cast it to, which must be a :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>`
5598 The '``inttoptr``' instruction converts ``value`` to type ``ty2`` by
5599 applying either a zero extension or a truncation depending on the size
5600 of the integer ``value``. If ``value`` is larger than the size of a
5601 pointer then a truncation is done. If ``value`` is smaller than the size
5602 of a pointer then a zero extension is done. If they are the same size,
5603 nothing is done (*no-op cast*).
5608 .. code-block:: llvm
5610 %X = inttoptr i32 255 to i32* ; yields zero extension on 64-bit architecture
5611 %Y = inttoptr i32 255 to i32* ; yields no-op on 32-bit architecture
5612 %Z = inttoptr i64 0 to i32* ; yields truncation on 32-bit architecture
5613 %Z = inttoptr <4 x i32> %G to <4 x i8*>; yields truncation of vector G to four pointers
5617 '``bitcast .. to``' Instruction
5618 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5625 <result> = bitcast <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5630 The '``bitcast``' instruction converts ``value`` to type ``ty2`` without
5636 The '``bitcast``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5637 non-aggregate first class value, and a type to cast it to, which must
5638 also be a non-aggregate :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type. The
5639 bit sizes of ``value`` and the destination type, ``ty2``, must be
5640 identical. If the source type is a pointer, the destination type must
5641 also be a pointer of the same size. This instruction supports bitwise
5642 conversion of vectors to integers and to vectors of other types (as
5643 long as they have the same size).
5648 The '``bitcast``' instruction converts ``value`` to type ``ty2``. It
5649 is always a *no-op cast* because no bits change with this
5650 conversion. The conversion is done as if the ``value`` had been stored
5651 to memory and read back as type ``ty2``. Pointer (or vector of
5652 pointers) types may only be converted to other pointer (or vector of
5653 pointers) types with the same address space through this instruction.
5654 To convert pointers to other types, use the :ref:`inttoptr <i_inttoptr>`
5655 or :ref:`ptrtoint <i_ptrtoint>` instructions first.
5660 .. code-block:: llvm
5662 %X = bitcast i8 255 to i8 ; yields i8 :-1
5663 %Y = bitcast i32* %x to sint* ; yields sint*:%x
5664 %Z = bitcast <2 x int> %V to i64; ; yields i64: %V
5665 %Z = bitcast <2 x i32*> %V to <2 x i64*> ; yields <2 x i64*>
5667 .. _i_addrspacecast:
5669 '``addrspacecast .. to``' Instruction
5670 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5677 <result> = addrspacecast <pty> <ptrval> to <pty2> ; yields pty2
5682 The '``addrspacecast``' instruction converts ``ptrval`` from ``pty`` in
5683 address space ``n`` to type ``pty2`` in address space ``m``.
5688 The '``addrspacecast``' instruction takes a pointer or vector of pointer value
5689 to cast and a pointer type to cast it to, which must have a different
5695 The '``addrspacecast``' instruction converts the pointer value
5696 ``ptrval`` to type ``pty2``. It can be a *no-op cast* or a complex
5697 value modification, depending on the target and the address space
5698 pair. Pointer conversions within the same address space must be
5699 performed with the ``bitcast`` instruction. Note that if the address space
5700 conversion is legal then both result and operand refer to the same memory
5706 .. code-block:: llvm
5708 %X = addrspacecast i32* %x to i32 addrspace(1)* ; yields i32 addrspace(1)*:%x
5709 %Y = addrspacecast i32 addrspace(1)* %y to i64 addrspace(2)* ; yields i64 addrspace(2)*:%y
5710 %Z = addrspacecast <4 x i32*> %z to <4 x float addrspace(3)*> ; yields <4 x float addrspace(3)*>:%z
5717 The instructions in this category are the "miscellaneous" instructions,
5718 which defy better classification.
5722 '``icmp``' Instruction
5723 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5730 <result> = icmp <cond> <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {i1} or {<N x i1>}:result
5735 The '``icmp``' instruction returns a boolean value or a vector of
5736 boolean values based on comparison of its two integer, integer vector,
5737 pointer, or pointer vector operands.
5742 The '``icmp``' instruction takes three operands. The first operand is
5743 the condition code indicating the kind of comparison to perform. It is
5744 not a value, just a keyword. The possible condition code are:
5747 #. ``ne``: not equal
5748 #. ``ugt``: unsigned greater than
5749 #. ``uge``: unsigned greater or equal
5750 #. ``ult``: unsigned less than
5751 #. ``ule``: unsigned less or equal
5752 #. ``sgt``: signed greater than
5753 #. ``sge``: signed greater or equal
5754 #. ``slt``: signed less than
5755 #. ``sle``: signed less or equal
5757 The remaining two arguments must be :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or
5758 :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` or integer :ref:`vector <t_vector>` typed. They
5759 must also be identical types.
5764 The '``icmp``' compares ``op1`` and ``op2`` according to the condition
5765 code given as ``cond``. The comparison performed always yields either an
5766 :ref:`i1 <t_integer>` or vector of ``i1`` result, as follows:
5768 #. ``eq``: yields ``true`` if the operands are equal, ``false``
5769 otherwise. No sign interpretation is necessary or performed.
5770 #. ``ne``: yields ``true`` if the operands are unequal, ``false``
5771 otherwise. No sign interpretation is necessary or performed.
5772 #. ``ugt``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5773 ``true`` if ``op1`` is greater than ``op2``.
5774 #. ``uge``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5775 ``true`` if ``op1`` is greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5776 #. ``ult``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5777 ``true`` if ``op1`` is less than ``op2``.
5778 #. ``ule``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5779 ``true`` if ``op1`` is less than or equal to ``op2``.
5780 #. ``sgt``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5781 if ``op1`` is greater than ``op2``.
5782 #. ``sge``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5783 if ``op1`` is greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5784 #. ``slt``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5785 if ``op1`` is less than ``op2``.
5786 #. ``sle``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5787 if ``op1`` is less than or equal to ``op2``.
5789 If the operands are :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` typed, the pointer values
5790 are compared as if they were integers.
5792 If the operands are integer vectors, then they are compared element by
5793 element. The result is an ``i1`` vector with the same number of elements
5794 as the values being compared. Otherwise, the result is an ``i1``.
5799 .. code-block:: llvm
5801 <result> = icmp eq i32 4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5802 <result> = icmp ne float* %X, %X ; yields: result=false
5803 <result> = icmp ult i16 4, 5 ; yields: result=true
5804 <result> = icmp sgt i16 4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5805 <result> = icmp ule i16 -4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5806 <result> = icmp sge i16 4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5808 Note that the code generator does not yet support vector types with the
5809 ``icmp`` instruction.
5813 '``fcmp``' Instruction
5814 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5821 <result> = fcmp <cond> <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {i1} or {<N x i1>}:result
5826 The '``fcmp``' instruction returns a boolean value or vector of boolean
5827 values based on comparison of its operands.
5829 If the operands are floating point scalars, then the result type is a
5830 boolean (:ref:`i1 <t_integer>`).
5832 If the operands are floating point vectors, then the result type is a
5833 vector of boolean with the same number of elements as the operands being
5839 The '``fcmp``' instruction takes three operands. The first operand is
5840 the condition code indicating the kind of comparison to perform. It is
5841 not a value, just a keyword. The possible condition code are:
5843 #. ``false``: no comparison, always returns false
5844 #. ``oeq``: ordered and equal
5845 #. ``ogt``: ordered and greater than
5846 #. ``oge``: ordered and greater than or equal
5847 #. ``olt``: ordered and less than
5848 #. ``ole``: ordered and less than or equal
5849 #. ``one``: ordered and not equal
5850 #. ``ord``: ordered (no nans)
5851 #. ``ueq``: unordered or equal
5852 #. ``ugt``: unordered or greater than
5853 #. ``uge``: unordered or greater than or equal
5854 #. ``ult``: unordered or less than
5855 #. ``ule``: unordered or less than or equal
5856 #. ``une``: unordered or not equal
5857 #. ``uno``: unordered (either nans)
5858 #. ``true``: no comparison, always returns true
5860 *Ordered* means that neither operand is a QNAN while *unordered* means
5861 that either operand may be a QNAN.
5863 Each of ``val1`` and ``val2`` arguments must be either a :ref:`floating
5864 point <t_floating>` type or a :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point
5865 type. They must have identical types.
5870 The '``fcmp``' instruction compares ``op1`` and ``op2`` according to the
5871 condition code given as ``cond``. If the operands are vectors, then the
5872 vectors are compared element by element. Each comparison performed
5873 always yields an :ref:`i1 <t_integer>` result, as follows:
5875 #. ``false``: always yields ``false``, regardless of operands.
5876 #. ``oeq``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5877 is equal to ``op2``.
5878 #. ``ogt``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5879 is greater than ``op2``.
5880 #. ``oge``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5881 is greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5882 #. ``olt``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5883 is less than ``op2``.
5884 #. ``ole``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5885 is less than or equal to ``op2``.
5886 #. ``one``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5887 is not equal to ``op2``.
5888 #. ``ord``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN.
5889 #. ``ueq``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5891 #. ``ugt``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5892 greater than ``op2``.
5893 #. ``uge``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5894 greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5895 #. ``ult``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5897 #. ``ule``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5898 less than or equal to ``op2``.
5899 #. ``une``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5900 not equal to ``op2``.
5901 #. ``uno``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN.
5902 #. ``true``: always yields ``true``, regardless of operands.
5907 .. code-block:: llvm
5909 <result> = fcmp oeq float 4.0, 5.0 ; yields: result=false
5910 <result> = fcmp one float 4.0, 5.0 ; yields: result=true
5911 <result> = fcmp olt float 4.0, 5.0 ; yields: result=true
5912 <result> = fcmp ueq double 1.0, 2.0 ; yields: result=false
5914 Note that the code generator does not yet support vector types with the
5915 ``fcmp`` instruction.
5919 '``phi``' Instruction
5920 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5927 <result> = phi <ty> [ <val0>, <label0>], ...
5932 The '``phi``' instruction is used to implement the φ node in the SSA
5933 graph representing the function.
5938 The type of the incoming values is specified with the first type field.
5939 After this, the '``phi``' instruction takes a list of pairs as
5940 arguments, with one pair for each predecessor basic block of the current
5941 block. Only values of :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type may be used as
5942 the value arguments to the PHI node. Only labels may be used as the
5945 There must be no non-phi instructions between the start of a basic block
5946 and the PHI instructions: i.e. PHI instructions must be first in a basic
5949 For the purposes of the SSA form, the use of each incoming value is
5950 deemed to occur on the edge from the corresponding predecessor block to
5951 the current block (but after any definition of an '``invoke``'
5952 instruction's return value on the same edge).
5957 At runtime, the '``phi``' instruction logically takes on the value
5958 specified by the pair corresponding to the predecessor basic block that
5959 executed just prior to the current block.
5964 .. code-block:: llvm
5966 Loop: ; Infinite loop that counts from 0 on up...
5967 %indvar = phi i32 [ 0, %LoopHeader ], [ %nextindvar, %Loop ]
5968 %nextindvar = add i32 %indvar, 1
5973 '``select``' Instruction
5974 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5981 <result> = select selty <cond>, <ty> <val1>, <ty> <val2> ; yields ty
5983 selty is either i1 or {<N x i1>}
5988 The '``select``' instruction is used to choose one value based on a
5989 condition, without branching.
5994 The '``select``' instruction requires an 'i1' value or a vector of 'i1'
5995 values indicating the condition, and two values of the same :ref:`first
5996 class <t_firstclass>` type. If the val1/val2 are vectors and the
5997 condition is a scalar, then entire vectors are selected, not individual
6003 If the condition is an i1 and it evaluates to 1, the instruction returns
6004 the first value argument; otherwise, it returns the second value
6007 If the condition is a vector of i1, then the value arguments must be
6008 vectors of the same size, and the selection is done element by element.
6013 .. code-block:: llvm
6015 %X = select i1 true, i8 17, i8 42 ; yields i8:17
6019 '``call``' Instruction
6020 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6027 <result> = [tail] call [cconv] [ret attrs] <ty> [<fnty>*] <fnptrval>(<function args>) [fn attrs]
6032 The '``call``' instruction represents a simple function call.
6037 This instruction requires several arguments:
6039 #. The optional "tail" marker indicates that the callee function does
6040 not access any allocas or varargs in the caller. Note that calls may
6041 be marked "tail" even if they do not occur before a
6042 :ref:`ret <i_ret>` instruction. If the "tail" marker is present, the
6043 function call is eligible for tail call optimization, but `might not
6044 in fact be optimized into a jump <CodeGenerator.html#tailcallopt>`_.
6045 The code generator may optimize calls marked "tail" with either 1)
6046 automatic `sibling call
6047 optimization <CodeGenerator.html#sibcallopt>`_ when the caller and
6048 callee have matching signatures, or 2) forced tail call optimization
6049 when the following extra requirements are met:
6051 - Caller and callee both have the calling convention ``fastcc``.
6052 - The call is in tail position (ret immediately follows call and ret
6053 uses value of call or is void).
6054 - Option ``-tailcallopt`` is enabled, or
6055 ``llvm::GuaranteedTailCallOpt`` is ``true``.
6056 - `Platform specific constraints are
6057 met. <CodeGenerator.html#tailcallopt>`_
6059 #. The optional "cconv" marker indicates which :ref:`calling
6060 convention <callingconv>` the call should use. If none is
6061 specified, the call defaults to using C calling conventions. The
6062 calling convention of the call must match the calling convention of
6063 the target function, or else the behavior is undefined.
6064 #. The optional :ref:`Parameter Attributes <paramattrs>` list for return
6065 values. Only '``zeroext``', '``signext``', and '``inreg``' attributes
6067 #. '``ty``': the type of the call instruction itself which is also the
6068 type of the return value. Functions that return no value are marked
6070 #. '``fnty``': shall be the signature of the pointer to function value
6071 being invoked. The argument types must match the types implied by
6072 this signature. This type can be omitted if the function is not
6073 varargs and if the function type does not return a pointer to a
6075 #. '``fnptrval``': An LLVM value containing a pointer to a function to
6076 be invoked. In most cases, this is a direct function invocation, but
6077 indirect ``call``'s are just as possible, calling an arbitrary pointer
6079 #. '``function args``': argument list whose types match the function
6080 signature argument types and parameter attributes. All arguments must
6081 be of :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type. If the function signature
6082 indicates the function accepts a variable number of arguments, the
6083 extra arguments can be specified.
6084 #. The optional :ref:`function attributes <fnattrs>` list. Only
6085 '``noreturn``', '``nounwind``', '``readonly``' and '``readnone``'
6086 attributes are valid here.
6091 The '``call``' instruction is used to cause control flow to transfer to
6092 a specified function, with its incoming arguments bound to the specified
6093 values. Upon a '``ret``' instruction in the called function, control
6094 flow continues with the instruction after the function call, and the
6095 return value of the function is bound to the result argument.
6100 .. code-block:: llvm
6102 %retval = call i32 @test(i32 %argc)
6103 call i32 (i8*, ...)* @printf(i8* %msg, i32 12, i8 42) ; yields i32
6104 %X = tail call i32 @foo() ; yields i32
6105 %Y = tail call fastcc i32 @foo() ; yields i32
6106 call void %foo(i8 97 signext)
6108 %struct.A = type { i32, i8 }
6109 %r = call %struct.A @foo() ; yields { 32, i8 }
6110 %gr = extractvalue %struct.A %r, 0 ; yields i32
6111 %gr1 = extractvalue %struct.A %r, 1 ; yields i8
6112 %Z = call void @foo() noreturn ; indicates that %foo never returns normally
6113 %ZZ = call zeroext i32 @bar() ; Return value is %zero extended
6115 llvm treats calls to some functions with names and arguments that match
6116 the standard C99 library as being the C99 library functions, and may
6117 perform optimizations or generate code for them under that assumption.
6118 This is something we'd like to change in the future to provide better
6119 support for freestanding environments and non-C-based languages.
6123 '``va_arg``' Instruction
6124 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6131 <resultval> = va_arg <va_list*> <arglist>, <argty>
6136 The '``va_arg``' instruction is used to access arguments passed through
6137 the "variable argument" area of a function call. It is used to implement
6138 the ``va_arg`` macro in C.
6143 This instruction takes a ``va_list*`` value and the type of the
6144 argument. It returns a value of the specified argument type and
6145 increments the ``va_list`` to point to the next argument. The actual
6146 type of ``va_list`` is target specific.
6151 The '``va_arg``' instruction loads an argument of the specified type
6152 from the specified ``va_list`` and causes the ``va_list`` to point to
6153 the next argument. For more information, see the variable argument
6154 handling :ref:`Intrinsic Functions <int_varargs>`.
6156 It is legal for this instruction to be called in a function which does
6157 not take a variable number of arguments, for example, the ``vfprintf``
6160 ``va_arg`` is an LLVM instruction instead of an :ref:`intrinsic
6161 function <intrinsics>` because it takes a type as an argument.
6166 See the :ref:`variable argument processing <int_varargs>` section.
6168 Note that the code generator does not yet fully support va\_arg on many
6169 targets. Also, it does not currently support va\_arg with aggregate
6170 types on any target.
6174 '``landingpad``' Instruction
6175 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6182 <resultval> = landingpad <resultty> personality <type> <pers_fn> <clause>+
6183 <resultval> = landingpad <resultty> personality <type> <pers_fn> cleanup <clause>*
6185 <clause> := catch <type> <value>
6186 <clause> := filter <array constant type> <array constant>
6191 The '``landingpad``' instruction is used by `LLVM's exception handling
6192 system <ExceptionHandling.html#overview>`_ to specify that a basic block
6193 is a landing pad --- one where the exception lands, and corresponds to the
6194 code found in the ``catch`` portion of a ``try``/``catch`` sequence. It
6195 defines values supplied by the personality function (``pers_fn``) upon
6196 re-entry to the function. The ``resultval`` has the type ``resultty``.
6201 This instruction takes a ``pers_fn`` value. This is the personality
6202 function associated with the unwinding mechanism. The optional
6203 ``cleanup`` flag indicates that the landing pad block is a cleanup.
6205 A ``clause`` begins with the clause type --- ``catch`` or ``filter`` --- and
6206 contains the global variable representing the "type" that may be caught
6207 or filtered respectively. Unlike the ``catch`` clause, the ``filter``
6208 clause takes an array constant as its argument. Use
6209 "``[0 x i8**] undef``" for a filter which cannot throw. The
6210 '``landingpad``' instruction must contain *at least* one ``clause`` or
6211 the ``cleanup`` flag.
6216 The '``landingpad``' instruction defines the values which are set by the
6217 personality function (``pers_fn``) upon re-entry to the function, and
6218 therefore the "result type" of the ``landingpad`` instruction. As with
6219 calling conventions, how the personality function results are
6220 represented in LLVM IR is target specific.
6222 The clauses are applied in order from top to bottom. If two
6223 ``landingpad`` instructions are merged together through inlining, the
6224 clauses from the calling function are appended to the list of clauses.
6225 When the call stack is being unwound due to an exception being thrown,
6226 the exception is compared against each ``clause`` in turn. If it doesn't
6227 match any of the clauses, and the ``cleanup`` flag is not set, then
6228 unwinding continues further up the call stack.
6230 The ``landingpad`` instruction has several restrictions:
6232 - A landing pad block is a basic block which is the unwind destination
6233 of an '``invoke``' instruction.
6234 - A landing pad block must have a '``landingpad``' instruction as its
6235 first non-PHI instruction.
6236 - There can be only one '``landingpad``' instruction within the landing
6238 - A basic block that is not a landing pad block may not include a
6239 '``landingpad``' instruction.
6240 - All '``landingpad``' instructions in a function must have the same
6241 personality function.
6246 .. code-block:: llvm
6248 ;; A landing pad which can catch an integer.
6249 %res = landingpad { i8*, i32 } personality i32 (...)* @__gxx_personality_v0
6251 ;; A landing pad that is a cleanup.
6252 %res = landingpad { i8*, i32 } personality i32 (...)* @__gxx_personality_v0
6254 ;; A landing pad which can catch an integer and can only throw a double.
6255 %res = landingpad { i8*, i32 } personality i32 (...)* @__gxx_personality_v0
6257 filter [1 x i8**] [@_ZTId]
6264 LLVM supports the notion of an "intrinsic function". These functions
6265 have well known names and semantics and are required to follow certain
6266 restrictions. Overall, these intrinsics represent an extension mechanism
6267 for the LLVM language that does not require changing all of the
6268 transformations in LLVM when adding to the language (or the bitcode
6269 reader/writer, the parser, etc...).
6271 Intrinsic function names must all start with an "``llvm.``" prefix. This
6272 prefix is reserved in LLVM for intrinsic names; thus, function names may
6273 not begin with this prefix. Intrinsic functions must always be external
6274 functions: you cannot define the body of intrinsic functions. Intrinsic
6275 functions may only be used in call or invoke instructions: it is illegal
6276 to take the address of an intrinsic function. Additionally, because
6277 intrinsic functions are part of the LLVM language, it is required if any
6278 are added that they be documented here.
6280 Some intrinsic functions can be overloaded, i.e., the intrinsic
6281 represents a family of functions that perform the same operation but on
6282 different data types. Because LLVM can represent over 8 million
6283 different integer types, overloading is used commonly to allow an
6284 intrinsic function to operate on any integer type. One or more of the
6285 argument types or the result type can be overloaded to accept any
6286 integer type. Argument types may also be defined as exactly matching a
6287 previous argument's type or the result type. This allows an intrinsic
6288 function which accepts multiple arguments, but needs all of them to be
6289 of the same type, to only be overloaded with respect to a single
6290 argument or the result.
6292 Overloaded intrinsics will have the names of its overloaded argument
6293 types encoded into its function name, each preceded by a period. Only
6294 those types which are overloaded result in a name suffix. Arguments
6295 whose type is matched against another type do not. For example, the
6296 ``llvm.ctpop`` function can take an integer of any width and returns an
6297 integer of exactly the same integer width. This leads to a family of
6298 functions such as ``i8 @llvm.ctpop.i8(i8 %val)`` and
6299 ``i29 @llvm.ctpop.i29(i29 %val)``. Only one type, the return type, is
6300 overloaded, and only one type suffix is required. Because the argument's
6301 type is matched against the return type, it does not require its own
6304 To learn how to add an intrinsic function, please see the `Extending
6305 LLVM Guide <ExtendingLLVM.html>`_.
6309 Variable Argument Handling Intrinsics
6310 -------------------------------------
6312 Variable argument support is defined in LLVM with the
6313 :ref:`va_arg <i_va_arg>` instruction and these three intrinsic
6314 functions. These functions are related to the similarly named macros
6315 defined in the ``<stdarg.h>`` header file.
6317 All of these functions operate on arguments that use a target-specific
6318 value type "``va_list``". The LLVM assembly language reference manual
6319 does not define what this type is, so all transformations should be
6320 prepared to handle these functions regardless of the type used.
6322 This example shows how the :ref:`va_arg <i_va_arg>` instruction and the
6323 variable argument handling intrinsic functions are used.
6325 .. code-block:: llvm
6327 define i32 @test(i32 %X, ...) {
6328 ; Initialize variable argument processing
6330 %ap2 = bitcast i8** %ap to i8*
6331 call void @llvm.va_start(i8* %ap2)
6333 ; Read a single integer argument
6334 %tmp = va_arg i8** %ap, i32
6336 ; Demonstrate usage of llvm.va_copy and llvm.va_end
6338 %aq2 = bitcast i8** %aq to i8*
6339 call void @llvm.va_copy(i8* %aq2, i8* %ap2)
6340 call void @llvm.va_end(i8* %aq2)
6342 ; Stop processing of arguments.
6343 call void @llvm.va_end(i8* %ap2)
6347 declare void @llvm.va_start(i8*)
6348 declare void @llvm.va_copy(i8*, i8*)
6349 declare void @llvm.va_end(i8*)
6353 '``llvm.va_start``' Intrinsic
6354 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6361 declare void @llvm.va_start(i8* <arglist>)
6366 The '``llvm.va_start``' intrinsic initializes ``*<arglist>`` for
6367 subsequent use by ``va_arg``.
6372 The argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` element to initialize.
6377 The '``llvm.va_start``' intrinsic works just like the ``va_start`` macro
6378 available in C. In a target-dependent way, it initializes the
6379 ``va_list`` element to which the argument points, so that the next call
6380 to ``va_arg`` will produce the first variable argument passed to the
6381 function. Unlike the C ``va_start`` macro, this intrinsic does not need
6382 to know the last argument of the function as the compiler can figure
6385 '``llvm.va_end``' Intrinsic
6386 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6393 declare void @llvm.va_end(i8* <arglist>)
6398 The '``llvm.va_end``' intrinsic destroys ``*<arglist>``, which has been
6399 initialized previously with ``llvm.va_start`` or ``llvm.va_copy``.
6404 The argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` to destroy.
6409 The '``llvm.va_end``' intrinsic works just like the ``va_end`` macro
6410 available in C. In a target-dependent way, it destroys the ``va_list``
6411 element to which the argument points. Calls to
6412 :ref:`llvm.va_start <int_va_start>` and
6413 :ref:`llvm.va_copy <int_va_copy>` must be matched exactly with calls to
6418 '``llvm.va_copy``' Intrinsic
6419 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6426 declare void @llvm.va_copy(i8* <destarglist>, i8* <srcarglist>)
6431 The '``llvm.va_copy``' intrinsic copies the current argument position
6432 from the source argument list to the destination argument list.
6437 The first argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` element to initialize.
6438 The second argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` element to copy from.
6443 The '``llvm.va_copy``' intrinsic works just like the ``va_copy`` macro
6444 available in C. In a target-dependent way, it copies the source
6445 ``va_list`` element into the destination ``va_list`` element. This
6446 intrinsic is necessary because the `` llvm.va_start`` intrinsic may be
6447 arbitrarily complex and require, for example, memory allocation.
6449 Accurate Garbage Collection Intrinsics
6450 --------------------------------------
6452 LLVM support for `Accurate Garbage Collection <GarbageCollection.html>`_
6453 (GC) requires the implementation and generation of these intrinsics.
6454 These intrinsics allow identification of :ref:`GC roots on the
6455 stack <int_gcroot>`, as well as garbage collector implementations that
6456 require :ref:`read <int_gcread>` and :ref:`write <int_gcwrite>` barriers.
6457 Front-ends for type-safe garbage collected languages should generate
6458 these intrinsics to make use of the LLVM garbage collectors. For more
6459 details, see `Accurate Garbage Collection with
6460 LLVM <GarbageCollection.html>`_.
6462 The garbage collection intrinsics only operate on objects in the generic
6463 address space (address space zero).
6467 '``llvm.gcroot``' Intrinsic
6468 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6475 declare void @llvm.gcroot(i8** %ptrloc, i8* %metadata)
6480 The '``llvm.gcroot``' intrinsic declares the existence of a GC root to
6481 the code generator, and allows some metadata to be associated with it.
6486 The first argument specifies the address of a stack object that contains
6487 the root pointer. The second pointer (which must be either a constant or
6488 a global value address) contains the meta-data to be associated with the
6494 At runtime, a call to this intrinsic stores a null pointer into the
6495 "ptrloc" location. At compile-time, the code generator generates
6496 information to allow the runtime to find the pointer at GC safe points.
6497 The '``llvm.gcroot``' intrinsic may only be used in a function which
6498 :ref:`specifies a GC algorithm <gc>`.
6502 '``llvm.gcread``' Intrinsic
6503 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6510 declare i8* @llvm.gcread(i8* %ObjPtr, i8** %Ptr)
6515 The '``llvm.gcread``' intrinsic identifies reads of references from heap
6516 locations, allowing garbage collector implementations that require read
6522 The second argument is the address to read from, which should be an
6523 address allocated from the garbage collector. The first object is a
6524 pointer to the start of the referenced object, if needed by the language
6525 runtime (otherwise null).
6530 The '``llvm.gcread``' intrinsic has the same semantics as a load
6531 instruction, but may be replaced with substantially more complex code by
6532 the garbage collector runtime, as needed. The '``llvm.gcread``'
6533 intrinsic may only be used in a function which :ref:`specifies a GC
6538 '``llvm.gcwrite``' Intrinsic
6539 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6546 declare void @llvm.gcwrite(i8* %P1, i8* %Obj, i8** %P2)
6551 The '``llvm.gcwrite``' intrinsic identifies writes of references to heap
6552 locations, allowing garbage collector implementations that require write
6553 barriers (such as generational or reference counting collectors).
6558 The first argument is the reference to store, the second is the start of
6559 the object to store it to, and the third is the address of the field of
6560 Obj to store to. If the runtime does not require a pointer to the
6561 object, Obj may be null.
6566 The '``llvm.gcwrite``' intrinsic has the same semantics as a store
6567 instruction, but may be replaced with substantially more complex code by
6568 the garbage collector runtime, as needed. The '``llvm.gcwrite``'
6569 intrinsic may only be used in a function which :ref:`specifies a GC
6572 Code Generator Intrinsics
6573 -------------------------
6575 These intrinsics are provided by LLVM to expose special features that
6576 may only be implemented with code generator support.
6578 '``llvm.returnaddress``' Intrinsic
6579 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6586 declare i8 *@llvm.returnaddress(i32 <level>)
6591 The '``llvm.returnaddress``' intrinsic attempts to compute a
6592 target-specific value indicating the return address of the current
6593 function or one of its callers.
6598 The argument to this intrinsic indicates which function to return the
6599 address for. Zero indicates the calling function, one indicates its
6600 caller, etc. The argument is **required** to be a constant integer
6606 The '``llvm.returnaddress``' intrinsic either returns a pointer
6607 indicating the return address of the specified call frame, or zero if it
6608 cannot be identified. The value returned by this intrinsic is likely to
6609 be incorrect or 0 for arguments other than zero, so it should only be
6610 used for debugging purposes.
6612 Note that calling this intrinsic does not prevent function inlining or
6613 other aggressive transformations, so the value returned may not be that
6614 of the obvious source-language caller.
6616 '``llvm.frameaddress``' Intrinsic
6617 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6624 declare i8* @llvm.frameaddress(i32 <level>)
6629 The '``llvm.frameaddress``' intrinsic attempts to return the
6630 target-specific frame pointer value for the specified stack frame.
6635 The argument to this intrinsic indicates which function to return the
6636 frame pointer for. Zero indicates the calling function, one indicates
6637 its caller, etc. The argument is **required** to be a constant integer
6643 The '``llvm.frameaddress``' intrinsic either returns a pointer
6644 indicating the frame address of the specified call frame, or zero if it
6645 cannot be identified. The value returned by this intrinsic is likely to
6646 be incorrect or 0 for arguments other than zero, so it should only be
6647 used for debugging purposes.
6649 Note that calling this intrinsic does not prevent function inlining or
6650 other aggressive transformations, so the value returned may not be that
6651 of the obvious source-language caller.
6655 '``llvm.stacksave``' Intrinsic
6656 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6663 declare i8* @llvm.stacksave()
6668 The '``llvm.stacksave``' intrinsic is used to remember the current state
6669 of the function stack, for use with
6670 :ref:`llvm.stackrestore <int_stackrestore>`. This is useful for
6671 implementing language features like scoped automatic variable sized
6677 This intrinsic returns a opaque pointer value that can be passed to
6678 :ref:`llvm.stackrestore <int_stackrestore>`. When an
6679 ``llvm.stackrestore`` intrinsic is executed with a value saved from
6680 ``llvm.stacksave``, it effectively restores the state of the stack to
6681 the state it was in when the ``llvm.stacksave`` intrinsic executed. In
6682 practice, this pops any :ref:`alloca <i_alloca>` blocks from the stack that
6683 were allocated after the ``llvm.stacksave`` was executed.
6685 .. _int_stackrestore:
6687 '``llvm.stackrestore``' Intrinsic
6688 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6695 declare void @llvm.stackrestore(i8* %ptr)
6700 The '``llvm.stackrestore``' intrinsic is used to restore the state of
6701 the function stack to the state it was in when the corresponding
6702 :ref:`llvm.stacksave <int_stacksave>` intrinsic executed. This is
6703 useful for implementing language features like scoped automatic variable
6704 sized arrays in C99.
6709 See the description for :ref:`llvm.stacksave <int_stacksave>`.
6711 '``llvm.prefetch``' Intrinsic
6712 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6719 declare void @llvm.prefetch(i8* <address>, i32 <rw>, i32 <locality>, i32 <cache type>)
6724 The '``llvm.prefetch``' intrinsic is a hint to the code generator to
6725 insert a prefetch instruction if supported; otherwise, it is a noop.
6726 Prefetches have no effect on the behavior of the program but can change
6727 its performance characteristics.
6732 ``address`` is the address to be prefetched, ``rw`` is the specifier
6733 determining if the fetch should be for a read (0) or write (1), and
6734 ``locality`` is a temporal locality specifier ranging from (0) - no
6735 locality, to (3) - extremely local keep in cache. The ``cache type``
6736 specifies whether the prefetch is performed on the data (1) or
6737 instruction (0) cache. The ``rw``, ``locality`` and ``cache type``
6738 arguments must be constant integers.
6743 This intrinsic does not modify the behavior of the program. In
6744 particular, prefetches cannot trap and do not produce a value. On
6745 targets that support this intrinsic, the prefetch can provide hints to
6746 the processor cache for better performance.
6748 '``llvm.pcmarker``' Intrinsic
6749 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6756 declare void @llvm.pcmarker(i32 <id>)
6761 The '``llvm.pcmarker``' intrinsic is a method to export a Program
6762 Counter (PC) in a region of code to simulators and other tools. The
6763 method is target specific, but it is expected that the marker will use
6764 exported symbols to transmit the PC of the marker. The marker makes no
6765 guarantees that it will remain with any specific instruction after
6766 optimizations. It is possible that the presence of a marker will inhibit
6767 optimizations. The intended use is to be inserted after optimizations to
6768 allow correlations of simulation runs.
6773 ``id`` is a numerical id identifying the marker.
6778 This intrinsic does not modify the behavior of the program. Backends
6779 that do not support this intrinsic may ignore it.
6781 '``llvm.readcyclecounter``' Intrinsic
6782 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6789 declare i64 @llvm.readcyclecounter()
6794 The '``llvm.readcyclecounter``' intrinsic provides access to the cycle
6795 counter register (or similar low latency, high accuracy clocks) on those
6796 targets that support it. On X86, it should map to RDTSC. On Alpha, it
6797 should map to RPCC. As the backing counters overflow quickly (on the
6798 order of 9 seconds on alpha), this should only be used for small
6804 When directly supported, reading the cycle counter should not modify any
6805 memory. Implementations are allowed to either return a application
6806 specific value or a system wide value. On backends without support, this
6807 is lowered to a constant 0.
6809 Note that runtime support may be conditional on the privilege-level code is
6810 running at and the host platform.
6812 Standard C Library Intrinsics
6813 -----------------------------
6815 LLVM provides intrinsics for a few important standard C library
6816 functions. These intrinsics allow source-language front-ends to pass
6817 information about the alignment of the pointer arguments to the code
6818 generator, providing opportunity for more efficient code generation.
6822 '``llvm.memcpy``' Intrinsic
6823 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6828 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.memcpy`` on any
6829 integer bit width and for different address spaces. Not all targets
6830 support all bit widths however.
6834 declare void @llvm.memcpy.p0i8.p0i8.i32(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6835 i32 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6836 declare void @llvm.memcpy.p0i8.p0i8.i64(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6837 i64 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6842 The '``llvm.memcpy.*``' intrinsics copy a block of memory from the
6843 source location to the destination location.
6845 Note that, unlike the standard libc function, the ``llvm.memcpy.*``
6846 intrinsics do not return a value, takes extra alignment/isvolatile
6847 arguments and the pointers can be in specified address spaces.
6852 The first argument is a pointer to the destination, the second is a
6853 pointer to the source. The third argument is an integer argument
6854 specifying the number of bytes to copy, the fourth argument is the
6855 alignment of the source and destination locations, and the fifth is a
6856 boolean indicating a volatile access.
6858 If the call to this intrinsic has an alignment value that is not 0 or 1,
6859 then the caller guarantees that both the source and destination pointers
6860 are aligned to that boundary.
6862 If the ``isvolatile`` parameter is ``true``, the ``llvm.memcpy`` call is
6863 a :ref:`volatile operation <volatile>`. The detailed access behavior is not
6864 very cleanly specified and it is unwise to depend on it.
6869 The '``llvm.memcpy.*``' intrinsics copy a block of memory from the
6870 source location to the destination location, which are not allowed to
6871 overlap. It copies "len" bytes of memory over. If the argument is known
6872 to be aligned to some boundary, this can be specified as the fourth
6873 argument, otherwise it should be set to 0 or 1 (both meaning no alignment).
6875 '``llvm.memmove``' Intrinsic
6876 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6881 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use llvm.memmove on any integer
6882 bit width and for different address space. Not all targets support all
6887 declare void @llvm.memmove.p0i8.p0i8.i32(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6888 i32 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6889 declare void @llvm.memmove.p0i8.p0i8.i64(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6890 i64 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6895 The '``llvm.memmove.*``' intrinsics move a block of memory from the
6896 source location to the destination location. It is similar to the
6897 '``llvm.memcpy``' intrinsic but allows the two memory locations to
6900 Note that, unlike the standard libc function, the ``llvm.memmove.*``
6901 intrinsics do not return a value, takes extra alignment/isvolatile
6902 arguments and the pointers can be in specified address spaces.
6907 The first argument is a pointer to the destination, the second is a
6908 pointer to the source. The third argument is an integer argument
6909 specifying the number of bytes to copy, the fourth argument is the
6910 alignment of the source and destination locations, and the fifth is a
6911 boolean indicating a volatile access.
6913 If the call to this intrinsic has an alignment value that is not 0 or 1,
6914 then the caller guarantees that the source and destination pointers are
6915 aligned to that boundary.
6917 If the ``isvolatile`` parameter is ``true``, the ``llvm.memmove`` call
6918 is a :ref:`volatile operation <volatile>`. The detailed access behavior is
6919 not very cleanly specified and it is unwise to depend on it.
6924 The '``llvm.memmove.*``' intrinsics copy a block of memory from the
6925 source location to the destination location, which may overlap. It
6926 copies "len" bytes of memory over. If the argument is known to be
6927 aligned to some boundary, this can be specified as the fourth argument,
6928 otherwise it should be set to 0 or 1 (both meaning no alignment).
6930 '``llvm.memset.*``' Intrinsics
6931 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6936 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use llvm.memset on any integer
6937 bit width and for different address spaces. However, not all targets
6938 support all bit widths.
6942 declare void @llvm.memset.p0i8.i32(i8* <dest>, i8 <val>,
6943 i32 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6944 declare void @llvm.memset.p0i8.i64(i8* <dest>, i8 <val>,
6945 i64 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6950 The '``llvm.memset.*``' intrinsics fill a block of memory with a
6951 particular byte value.
6953 Note that, unlike the standard libc function, the ``llvm.memset``
6954 intrinsic does not return a value and takes extra alignment/volatile
6955 arguments. Also, the destination can be in an arbitrary address space.
6960 The first argument is a pointer to the destination to fill, the second
6961 is the byte value with which to fill it, the third argument is an
6962 integer argument specifying the number of bytes to fill, and the fourth
6963 argument is the known alignment of the destination location.
6965 If the call to this intrinsic has an alignment value that is not 0 or 1,
6966 then the caller guarantees that the destination pointer is aligned to
6969 If the ``isvolatile`` parameter is ``true``, the ``llvm.memset`` call is
6970 a :ref:`volatile operation <volatile>`. The detailed access behavior is not
6971 very cleanly specified and it is unwise to depend on it.
6976 The '``llvm.memset.*``' intrinsics fill "len" bytes of memory starting
6977 at the destination location. If the argument is known to be aligned to
6978 some boundary, this can be specified as the fourth argument, otherwise
6979 it should be set to 0 or 1 (both meaning no alignment).
6981 '``llvm.sqrt.*``' Intrinsic
6982 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6987 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.sqrt`` on any
6988 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6993 declare float @llvm.sqrt.f32(float %Val)
6994 declare double @llvm.sqrt.f64(double %Val)
6995 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.sqrt.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6996 declare fp128 @llvm.sqrt.f128(fp128 %Val)
6997 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.sqrt.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7002 The '``llvm.sqrt``' intrinsics return the sqrt of the specified operand,
7003 returning the same value as the libm '``sqrt``' functions would. Unlike
7004 ``sqrt`` in libm, however, ``llvm.sqrt`` has undefined behavior for
7005 negative numbers other than -0.0 (which allows for better optimization,
7006 because there is no need to worry about errno being set).
7007 ``llvm.sqrt(-0.0)`` is defined to return -0.0 like IEEE sqrt.
7012 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7018 This function returns the sqrt of the specified operand if it is a
7019 nonnegative floating point number.
7021 '``llvm.powi.*``' Intrinsic
7022 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7027 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.powi`` on any
7028 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7033 declare float @llvm.powi.f32(float %Val, i32 %power)
7034 declare double @llvm.powi.f64(double %Val, i32 %power)
7035 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.powi.f80(x86_fp80 %Val, i32 %power)
7036 declare fp128 @llvm.powi.f128(fp128 %Val, i32 %power)
7037 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.powi.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val, i32 %power)
7042 The '``llvm.powi.*``' intrinsics return the first operand raised to the
7043 specified (positive or negative) power. The order of evaluation of
7044 multiplications is not defined. When a vector of floating point type is
7045 used, the second argument remains a scalar integer value.
7050 The second argument is an integer power, and the first is a value to
7051 raise to that power.
7056 This function returns the first value raised to the second power with an
7057 unspecified sequence of rounding operations.
7059 '``llvm.sin.*``' Intrinsic
7060 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7065 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.sin`` on any
7066 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7071 declare float @llvm.sin.f32(float %Val)
7072 declare double @llvm.sin.f64(double %Val)
7073 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.sin.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7074 declare fp128 @llvm.sin.f128(fp128 %Val)
7075 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.sin.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7080 The '``llvm.sin.*``' intrinsics return the sine of the operand.
7085 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7091 This function returns the sine of the specified operand, returning the
7092 same values as the libm ``sin`` functions would, and handles error
7093 conditions in the same way.
7095 '``llvm.cos.*``' Intrinsic
7096 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7101 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.cos`` on any
7102 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7107 declare float @llvm.cos.f32(float %Val)
7108 declare double @llvm.cos.f64(double %Val)
7109 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.cos.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7110 declare fp128 @llvm.cos.f128(fp128 %Val)
7111 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.cos.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7116 The '``llvm.cos.*``' intrinsics return the cosine of the operand.
7121 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7127 This function returns the cosine of the specified operand, returning the
7128 same values as the libm ``cos`` functions would, and handles error
7129 conditions in the same way.
7131 '``llvm.pow.*``' Intrinsic
7132 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7137 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.pow`` on any
7138 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7143 declare float @llvm.pow.f32(float %Val, float %Power)
7144 declare double @llvm.pow.f64(double %Val, double %Power)
7145 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.pow.f80(x86_fp80 %Val, x86_fp80 %Power)
7146 declare fp128 @llvm.pow.f128(fp128 %Val, fp128 %Power)
7147 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.pow.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val, ppc_fp128 Power)
7152 The '``llvm.pow.*``' intrinsics return the first operand raised to the
7153 specified (positive or negative) power.
7158 The second argument is a floating point power, and the first is a value
7159 to raise to that power.
7164 This function returns the first value raised to the second power,
7165 returning the same values as the libm ``pow`` functions would, and
7166 handles error conditions in the same way.
7168 '``llvm.exp.*``' Intrinsic
7169 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7174 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.exp`` on any
7175 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7180 declare float @llvm.exp.f32(float %Val)
7181 declare double @llvm.exp.f64(double %Val)
7182 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.exp.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7183 declare fp128 @llvm.exp.f128(fp128 %Val)
7184 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.exp.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7189 The '``llvm.exp.*``' intrinsics perform the exp function.
7194 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7200 This function returns the same values as the libm ``exp`` functions
7201 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7203 '``llvm.exp2.*``' Intrinsic
7204 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7209 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.exp2`` on any
7210 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7215 declare float @llvm.exp2.f32(float %Val)
7216 declare double @llvm.exp2.f64(double %Val)
7217 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.exp2.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7218 declare fp128 @llvm.exp2.f128(fp128 %Val)
7219 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.exp2.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7224 The '``llvm.exp2.*``' intrinsics perform the exp2 function.
7229 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7235 This function returns the same values as the libm ``exp2`` functions
7236 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7238 '``llvm.log.*``' Intrinsic
7239 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7244 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.log`` on any
7245 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7250 declare float @llvm.log.f32(float %Val)
7251 declare double @llvm.log.f64(double %Val)
7252 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.log.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7253 declare fp128 @llvm.log.f128(fp128 %Val)
7254 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.log.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7259 The '``llvm.log.*``' intrinsics perform the log function.
7264 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7270 This function returns the same values as the libm ``log`` functions
7271 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7273 '``llvm.log10.*``' Intrinsic
7274 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7279 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.log10`` on any
7280 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7285 declare float @llvm.log10.f32(float %Val)
7286 declare double @llvm.log10.f64(double %Val)
7287 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.log10.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7288 declare fp128 @llvm.log10.f128(fp128 %Val)
7289 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.log10.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7294 The '``llvm.log10.*``' intrinsics perform the log10 function.
7299 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7305 This function returns the same values as the libm ``log10`` functions
7306 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7308 '``llvm.log2.*``' Intrinsic
7309 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7314 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.log2`` on any
7315 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7320 declare float @llvm.log2.f32(float %Val)
7321 declare double @llvm.log2.f64(double %Val)
7322 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.log2.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7323 declare fp128 @llvm.log2.f128(fp128 %Val)
7324 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.log2.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7329 The '``llvm.log2.*``' intrinsics perform the log2 function.
7334 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7340 This function returns the same values as the libm ``log2`` functions
7341 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7343 '``llvm.fma.*``' Intrinsic
7344 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7349 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.fma`` on any
7350 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7355 declare float @llvm.fma.f32(float %a, float %b, float %c)
7356 declare double @llvm.fma.f64(double %a, double %b, double %c)
7357 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.fma.f80(x86_fp80 %a, x86_fp80 %b, x86_fp80 %c)
7358 declare fp128 @llvm.fma.f128(fp128 %a, fp128 %b, fp128 %c)
7359 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.fma.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %a, ppc_fp128 %b, ppc_fp128 %c)
7364 The '``llvm.fma.*``' intrinsics perform the fused multiply-add
7370 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7376 This function returns the same values as the libm ``fma`` functions
7379 '``llvm.fabs.*``' Intrinsic
7380 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7385 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.fabs`` on any
7386 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7391 declare float @llvm.fabs.f32(float %Val)
7392 declare double @llvm.fabs.f64(double %Val)
7393 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.fabs.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7394 declare fp128 @llvm.fabs.f128(fp128 %Val)
7395 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.fabs.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7400 The '``llvm.fabs.*``' intrinsics return the absolute value of the
7406 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7412 This function returns the same values as the libm ``fabs`` functions
7413 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7415 '``llvm.copysign.*``' Intrinsic
7416 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7421 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.copysign`` on any
7422 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7427 declare float @llvm.copysign.f32(float %Mag, float %Sgn)
7428 declare double @llvm.copysign.f64(double %Mag, double %Sgn)
7429 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.copysign.f80(x86_fp80 %Mag, x86_fp80 %Sgn)
7430 declare fp128 @llvm.copysign.f128(fp128 %Mag, fp128 %Sgn)
7431 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.copysign.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Mag, ppc_fp128 %Sgn)
7436 The '``llvm.copysign.*``' intrinsics return a value with the magnitude of the
7437 first operand and the sign of the second operand.
7442 The arguments and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7448 This function returns the same values as the libm ``copysign``
7449 functions would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7451 '``llvm.floor.*``' Intrinsic
7452 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7457 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.floor`` on any
7458 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7463 declare float @llvm.floor.f32(float %Val)
7464 declare double @llvm.floor.f64(double %Val)
7465 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.floor.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7466 declare fp128 @llvm.floor.f128(fp128 %Val)
7467 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.floor.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7472 The '``llvm.floor.*``' intrinsics return the floor of the operand.
7477 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7483 This function returns the same values as the libm ``floor`` functions
7484 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7486 '``llvm.ceil.*``' Intrinsic
7487 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7492 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.ceil`` on any
7493 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7498 declare float @llvm.ceil.f32(float %Val)
7499 declare double @llvm.ceil.f64(double %Val)
7500 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.ceil.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7501 declare fp128 @llvm.ceil.f128(fp128 %Val)
7502 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.ceil.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7507 The '``llvm.ceil.*``' intrinsics return the ceiling of the operand.
7512 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7518 This function returns the same values as the libm ``ceil`` functions
7519 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7521 '``llvm.trunc.*``' Intrinsic
7522 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7527 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.trunc`` on any
7528 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7533 declare float @llvm.trunc.f32(float %Val)
7534 declare double @llvm.trunc.f64(double %Val)
7535 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.trunc.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7536 declare fp128 @llvm.trunc.f128(fp128 %Val)
7537 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.trunc.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7542 The '``llvm.trunc.*``' intrinsics returns the operand rounded to the
7543 nearest integer not larger in magnitude than the operand.
7548 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7554 This function returns the same values as the libm ``trunc`` functions
7555 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7557 '``llvm.rint.*``' Intrinsic
7558 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7563 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.rint`` on any
7564 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7569 declare float @llvm.rint.f32(float %Val)
7570 declare double @llvm.rint.f64(double %Val)
7571 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.rint.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7572 declare fp128 @llvm.rint.f128(fp128 %Val)
7573 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.rint.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7578 The '``llvm.rint.*``' intrinsics returns the operand rounded to the
7579 nearest integer. It may raise an inexact floating-point exception if the
7580 operand isn't an integer.
7585 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7591 This function returns the same values as the libm ``rint`` functions
7592 would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7594 '``llvm.nearbyint.*``' Intrinsic
7595 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7600 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.nearbyint`` on any
7601 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7606 declare float @llvm.nearbyint.f32(float %Val)
7607 declare double @llvm.nearbyint.f64(double %Val)
7608 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.nearbyint.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7609 declare fp128 @llvm.nearbyint.f128(fp128 %Val)
7610 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.nearbyint.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7615 The '``llvm.nearbyint.*``' intrinsics returns the operand rounded to the
7621 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7627 This function returns the same values as the libm ``nearbyint``
7628 functions would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7630 '``llvm.round.*``' Intrinsic
7631 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7636 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.round`` on any
7637 floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7642 declare float @llvm.round.f32(float %Val)
7643 declare double @llvm.round.f64(double %Val)
7644 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.round.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7645 declare fp128 @llvm.round.f128(fp128 %Val)
7646 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.round.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7651 The '``llvm.round.*``' intrinsics returns the operand rounded to the
7657 The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7663 This function returns the same values as the libm ``round``
7664 functions would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7666 Bit Manipulation Intrinsics
7667 ---------------------------
7669 LLVM provides intrinsics for a few important bit manipulation
7670 operations. These allow efficient code generation for some algorithms.
7672 '``llvm.bswap.*``' Intrinsics
7673 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7678 This is an overloaded intrinsic function. You can use bswap on any
7679 integer type that is an even number of bytes (i.e. BitWidth % 16 == 0).
7683 declare i16 @llvm.bswap.i16(i16 <id>)
7684 declare i32 @llvm.bswap.i32(i32 <id>)
7685 declare i64 @llvm.bswap.i64(i64 <id>)
7690 The '``llvm.bswap``' family of intrinsics is used to byte swap integer
7691 values with an even number of bytes (positive multiple of 16 bits).
7692 These are useful for performing operations on data that is not in the
7693 target's native byte order.
7698 The ``llvm.bswap.i16`` intrinsic returns an i16 value that has the high
7699 and low byte of the input i16 swapped. Similarly, the ``llvm.bswap.i32``
7700 intrinsic returns an i32 value that has the four bytes of the input i32
7701 swapped, so that if the input bytes are numbered 0, 1, 2, 3 then the
7702 returned i32 will have its bytes in 3, 2, 1, 0 order. The
7703 ``llvm.bswap.i48``, ``llvm.bswap.i64`` and other intrinsics extend this
7704 concept to additional even-byte lengths (6 bytes, 8 bytes and more,
7707 '``llvm.ctpop.*``' Intrinsic
7708 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7713 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use llvm.ctpop on any integer
7714 bit width, or on any vector with integer elements. Not all targets
7715 support all bit widths or vector types, however.
7719 declare i8 @llvm.ctpop.i8(i8 <src>)
7720 declare i16 @llvm.ctpop.i16(i16 <src>)
7721 declare i32 @llvm.ctpop.i32(i32 <src>)
7722 declare i64 @llvm.ctpop.i64(i64 <src>)
7723 declare i256 @llvm.ctpop.i256(i256 <src>)
7724 declare <2 x i32> @llvm.ctpop.v2i32(<2 x i32> <src>)
7729 The '``llvm.ctpop``' family of intrinsics counts the number of bits set
7735 The only argument is the value to be counted. The argument may be of any
7736 integer type, or a vector with integer elements. The return type must
7737 match the argument type.
7742 The '``llvm.ctpop``' intrinsic counts the 1's in a variable, or within
7743 each element of a vector.
7745 '``llvm.ctlz.*``' Intrinsic
7746 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7751 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.ctlz`` on any
7752 integer bit width, or any vector whose elements are integers. Not all
7753 targets support all bit widths or vector types, however.
7757 declare i8 @llvm.ctlz.i8 (i8 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7758 declare i16 @llvm.ctlz.i16 (i16 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7759 declare i32 @llvm.ctlz.i32 (i32 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7760 declare i64 @llvm.ctlz.i64 (i64 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7761 declare i256 @llvm.ctlz.i256(i256 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7762 declase <2 x i32> @llvm.ctlz.v2i32(<2 x i32> <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7767 The '``llvm.ctlz``' family of intrinsic functions counts the number of
7768 leading zeros in a variable.
7773 The first argument is the value to be counted. This argument may be of
7774 any integer type, or a vectory with integer element type. The return
7775 type must match the first argument type.
7777 The second argument must be a constant and is a flag to indicate whether
7778 the intrinsic should ensure that a zero as the first argument produces a
7779 defined result. Historically some architectures did not provide a
7780 defined result for zero values as efficiently, and many algorithms are
7781 now predicated on avoiding zero-value inputs.
7786 The '``llvm.ctlz``' intrinsic counts the leading (most significant)
7787 zeros in a variable, or within each element of the vector. If
7788 ``src == 0`` then the result is the size in bits of the type of ``src``
7789 if ``is_zero_undef == 0`` and ``undef`` otherwise. For example,
7790 ``llvm.ctlz(i32 2) = 30``.
7792 '``llvm.cttz.*``' Intrinsic
7793 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7798 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.cttz`` on any
7799 integer bit width, or any vector of integer elements. Not all targets
7800 support all bit widths or vector types, however.
7804 declare i8 @llvm.cttz.i8 (i8 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7805 declare i16 @llvm.cttz.i16 (i16 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7806 declare i32 @llvm.cttz.i32 (i32 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7807 declare i64 @llvm.cttz.i64 (i64 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7808 declare i256 @llvm.cttz.i256(i256 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7809 declase <2 x i32> @llvm.cttz.v2i32(<2 x i32> <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7814 The '``llvm.cttz``' family of intrinsic functions counts the number of
7820 The first argument is the value to be counted. This argument may be of
7821 any integer type, or a vectory with integer element type. The return
7822 type must match the first argument type.
7824 The second argument must be a constant and is a flag to indicate whether
7825 the intrinsic should ensure that a zero as the first argument produces a
7826 defined result. Historically some architectures did not provide a
7827 defined result for zero values as efficiently, and many algorithms are
7828 now predicated on avoiding zero-value inputs.
7833 The '``llvm.cttz``' intrinsic counts the trailing (least significant)
7834 zeros in a variable, or within each element of a vector. If ``src == 0``
7835 then the result is the size in bits of the type of ``src`` if
7836 ``is_zero_undef == 0`` and ``undef`` otherwise. For example,
7837 ``llvm.cttz(2) = 1``.
7839 Arithmetic with Overflow Intrinsics
7840 -----------------------------------
7842 LLVM provides intrinsics for some arithmetic with overflow operations.
7844 '``llvm.sadd.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7845 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7850 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.sadd.with.overflow``
7851 on any integer bit width.
7855 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7856 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7857 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7862 The '``llvm.sadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7863 a signed addition of the two arguments, and indicate whether an overflow
7864 occurred during the signed summation.
7869 The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7870 may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7871 bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7872 ``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo signed
7878 The '``llvm.sadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7879 a signed addition of the two variables. They return a structure --- the
7880 first element of which is the signed summation, and the second element
7881 of which is a bit specifying if the signed summation resulted in an
7887 .. code-block:: llvm
7889 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7890 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7891 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7892 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
7894 '``llvm.uadd.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7895 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7900 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.uadd.with.overflow``
7901 on any integer bit width.
7905 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7906 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7907 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7912 The '``llvm.uadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7913 an unsigned addition of the two arguments, and indicate whether a carry
7914 occurred during the unsigned summation.
7919 The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7920 may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7921 bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7922 ``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo unsigned
7928 The '``llvm.uadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7929 an unsigned addition of the two arguments. They return a structure --- the
7930 first element of which is the sum, and the second element of which is a
7931 bit specifying if the unsigned summation resulted in a carry.
7936 .. code-block:: llvm
7938 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7939 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7940 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7941 br i1 %obit, label %carry, label %normal
7943 '``llvm.ssub.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7944 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7949 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.ssub.with.overflow``
7950 on any integer bit width.
7954 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7955 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7956 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7961 The '``llvm.ssub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7962 a signed subtraction of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
7963 overflow occurred during the signed subtraction.
7968 The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7969 may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7970 bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7971 ``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo signed
7977 The '``llvm.ssub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7978 a signed subtraction of the two arguments. They return a structure --- the
7979 first element of which is the subtraction, and the second element of
7980 which is a bit specifying if the signed subtraction resulted in an
7986 .. code-block:: llvm
7988 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7989 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7990 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7991 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
7993 '``llvm.usub.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7994 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7999 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.usub.with.overflow``
8000 on any integer bit width.
8004 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
8005 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
8006 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
8011 The '``llvm.usub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
8012 an unsigned subtraction of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
8013 overflow occurred during the unsigned subtraction.
8018 The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
8019 may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
8020 bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
8021 ``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo unsigned
8027 The '``llvm.usub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
8028 an unsigned subtraction of the two arguments. They return a structure ---
8029 the first element of which is the subtraction, and the second element of
8030 which is a bit specifying if the unsigned subtraction resulted in an
8036 .. code-block:: llvm
8038 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
8039 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
8040 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
8041 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
8043 '``llvm.smul.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
8044 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8049 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.smul.with.overflow``
8050 on any integer bit width.
8054 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
8055 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
8056 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
8061 The '``llvm.smul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
8062 a signed multiplication of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
8063 overflow occurred during the signed multiplication.
8068 The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
8069 may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
8070 bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
8071 ``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo signed
8077 The '``llvm.smul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
8078 a signed multiplication of the two arguments. They return a structure ---
8079 the first element of which is the multiplication, and the second element
8080 of which is a bit specifying if the signed multiplication resulted in an
8086 .. code-block:: llvm
8088 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
8089 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
8090 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
8091 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
8093 '``llvm.umul.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
8094 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8099 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.umul.with.overflow``
8100 on any integer bit width.
8104 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
8105 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
8106 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
8111 The '``llvm.umul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
8112 a unsigned multiplication of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
8113 overflow occurred during the unsigned multiplication.
8118 The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
8119 may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
8120 bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
8121 ``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo unsigned
8127 The '``llvm.umul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
8128 an unsigned multiplication of the two arguments. They return a structure ---
8129 the first element of which is the multiplication, and the second
8130 element of which is a bit specifying if the unsigned multiplication
8131 resulted in an overflow.
8136 .. code-block:: llvm
8138 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
8139 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
8140 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
8141 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
8143 Specialised Arithmetic Intrinsics
8144 ---------------------------------
8146 '``llvm.fmuladd.*``' Intrinsic
8147 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8154 declare float @llvm.fmuladd.f32(float %a, float %b, float %c)
8155 declare double @llvm.fmuladd.f64(double %a, double %b, double %c)
8160 The '``llvm.fmuladd.*``' intrinsic functions represent multiply-add
8161 expressions that can be fused if the code generator determines that (a) the
8162 target instruction set has support for a fused operation, and (b) that the
8163 fused operation is more efficient than the equivalent, separate pair of mul
8164 and add instructions.
8169 The '``llvm.fmuladd.*``' intrinsics each take three arguments: two
8170 multiplicands, a and b, and an addend c.
8179 %0 = call float @llvm.fmuladd.f32(%a, %b, %c)
8181 is equivalent to the expression a \* b + c, except that rounding will
8182 not be performed between the multiplication and addition steps if the
8183 code generator fuses the operations. Fusion is not guaranteed, even if
8184 the target platform supports it. If a fused multiply-add is required the
8185 corresponding llvm.fma.\* intrinsic function should be used instead.
8190 .. code-block:: llvm
8192 %r2 = call float @llvm.fmuladd.f32(float %a, float %b, float %c) ; yields {float}:r2 = (a * b) + c
8194 Half Precision Floating Point Intrinsics
8195 ----------------------------------------
8197 For most target platforms, half precision floating point is a
8198 storage-only format. This means that it is a dense encoding (in memory)
8199 but does not support computation in the format.
8201 This means that code must first load the half-precision floating point
8202 value as an i16, then convert it to float with
8203 :ref:`llvm.convert.from.fp16 <int_convert_from_fp16>`. Computation can
8204 then be performed on the float value (including extending to double
8205 etc). To store the value back to memory, it is first converted to float
8206 if needed, then converted to i16 with
8207 :ref:`llvm.convert.to.fp16 <int_convert_to_fp16>`, then storing as an
8210 .. _int_convert_to_fp16:
8212 '``llvm.convert.to.fp16``' Intrinsic
8213 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8220 declare i16 @llvm.convert.to.fp16(f32 %a)
8225 The '``llvm.convert.to.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a conversion
8226 from single precision floating point format to half precision floating
8232 The intrinsic function contains single argument - the value to be
8238 The '``llvm.convert.to.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a conversion
8239 from single precision floating point format to half precision floating
8240 point format. The return value is an ``i16`` which contains the
8246 .. code-block:: llvm
8248 %res = call i16 @llvm.convert.to.fp16(f32 %a)
8249 store i16 %res, i16* @x, align 2
8251 .. _int_convert_from_fp16:
8253 '``llvm.convert.from.fp16``' Intrinsic
8254 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8261 declare f32 @llvm.convert.from.fp16(i16 %a)
8266 The '``llvm.convert.from.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a
8267 conversion from half precision floating point format to single precision
8268 floating point format.
8273 The intrinsic function contains single argument - the value to be
8279 The '``llvm.convert.from.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a
8280 conversion from half single precision floating point format to single
8281 precision floating point format. The input half-float value is
8282 represented by an ``i16`` value.
8287 .. code-block:: llvm
8289 %a = load i16* @x, align 2
8290 %res = call f32 @llvm.convert.from.fp16(i16 %a)
8295 The LLVM debugger intrinsics (which all start with ``llvm.dbg.``
8296 prefix), are described in the `LLVM Source Level
8297 Debugging <SourceLevelDebugging.html#format_common_intrinsics>`_
8300 Exception Handling Intrinsics
8301 -----------------------------
8303 The LLVM exception handling intrinsics (which all start with
8304 ``llvm.eh.`` prefix), are described in the `LLVM Exception
8305 Handling <ExceptionHandling.html#format_common_intrinsics>`_ document.
8309 Trampoline Intrinsics
8310 ---------------------
8312 These intrinsics make it possible to excise one parameter, marked with
8313 the :ref:`nest <nest>` attribute, from a function. The result is a
8314 callable function pointer lacking the nest parameter - the caller does
8315 not need to provide a value for it. Instead, the value to use is stored
8316 in advance in a "trampoline", a block of memory usually allocated on the
8317 stack, which also contains code to splice the nest value into the
8318 argument list. This is used to implement the GCC nested function address
8321 For example, if the function is ``i32 f(i8* nest %c, i32 %x, i32 %y)``
8322 then the resulting function pointer has signature ``i32 (i32, i32)*``.
8323 It can be created as follows:
8325 .. code-block:: llvm
8327 %tramp = alloca [10 x i8], align 4 ; size and alignment only correct for X86
8328 %tramp1 = getelementptr [10 x i8]* %tramp, i32 0, i32 0
8329 call i8* @llvm.init.trampoline(i8* %tramp1, i8* bitcast (i32 (i8*, i32, i32)* @f to i8*), i8* %nval)
8330 %p = call i8* @llvm.adjust.trampoline(i8* %tramp1)
8331 %fp = bitcast i8* %p to i32 (i32, i32)*
8333 The call ``%val = call i32 %fp(i32 %x, i32 %y)`` is then equivalent to
8334 ``%val = call i32 %f(i8* %nval, i32 %x, i32 %y)``.
8338 '``llvm.init.trampoline``' Intrinsic
8339 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8346 declare void @llvm.init.trampoline(i8* <tramp>, i8* <func>, i8* <nval>)
8351 This fills the memory pointed to by ``tramp`` with executable code,
8352 turning it into a trampoline.
8357 The ``llvm.init.trampoline`` intrinsic takes three arguments, all
8358 pointers. The ``tramp`` argument must point to a sufficiently large and
8359 sufficiently aligned block of memory; this memory is written to by the
8360 intrinsic. Note that the size and the alignment are target-specific -
8361 LLVM currently provides no portable way of determining them, so a
8362 front-end that generates this intrinsic needs to have some
8363 target-specific knowledge. The ``func`` argument must hold a function
8364 bitcast to an ``i8*``.
8369 The block of memory pointed to by ``tramp`` is filled with target
8370 dependent code, turning it into a function. Then ``tramp`` needs to be
8371 passed to :ref:`llvm.adjust.trampoline <int_at>` to get a pointer which can
8372 be :ref:`bitcast (to a new function) and called <int_trampoline>`. The new
8373 function's signature is the same as that of ``func`` with any arguments
8374 marked with the ``nest`` attribute removed. At most one such ``nest``
8375 argument is allowed, and it must be of pointer type. Calling the new
8376 function is equivalent to calling ``func`` with the same argument list,
8377 but with ``nval`` used for the missing ``nest`` argument. If, after
8378 calling ``llvm.init.trampoline``, the memory pointed to by ``tramp`` is
8379 modified, then the effect of any later call to the returned function
8380 pointer is undefined.
8384 '``llvm.adjust.trampoline``' Intrinsic
8385 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8392 declare i8* @llvm.adjust.trampoline(i8* <tramp>)
8397 This performs any required machine-specific adjustment to the address of
8398 a trampoline (passed as ``tramp``).
8403 ``tramp`` must point to a block of memory which already has trampoline
8404 code filled in by a previous call to
8405 :ref:`llvm.init.trampoline <int_it>`.
8410 On some architectures the address of the code to be executed needs to be
8411 different to the address where the trampoline is actually stored. This
8412 intrinsic returns the executable address corresponding to ``tramp``
8413 after performing the required machine specific adjustments. The pointer
8414 returned can then be :ref:`bitcast and executed <int_trampoline>`.
8419 This class of intrinsics exists to information about the lifetime of
8420 memory objects and ranges where variables are immutable.
8422 '``llvm.lifetime.start``' Intrinsic
8423 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8430 declare void @llvm.lifetime.start(i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
8435 The '``llvm.lifetime.start``' intrinsic specifies the start of a memory
8441 The first argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
8442 object, or -1 if it is variable sized. The second argument is a pointer
8448 This intrinsic indicates that before this point in the code, the value
8449 of the memory pointed to by ``ptr`` is dead. This means that it is known
8450 to never be used and has an undefined value. A load from the pointer
8451 that precedes this intrinsic can be replaced with ``'undef'``.
8453 '``llvm.lifetime.end``' Intrinsic
8454 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8461 declare void @llvm.lifetime.end(i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
8466 The '``llvm.lifetime.end``' intrinsic specifies the end of a memory
8472 The first argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
8473 object, or -1 if it is variable sized. The second argument is a pointer
8479 This intrinsic indicates that after this point in the code, the value of
8480 the memory pointed to by ``ptr`` is dead. This means that it is known to
8481 never be used and has an undefined value. Any stores into the memory
8482 object following this intrinsic may be removed as dead.
8484 '``llvm.invariant.start``' Intrinsic
8485 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8492 declare {}* @llvm.invariant.start(i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
8497 The '``llvm.invariant.start``' intrinsic specifies that the contents of
8498 a memory object will not change.
8503 The first argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
8504 object, or -1 if it is variable sized. The second argument is a pointer
8510 This intrinsic indicates that until an ``llvm.invariant.end`` that uses
8511 the return value, the referenced memory location is constant and
8514 '``llvm.invariant.end``' Intrinsic
8515 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8522 declare void @llvm.invariant.end({}* <start>, i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
8527 The '``llvm.invariant.end``' intrinsic specifies that the contents of a
8528 memory object are mutable.
8533 The first argument is the matching ``llvm.invariant.start`` intrinsic.
8534 The second argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
8535 object, or -1 if it is variable sized and the third argument is a
8536 pointer to the object.
8541 This intrinsic indicates that the memory is mutable again.
8546 This class of intrinsics is designed to be generic and has no specific
8549 '``llvm.var.annotation``' Intrinsic
8550 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8557 declare void @llvm.var.annotation(i8* <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8562 The '``llvm.var.annotation``' intrinsic.
8567 The first argument is a pointer to a value, the second is a pointer to a
8568 global string, the third is a pointer to a global string which is the
8569 source file name, and the last argument is the line number.
8574 This intrinsic allows annotation of local variables with arbitrary
8575 strings. This can be useful for special purpose optimizations that want
8576 to look for these annotations. These have no other defined use; they are
8577 ignored by code generation and optimization.
8579 '``llvm.ptr.annotation.*``' Intrinsic
8580 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8585 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use '``llvm.ptr.annotation``' on a
8586 pointer to an integer of any width. *NOTE* you must specify an address space for
8587 the pointer. The identifier for the default address space is the integer
8592 declare i8* @llvm.ptr.annotation.p<address space>i8(i8* <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8593 declare i16* @llvm.ptr.annotation.p<address space>i16(i16* <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8594 declare i32* @llvm.ptr.annotation.p<address space>i32(i32* <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8595 declare i64* @llvm.ptr.annotation.p<address space>i64(i64* <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8596 declare i256* @llvm.ptr.annotation.p<address space>i256(i256* <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8601 The '``llvm.ptr.annotation``' intrinsic.
8606 The first argument is a pointer to an integer value of arbitrary bitwidth
8607 (result of some expression), the second is a pointer to a global string, the
8608 third is a pointer to a global string which is the source file name, and the
8609 last argument is the line number. It returns the value of the first argument.
8614 This intrinsic allows annotation of a pointer to an integer with arbitrary
8615 strings. This can be useful for special purpose optimizations that want to look
8616 for these annotations. These have no other defined use; they are ignored by code
8617 generation and optimization.
8619 '``llvm.annotation.*``' Intrinsic
8620 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8625 This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use '``llvm.annotation``' on
8626 any integer bit width.
8630 declare i8 @llvm.annotation.i8(i8 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8631 declare i16 @llvm.annotation.i16(i16 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8632 declare i32 @llvm.annotation.i32(i32 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8633 declare i64 @llvm.annotation.i64(i64 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8634 declare i256 @llvm.annotation.i256(i256 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8639 The '``llvm.annotation``' intrinsic.
8644 The first argument is an integer value (result of some expression), the
8645 second is a pointer to a global string, the third is a pointer to a
8646 global string which is the source file name, and the last argument is
8647 the line number. It returns the value of the first argument.
8652 This intrinsic allows annotations to be put on arbitrary expressions
8653 with arbitrary strings. This can be useful for special purpose
8654 optimizations that want to look for these annotations. These have no
8655 other defined use; they are ignored by code generation and optimization.
8657 '``llvm.trap``' Intrinsic
8658 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8665 declare void @llvm.trap() noreturn nounwind
8670 The '``llvm.trap``' intrinsic.
8680 This intrinsic is lowered to the target dependent trap instruction. If
8681 the target does not have a trap instruction, this intrinsic will be
8682 lowered to a call of the ``abort()`` function.
8684 '``llvm.debugtrap``' Intrinsic
8685 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8692 declare void @llvm.debugtrap() nounwind
8697 The '``llvm.debugtrap``' intrinsic.
8707 This intrinsic is lowered to code which is intended to cause an
8708 execution trap with the intention of requesting the attention of a
8711 '``llvm.stackprotector``' Intrinsic
8712 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8719 declare void @llvm.stackprotector(i8* <guard>, i8** <slot>)
8724 The ``llvm.stackprotector`` intrinsic takes the ``guard`` and stores it
8725 onto the stack at ``slot``. The stack slot is adjusted to ensure that it
8726 is placed on the stack before local variables.
8731 The ``llvm.stackprotector`` intrinsic requires two pointer arguments.
8732 The first argument is the value loaded from the stack guard
8733 ``@__stack_chk_guard``. The second variable is an ``alloca`` that has
8734 enough space to hold the value of the guard.
8739 This intrinsic causes the prologue/epilogue inserter to force the position of
8740 the ``AllocaInst`` stack slot to be before local variables on the stack. This is
8741 to ensure that if a local variable on the stack is overwritten, it will destroy
8742 the value of the guard. When the function exits, the guard on the stack is
8743 checked against the original guard by ``llvm.stackprotectorcheck``. If they are
8744 different, then ``llvm.stackprotectorcheck`` causes the program to abort by
8745 calling the ``__stack_chk_fail()`` function.
8747 '``llvm.stackprotectorcheck``' Intrinsic
8748 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8755 declare void @llvm.stackprotectorcheck(i8** <guard>)
8760 The ``llvm.stackprotectorcheck`` intrinsic compares ``guard`` against an already
8761 created stack protector and if they are not equal calls the
8762 ``__stack_chk_fail()`` function.
8767 The ``llvm.stackprotectorcheck`` intrinsic requires one pointer argument, the
8768 the variable ``@__stack_chk_guard``.
8773 This intrinsic is provided to perform the stack protector check by comparing
8774 ``guard`` with the stack slot created by ``llvm.stackprotector`` and if the
8775 values do not match call the ``__stack_chk_fail()`` function.
8777 The reason to provide this as an IR level intrinsic instead of implementing it
8778 via other IR operations is that in order to perform this operation at the IR
8779 level without an intrinsic, one would need to create additional basic blocks to
8780 handle the success/failure cases. This makes it difficult to stop the stack
8781 protector check from disrupting sibling tail calls in Codegen. With this
8782 intrinsic, we are able to generate the stack protector basic blocks late in
8783 codegen after the tail call decision has occurred.
8785 '``llvm.objectsize``' Intrinsic
8786 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8793 declare i32 @llvm.objectsize.i32(i8* <object>, i1 <min>)
8794 declare i64 @llvm.objectsize.i64(i8* <object>, i1 <min>)
8799 The ``llvm.objectsize`` intrinsic is designed to provide information to
8800 the optimizers to determine at compile time whether a) an operation
8801 (like memcpy) will overflow a buffer that corresponds to an object, or
8802 b) that a runtime check for overflow isn't necessary. An object in this
8803 context means an allocation of a specific class, structure, array, or
8809 The ``llvm.objectsize`` intrinsic takes two arguments. The first
8810 argument is a pointer to or into the ``object``. The second argument is
8811 a boolean and determines whether ``llvm.objectsize`` returns 0 (if true)
8812 or -1 (if false) when the object size is unknown. The second argument
8813 only accepts constants.
8818 The ``llvm.objectsize`` intrinsic is lowered to a constant representing
8819 the size of the object concerned. If the size cannot be determined at
8820 compile time, ``llvm.objectsize`` returns ``i32/i64 -1 or 0`` (depending
8821 on the ``min`` argument).
8823 '``llvm.expect``' Intrinsic
8824 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8831 declare i32 @llvm.expect.i32(i32 <val>, i32 <expected_val>)
8832 declare i64 @llvm.expect.i64(i64 <val>, i64 <expected_val>)
8837 The ``llvm.expect`` intrinsic provides information about expected (the
8838 most probable) value of ``val``, which can be used by optimizers.
8843 The ``llvm.expect`` intrinsic takes two arguments. The first argument is
8844 a value. The second argument is an expected value, this needs to be a
8845 constant value, variables are not allowed.
8850 This intrinsic is lowered to the ``val``.
8852 '``llvm.donothing``' Intrinsic
8853 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8860 declare void @llvm.donothing() nounwind readnone
8865 The ``llvm.donothing`` intrinsic doesn't perform any operation. It's the
8866 only intrinsic that can be called with an invoke instruction.
8876 This intrinsic does nothing, and it's removed by optimizers and ignored