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Sean Silvaf722b002012-12-07 10:36:55 +00001==============================
2LLVM Language Reference Manual
3==============================
4
5.. contents::
6 :local:
7 :depth: 3
8
Sean Silvaf722b002012-12-07 10:36:55 +00009Abstract
10========
11
12This document is a reference manual for the LLVM assembly language. LLVM
13is a Static Single Assignment (SSA) based representation that provides
14type safety, low-level operations, flexibility, and the capability of
15representing 'all' high-level languages cleanly. It is the common code
16representation used throughout all phases of the LLVM compilation
17strategy.
18
19Introduction
20============
21
22The LLVM code representation is designed to be used in three different
23forms: 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
25readable assembly language representation. This allows LLVM to provide a
26powerful intermediate representation for efficient compiler
27transformations and analysis, while providing a natural means to debug
28and visualize the transformations. The three different forms of LLVM are
29all equivalent. This document describes the human readable
30representation and notation.
31
32The LLVM representation aims to be light-weight and low-level while
33being expressive, typed, and extensible at the same time. It aims to be
34a "universal IR" of sorts, by being at a low enough level that
35high-level ideas may be cleanly mapped to it (similar to how
36microprocessors are "universal IR's", allowing many source languages to
37be mapped to them). By providing type information, LLVM can be used as
38the target of optimizations: for example, through pointer analysis, it
39can be proven that a C automatic variable is never accessed outside of
40the current function, allowing it to be promoted to a simple SSA value
41instead of a memory location.
42
43.. _wellformed:
44
45Well-Formedness
46---------------
47
48It is important to note that this document describes 'well formed' LLVM
49assembly language. There is a difference between what the parser accepts
50and what is considered 'well formed'. For example, the following
51instruction is syntactically okay, but not well formed:
52
53.. code-block:: llvm
54
55 %x = add i32 1, %x
56
57because the definition of ``%x`` does not dominate all of its uses. The
58LLVM infrastructure provides a verification pass that may be used to
59verify that an LLVM module is well formed. This pass is automatically
60run by the parser after parsing input assembly and by the optimizer
61before it outputs bitcode. The violations pointed out by the verifier
62pass indicate bugs in transformation passes or input to the parser.
63
64.. _identifiers:
65
66Identifiers
67===========
68
69LLVM identifiers come in two basic types: global and local. Global
70identifiers (functions, global variables) begin with the ``'@'``
71character. Local identifiers (register names, types) begin with the
72``'%'`` character. Additionally, there are three different formats for
73identifiers, for different purposes:
74
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.
86
87LLVM requires that values start with a prefix for two reasons: Compilers
88don't need to worry about name clashes with reserved words, and the set
89of reserved words may be expanded in the future without penalty.
90Additionally, unnamed identifiers allow a compiler to quickly come up
91with a temporary variable without having to avoid symbol table
92conflicts.
93
94Reserved words in LLVM are very similar to reserved words in other
95languages. 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
98with variable names, because none of them start with a prefix character
99(``'%'`` or ``'@'``).
100
101Here is an example of LLVM code to multiply the integer variable
102'``%X``' by 8:
103
104The easy way:
105
106.. code-block:: llvm
107
108 %result = mul i32 %X, 8
109
110After strength reduction:
111
112.. code-block:: llvm
113
114 %result = shl i32 %X, i8 3
115
116And the hard way:
117
118.. code-block:: llvm
119
120 %0 = add i32 %X, %X ; yields {i32}:%0
121 %1 = add i32 %0, %0 ; yields {i32}:%1
122 %result = add i32 %1, %1
123
124This last way of multiplying ``%X`` by 8 illustrates several important
125lexical features of LLVM:
126
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
131
132It also shows a convention that we follow in this document. When
133demonstrating instructions, we will follow an instruction with a comment
134that defines the type and name of value produced.
135
136High Level Structure
137====================
138
139Module Structure
140----------------
141
142LLVM programs are composed of ``Module``'s, each of which is a
143translation unit of the input programs. Each module consists of
144functions, global variables, and symbol table entries. Modules may be
145combined together with the LLVM linker, which merges function (and
146global variable) definitions, resolves forward declarations, and merges
147symbol table entries. Here is an example of the "hello world" module:
148
149.. code-block:: llvm
150
151 ; Declare the string constant as a global constant. 
152 @.str = private unnamed_addr constant [13 x i8] c"hello world\0A\00" 
153
154 ; External declaration of the puts function 
155 declare i32 @puts(i8* nocapture) nounwind 
156
157 ; Definition of main function
158 define i32 @main() { ; i32()*  
159 ; Convert [13 x i8]* to i8 *... 
160 %cast210 = getelementptr [13 x i8]* @.str, i64 0, i64 0
161
162 ; Call puts function to write out the string to stdout. 
163 call i32 @puts(i8* %cast210)
164 ret i32 0 
165 }
166
167 ; Named metadata
168 !1 = metadata !{i32 42}
169 !foo = !{!1, null}
170
171This example is made up of a :ref:`global variable <globalvars>` named
172"``.str``", an external declaration of the "``puts``" function, a
173:ref:`function definition <functionstructure>` for "``main``" and
174:ref:`named metadata <namedmetadatastructure>` "``foo``".
175
176In general, a module is made up of a list of global values (where both
177functions and global variables are global values). Global values are
178represented by a pointer to a memory location (in this case, a pointer
179to an array of char, and a pointer to a function), and have one of the
180following :ref:`linkage types <linkage>`.
181
182.. _linkage:
183
184Linkage Types
185-------------
186
187All Global Variables and Functions have one of the following types of
188linkage:
189
190``private``
191 Global values with "``private``" linkage are only directly
192 accessible by objects in the current module. In particular, linking
193 code into a module with an private global value may cause the
194 private to be renamed as necessary to avoid collisions. Because the
195 symbol is private to the module, all references can be updated. This
196 doesn't show up in any symbol table in the object file.
197``linker_private``
198 Similar to ``private``, but the symbol is passed through the
199 assembler and evaluated by the linker. Unlike normal strong symbols,
200 they are removed by the linker from the final linked image
201 (executable or dynamic library).
202``linker_private_weak``
203 Similar to "``linker_private``", but the symbol is weak. Note that
204 ``linker_private_weak`` symbols are subject to coalescing by the
205 linker. The symbols are removed by the linker from the final linked
206 image (executable or dynamic library).
207``internal``
208 Similar to private, but the value shows as a local symbol
209 (``STB_LOCAL`` in the case of ELF) in the object file. This
210 corresponds to the notion of the '``static``' keyword in C.
211``available_externally``
212 Globals with "``available_externally``" linkage are never emitted
213 into the object file corresponding to the LLVM module. They exist to
214 allow inlining and other optimizations to take place given knowledge
215 of the definition of the global, which is known to be somewhere
216 outside the module. Globals with ``available_externally`` linkage
217 are allowed to be discarded at will, and are otherwise the same as
218 ``linkonce_odr``. This linkage type is only allowed on definitions,
219 not declarations.
220``linkonce``
221 Globals with "``linkonce``" linkage are merged with other globals of
222 the same name when linkage occurs. This can be used to implement
223 some forms of inline functions, templates, or other code which must
224 be generated in each translation unit that uses it, but where the
225 body may be overridden with a more definitive definition later.
226 Unreferenced ``linkonce`` globals are allowed to be discarded. Note
227 that ``linkonce`` linkage does not actually allow the optimizer to
228 inline the body of this function into callers because it doesn't
229 know if this definition of the function is the definitive definition
230 within the program or whether it will be overridden by a stronger
231 definition. To enable inlining and other optimizations, use
232 "``linkonce_odr``" linkage.
233``weak``
234 "``weak``" linkage has the same merging semantics as ``linkonce``
235 linkage, except that unreferenced globals with ``weak`` linkage may
236 not be discarded. This is used for globals that are declared "weak"
237 in C source code.
238``common``
239 "``common``" linkage is most similar to "``weak``" linkage, but they
240 are used for tentative definitions in C, such as "``int X;``" at
241 global scope. Symbols with "``common``" linkage are merged in the
242 same way as ``weak symbols``, and they may not be deleted if
243 unreferenced. ``common`` symbols may not have an explicit section,
244 must have a zero initializer, and may not be marked
245 ':ref:`constant <globalvars>`'. Functions and aliases may not have
246 common linkage.
247
248.. _linkage_appending:
249
250``appending``
251 "``appending``" linkage may only be applied to global variables of
252 pointer to array type. When two global variables with appending
253 linkage are linked together, the two global arrays are appended
254 together. This is the LLVM, typesafe, equivalent of having the
255 system linker append together "sections" with identical names when
256 .o files are linked.
257``extern_weak``
258 The semantics of this linkage follow the ELF object file model: the
259 symbol is weak until linked, if not linked, the symbol becomes null
260 instead of being an undefined reference.
261``linkonce_odr``, ``weak_odr``
262 Some languages allow differing globals to be merged, such as two
263 functions with different semantics. Other languages, such as
264 ``C++``, ensure that only equivalent globals are ever merged (the
265 "one definition rule" — "ODR"). Such languages can use the
266 ``linkonce_odr`` and ``weak_odr`` linkage types to indicate that the
267 global will only be merged with equivalent globals. These linkage
268 types are otherwise the same as their non-``odr`` versions.
269``linkonce_odr_auto_hide``
270 Similar to "``linkonce_odr``", but nothing in the translation unit
271 takes the address of this definition. For instance, functions that
272 had an inline definition, but the compiler decided not to inline it.
273 ``linkonce_odr_auto_hide`` may have only ``default`` visibility. The
274 symbols are removed by the linker from the final linked image
275 (executable or dynamic library).
276``external``
277 If none of the above identifiers are used, the global is externally
278 visible, meaning that it participates in linkage and can be used to
279 resolve external symbol references.
280
281The next two types of linkage are targeted for Microsoft Windows
282platform only. They are designed to support importing (exporting)
283symbols from (to) DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries).
284
285``dllimport``
286 "``dllimport``" linkage causes the compiler to reference a function
287 or variable via a global pointer to a pointer that is set up by the
288 DLL exporting the symbol. On Microsoft Windows targets, the pointer
289 name is formed by combining ``__imp_`` and the function or variable
290 name.
291``dllexport``
292 "``dllexport``" linkage causes the compiler to provide a global
293 pointer to a pointer in a DLL, so that it can be referenced with the
294 ``dllimport`` attribute. On Microsoft Windows targets, the pointer
295 name is formed by combining ``__imp_`` and the function or variable
296 name.
297
298For example, since the "``.LC0``" variable is defined to be internal, if
299another module defined a "``.LC0``" variable and was linked with this
300one, one of the two would be renamed, preventing a collision. Since
301"``main``" and "``puts``" are external (i.e., lacking any linkage
302declarations), they are accessible outside of the current module.
303
304It is illegal for a function *declaration* to have any linkage type
305other than ``external``, ``dllimport`` or ``extern_weak``.
306
307Aliases can have only ``external``, ``internal``, ``weak`` or
308``weak_odr`` linkages.
309
310.. _callingconv:
311
312Calling Conventions
313-------------------
314
315LLVM :ref:`functions <functionstructure>`, :ref:`calls <i_call>` and
316:ref:`invokes <i_invoke>` can all have an optional calling convention
317specified for the call. The calling convention of any pair of dynamic
318caller/callee must match, or the behavior of the program is undefined.
319The following calling conventions are supported by LLVM, and more may be
320added in the future:
321
322"``ccc``" - The C calling convention
323 This calling convention (the default if no other calling convention
324 is specified) matches the target C calling conventions. This calling
325 convention supports varargs function calls and tolerates some
326 mismatch in the declared prototype and implemented declaration of
327 the function (as does normal C).
328"``fastcc``" - The fast calling convention
329 This calling convention attempts to make calls as fast as possible
330 (e.g. by passing things in registers). This calling convention
331 allows the target to use whatever tricks it wants to produce fast
332 code for the target, without having to conform to an externally
333 specified ABI (Application Binary Interface). `Tail calls can only
334 be optimized when this, the GHC or the HiPE convention is
335 used. <CodeGenerator.html#id80>`_ This calling convention does not
336 support varargs and requires the prototype of all callees to exactly
337 match the prototype of the function definition.
338"``coldcc``" - The cold calling convention
339 This calling convention attempts to make code in the caller as
340 efficient as possible under the assumption that the call is not
341 commonly executed. As such, these calls often preserve all registers
342 so that the call does not break any live ranges in the caller side.
343 This calling convention does not support varargs and requires the
344 prototype of all callees to exactly match the prototype of the
345 function definition.
346"``cc 10``" - GHC convention
347 This calling convention has been implemented specifically for use by
348 the `Glasgow Haskell Compiler (GHC) <http://www.haskell.org/ghc>`_.
349 It passes everything in registers, going to extremes to achieve this
350 by disabling callee save registers. This calling convention should
351 not be used lightly but only for specific situations such as an
352 alternative to the *register pinning* performance technique often
353 used when implementing functional programming languages. At the
354 moment only X86 supports this convention and it has the following
355 limitations:
356
357 - On *X86-32* only supports up to 4 bit type parameters. No
358 floating point types are supported.
359 - On *X86-64* only supports up to 10 bit type parameters and 6
360 floating point parameters.
361
362 This calling convention supports `tail call
363 optimization <CodeGenerator.html#id80>`_ but requires both the
364 caller and callee are using it.
365"``cc 11``" - The HiPE calling convention
366 This calling convention has been implemented specifically for use by
367 the `High-Performance Erlang
368 (HiPE) <http://www.it.uu.se/research/group/hipe/>`_ compiler, *the*
369 native code compiler of the `Ericsson's Open Source Erlang/OTP
370 system <http://www.erlang.org/download.shtml>`_. It uses more
371 registers for argument passing than the ordinary C calling
372 convention and defines no callee-saved registers. The calling
373 convention properly supports `tail call
374 optimization <CodeGenerator.html#id80>`_ but requires that both the
375 caller and the callee use it. It uses a *register pinning*
376 mechanism, similar to GHC's convention, for keeping frequently
377 accessed runtime components pinned to specific hardware registers.
378 At the moment only X86 supports this convention (both 32 and 64
379 bit).
380"``cc <n>``" - Numbered convention
381 Any calling convention may be specified by number, allowing
382 target-specific calling conventions to be used. Target specific
383 calling conventions start at 64.
384
385More calling conventions can be added/defined on an as-needed basis, to
386support Pascal conventions or any other well-known target-independent
387convention.
388
389Visibility Styles
390-----------------
391
392All Global Variables and Functions have one of the following visibility
393styles:
394
395"``default``" - Default style
396 On targets that use the ELF object file format, default visibility
397 means that the declaration is visible to other modules and, in
398 shared libraries, means that the declared entity may be overridden.
399 On Darwin, default visibility means that the declaration is visible
400 to other modules. Default visibility corresponds to "external
401 linkage" in the language.
402"``hidden``" - Hidden style
403 Two declarations of an object with hidden visibility refer to the
404 same object if they are in the same shared object. Usually, hidden
405 visibility indicates that the symbol will not be placed into the
406 dynamic symbol table, so no other module (executable or shared
407 library) can reference it directly.
408"``protected``" - Protected style
409 On ELF, protected visibility indicates that the symbol will be
410 placed in the dynamic symbol table, but that references within the
411 defining module will bind to the local symbol. That is, the symbol
412 cannot be overridden by another module.
413
414Named Types
415-----------
416
417LLVM IR allows you to specify name aliases for certain types. This can
418make it easier to read the IR and make the IR more condensed
419(particularly when recursive types are involved). An example of a name
420specification is:
421
422.. code-block:: llvm
423
424 %mytype = type { %mytype*, i32 }
425
426You may give a name to any :ref:`type <typesystem>` except
427":ref:`void <t_void>`". Type name aliases may be used anywhere a type is
428expected with the syntax "%mytype".
429
430Note that type names are aliases for the structural type that they
431indicate, and that you can therefore specify multiple names for the same
432type. This often leads to confusing behavior when dumping out a .ll
433file. Since LLVM IR uses structural typing, the name is not part of the
434type. When printing out LLVM IR, the printer will pick *one name* to
435render all types of a particular shape. This means that if you have code
436where two different source types end up having the same LLVM type, that
437the dumper will sometimes print the "wrong" or unexpected type. This is
438an important design point and isn't going to change.
439
440.. _globalvars:
441
442Global Variables
443----------------
444
445Global variables define regions of memory allocated at compilation time
446instead of run-time. Global variables may optionally be initialized, may
447have an explicit section to be placed in, and may have an optional
448explicit alignment specified.
449
450A variable may be defined as ``thread_local``, which means that it will
451not be shared by threads (each thread will have a separated copy of the
452variable). Not all targets support thread-local variables. Optionally, a
453TLS model may be specified:
454
455``localdynamic``
456 For variables that are only used within the current shared library.
457``initialexec``
458 For variables in modules that will not be loaded dynamically.
459``localexec``
460 For variables defined in the executable and only used within it.
461
462The models correspond to the ELF TLS models; see `ELF Handling For
463Thread-Local Storage <http://people.redhat.com/drepper/tls.pdf>`_ for
464more information on under which circumstances the different models may
465be used. The target may choose a different TLS model if the specified
466model is not supported, or if a better choice of model can be made.
467
468A variable may be defined as a global "constant," which indicates that
469the contents of the variable will **never** be modified (enabling better
470optimization, allowing the global data to be placed in the read-only
471section of an executable, etc). Note that variables that need runtime
472initialization cannot be marked "constant" as there is a store to the
473variable.
474
475LLVM explicitly allows *declarations* of global variables to be marked
476constant, even if the final definition of the global is not. This
477capability can be used to enable slightly better optimization of the
478program, but requires the language definition to guarantee that
479optimizations based on the 'constantness' are valid for the translation
480units that do not include the definition.
481
482As SSA values, global variables define pointer values that are in scope
483(i.e. they dominate) all basic blocks in the program. Global variables
484always define a pointer to their "content" type because they describe a
485region of memory, and all memory objects in LLVM are accessed through
486pointers.
487
488Global variables can be marked with ``unnamed_addr`` which indicates
489that the address is not significant, only the content. Constants marked
490like this can be merged with other constants if they have the same
491initializer. Note that a constant with significant address *can* be
492merged with a ``unnamed_addr`` constant, the result being a constant
493whose address is significant.
494
495A global variable may be declared to reside in a target-specific
496numbered address space. For targets that support them, address spaces
497may affect how optimizations are performed and/or what target
498instructions are used to access the variable. The default address space
499is zero. The address space qualifier must precede any other attributes.
500
501LLVM allows an explicit section to be specified for globals. If the
502target supports it, it will emit globals to the section specified.
503
504An explicit alignment may be specified for a global, which must be a
505power of 2. If not present, or if the alignment is set to zero, the
506alignment of the global is set by the target to whatever it feels
507convenient. If an explicit alignment is specified, the global is forced
508to have exactly that alignment. Targets and optimizers are not allowed
509to over-align the global if the global has an assigned section. In this
510case, the extra alignment could be observable: for example, code could
511assume that the globals are densely packed in their section and try to
512iterate over them as an array, alignment padding would break this
513iteration.
514
515For example, the following defines a global in a numbered address space
516with an initializer, section, and alignment:
517
518.. code-block:: llvm
519
520 @G = addrspace(5) constant float 1.0, section "foo", align 4
521
522The following example defines a thread-local global with the
523``initialexec`` TLS model:
524
525.. code-block:: llvm
526
527 @G = thread_local(initialexec) global i32 0, align 4
528
529.. _functionstructure:
530
531Functions
532---------
533
534LLVM function definitions consist of the "``define``" keyword, an
535optional :ref:`linkage type <linkage>`, an optional :ref:`visibility
536style <visibility>`, an optional :ref:`calling convention <callingconv>`,
537an optional ``unnamed_addr`` attribute, a return type, an optional
538:ref:`parameter attribute <paramattrs>` for the return type, a function
539name, a (possibly empty) argument list (each with optional :ref:`parameter
540attributes <paramattrs>`), optional :ref:`function attributes <fnattrs>`,
541an optional section, an optional alignment, an optional :ref:`garbage
542collector name <gc>`, an opening curly brace, a list of basic blocks,
543and a closing curly brace.
544
545LLVM function declarations consist of the "``declare``" keyword, an
546optional :ref:`linkage type <linkage>`, an optional :ref:`visibility
547style <visibility>`, an optional :ref:`calling convention <callingconv>`,
548an optional ``unnamed_addr`` attribute, a return type, an optional
549:ref:`parameter attribute <paramattrs>` for the return type, a function
550name, a possibly empty list of arguments, an optional alignment, and an
551optional :ref:`garbage collector name <gc>`.
552
553A function definition contains a list of basic blocks, forming the CFG
554(Control Flow Graph) for the function. Each basic block may optionally
555start with a label (giving the basic block a symbol table entry),
556contains a list of instructions, and ends with a
557:ref:`terminator <terminators>` instruction (such as a branch or function
558return).
559
560The first basic block in a function is special in two ways: it is
561immediately executed on entrance to the function, and it is not allowed
562to have predecessor basic blocks (i.e. there can not be any branches to
563the entry block of a function). Because the block can have no
564predecessors, it also cannot have any :ref:`PHI nodes <i_phi>`.
565
566LLVM allows an explicit section to be specified for functions. If the
567target supports it, it will emit functions to the section specified.
568
569An explicit alignment may be specified for a function. If not present,
570or if the alignment is set to zero, the alignment of the function is set
571by the target to whatever it feels convenient. If an explicit alignment
572is specified, the function is forced to have at least that much
573alignment. All alignments must be a power of 2.
574
575If the ``unnamed_addr`` attribute is given, the address is know to not
576be significant and two identical functions can be merged.
577
578Syntax::
579
580 define [linkage] [visibility]
581 [cconv] [ret attrs]
582 <ResultType> @<FunctionName> ([argument list])
583 [fn Attrs] [section "name"] [align N]
584 [gc] { ... }
585
586Aliases
587-------
588
589Aliases act as "second name" for the aliasee value (which can be either
590function, global variable, another alias or bitcast of global value).
591Aliases may have an optional :ref:`linkage type <linkage>`, and an optional
592:ref:`visibility style <visibility>`.
593
594Syntax::
595
596 @<Name> = alias [Linkage] [Visibility] <AliaseeTy> @<Aliasee>
597
598.. _namedmetadatastructure:
599
600Named Metadata
601--------------
602
603Named metadata is a collection of metadata. :ref:`Metadata
604nodes <metadata>` (but not metadata strings) are the only valid
605operands for a named metadata.
606
607Syntax::
608
609 ; Some unnamed metadata nodes, which are referenced by the named metadata.
610 !0 = metadata !{metadata !"zero"}
611 !1 = metadata !{metadata !"one"}
612 !2 = metadata !{metadata !"two"}
613 ; A named metadata.
614 !name = !{!0, !1, !2}
615
616.. _paramattrs:
617
618Parameter Attributes
619--------------------
620
621The return type and each parameter of a function type may have a set of
622*parameter attributes* associated with them. Parameter attributes are
623used to communicate additional information about the result or
624parameters of a function. Parameter attributes are considered to be part
625of the function, not of the function type, so functions with different
626parameter attributes can have the same function type.
627
628Parameter attributes are simple keywords that follow the type specified.
629If multiple parameter attributes are needed, they are space separated.
630For example:
631
632.. code-block:: llvm
633
634 declare i32 @printf(i8* noalias nocapture, ...)
635 declare i32 @atoi(i8 zeroext)
636 declare signext i8 @returns_signed_char()
637
638Note that any attributes for the function result (``nounwind``,
639``readonly``) come immediately after the argument list.
640
641Currently, only the following parameter attributes are defined:
642
643``zeroext``
644 This indicates to the code generator that the parameter or return
645 value should be zero-extended to the extent required by the target's
646 ABI (which is usually 32-bits, but is 8-bits for a i1 on x86-64) by
647 the caller (for a parameter) or the callee (for a return value).
648``signext``
649 This indicates to the code generator that the parameter or return
650 value should be sign-extended to the extent required by the target's
651 ABI (which is usually 32-bits) by the caller (for a parameter) or
652 the callee (for a return value).
653``inreg``
654 This indicates that this parameter or return value should be treated
655 in a special target-dependent fashion during while emitting code for
656 a function call or return (usually, by putting it in a register as
657 opposed to memory, though some targets use it to distinguish between
658 two different kinds of registers). Use of this attribute is
659 target-specific.
660``byval``
661 This indicates that the pointer parameter should really be passed by
662 value to the function. The attribute implies that a hidden copy of
663 the pointee is made between the caller and the callee, so the callee
664 is unable to modify the value in the caller. This attribute is only
665 valid on LLVM pointer arguments. It is generally used to pass
666 structs and arrays by value, but is also valid on pointers to
667 scalars. The copy is considered to belong to the caller not the
668 callee (for example, ``readonly`` functions should not write to
669 ``byval`` parameters). This is not a valid attribute for return
670 values.
671
672 The byval attribute also supports specifying an alignment with the
673 align attribute. It indicates the alignment of the stack slot to
674 form and the known alignment of the pointer specified to the call
675 site. If the alignment is not specified, then the code generator
676 makes a target-specific assumption.
677
678``sret``
679 This indicates that the pointer parameter specifies the address of a
680 structure that is the return value of the function in the source
681 program. This pointer must be guaranteed by the caller to be valid:
682 loads and stores to the structure may be assumed by the callee to
683 not to trap and to be properly aligned. This may only be applied to
684 the first parameter. This is not a valid attribute for return
685 values.
686``noalias``
687 This indicates that pointer values `*based* <pointeraliasing>` on
688 the argument or return value do not alias pointer values which are
689 not *based* on it, ignoring certain "irrelevant" dependencies. For a
690 call to the parent function, dependencies between memory references
691 from before or after the call and from those during the call are
692 "irrelevant" to the ``noalias`` keyword for the arguments and return
693 value used in that call. The caller shares the responsibility with
694 the callee for ensuring that these requirements are met. For further
695 details, please see the discussion of the NoAlias response in `alias
696 analysis <AliasAnalysis.html#MustMayNo>`_.
697
698 Note that this definition of ``noalias`` is intentionally similar
699 to the definition of ``restrict`` in C99 for function arguments,
700 though it is slightly weaker.
701
702 For function return values, C99's ``restrict`` is not meaningful,
703 while LLVM's ``noalias`` is.
704``nocapture``
705 This indicates that the callee does not make any copies of the
706 pointer that outlive the callee itself. This is not a valid
707 attribute for return values.
708
709.. _nest:
710
711``nest``
712 This indicates that the pointer parameter can be excised using the
713 :ref:`trampoline intrinsics <int_trampoline>`. This is not a valid
714 attribute for return values.
715
716.. _gc:
717
718Garbage Collector Names
719-----------------------
720
721Each function may specify a garbage collector name, which is simply a
722string:
723
724.. code-block:: llvm
725
726 define void @f() gc "name" { ... }
727
728The compiler declares the supported values of *name*. Specifying a
729collector which will cause the compiler to alter its output in order to
730support the named garbage collection algorithm.
731
732.. _fnattrs:
733
734Function Attributes
735-------------------
736
737Function attributes are set to communicate additional information about
738a function. Function attributes are considered to be part of the
739function, not of the function type, so functions with different function
740attributes can have the same function type.
741
742Function attributes are simple keywords that follow the type specified.
743If multiple attributes are needed, they are space separated. For
744example:
745
746.. code-block:: llvm
747
748 define void @f() noinline { ... }
749 define void @f() alwaysinline { ... }
750 define void @f() alwaysinline optsize { ... }
751 define void @f() optsize { ... }
752
753``address_safety``
754 This attribute indicates that the address safety analysis is enabled
755 for this function.
756``alignstack(<n>)``
757 This attribute indicates that, when emitting the prologue and
758 epilogue, the backend should forcibly align the stack pointer.
759 Specify the desired alignment, which must be a power of two, in
760 parentheses.
761``alwaysinline``
762 This attribute indicates that the inliner should attempt to inline
763 this function into callers whenever possible, ignoring any active
764 inlining size threshold for this caller.
765``nonlazybind``
766 This attribute suppresses lazy symbol binding for the function. This
767 may make calls to the function faster, at the cost of extra program
768 startup time if the function is not called during program startup.
769``inlinehint``
770 This attribute indicates that the source code contained a hint that
771 inlining this function is desirable (such as the "inline" keyword in
772 C/C++). It is just a hint; it imposes no requirements on the
773 inliner.
774``naked``
775 This attribute disables prologue / epilogue emission for the
776 function. This can have very system-specific consequences.
777``noimplicitfloat``
778 This attributes disables implicit floating point instructions.
779``noinline``
780 This attribute indicates that the inliner should never inline this
781 function in any situation. This attribute may not be used together
782 with the ``alwaysinline`` attribute.
783``noredzone``
784 This attribute indicates that the code generator should not use a
785 red zone, even if the target-specific ABI normally permits it.
786``noreturn``
787 This function attribute indicates that the function never returns
788 normally. This produces undefined behavior at runtime if the
789 function ever does dynamically return.
790``nounwind``
791 This function attribute indicates that the function never returns
792 with an unwind or exceptional control flow. If the function does
793 unwind, its runtime behavior is undefined.
794``optsize``
795 This attribute suggests that optimization passes and code generator
796 passes make choices that keep the code size of this function low,
797 and otherwise do optimizations specifically to reduce code size.
798``readnone``
799 This attribute indicates that the function computes its result (or
800 decides to unwind an exception) based strictly on its arguments,
801 without dereferencing any pointer arguments or otherwise accessing
802 any mutable state (e.g. memory, control registers, etc) visible to
803 caller functions. It does not write through any pointer arguments
804 (including ``byval`` arguments) and never changes any state visible
805 to callers. This means that it cannot unwind exceptions by calling
806 the ``C++`` exception throwing methods.
807``readonly``
808 This attribute indicates that the function does not write through
809 any pointer arguments (including ``byval`` arguments) or otherwise
810 modify any state (e.g. memory, control registers, etc) visible to
811 caller functions. It may dereference pointer arguments and read
812 state that may be set in the caller. A readonly function always
813 returns the same value (or unwinds an exception identically) when
814 called with the same set of arguments and global state. It cannot
815 unwind an exception by calling the ``C++`` exception throwing
816 methods.
817``returns_twice``
818 This attribute indicates that this function can return twice. The C
819 ``setjmp`` is an example of such a function. The compiler disables
820 some optimizations (like tail calls) in the caller of these
821 functions.
822``ssp``
823 This attribute indicates that the function should emit a stack
824 smashing protector. It is in the form of a "canary"—a random value
825 placed on the stack before the local variables that's checked upon
826 return from the function to see if it has been overwritten. A
827 heuristic is used to determine if a function needs stack protectors
828 or not.
829
830 If a function that has an ``ssp`` attribute is inlined into a
831 function that doesn't have an ``ssp`` attribute, then the resulting
832 function will have an ``ssp`` attribute.
833``sspreq``
834 This attribute indicates that the function should *always* emit a
835 stack smashing protector. This overrides the ``ssp`` function
836 attribute.
837
838 If a function that has an ``sspreq`` attribute is inlined into a
839 function that doesn't have an ``sspreq`` attribute or which has an
840 ``ssp`` attribute, then the resulting function will have an
841 ``sspreq`` attribute.
842``uwtable``
843 This attribute indicates that the ABI being targeted requires that
844 an unwind table entry be produce for this function even if we can
845 show that no exceptions passes by it. This is normally the case for
846 the ELF x86-64 abi, but it can be disabled for some compilation
847 units.
848
849.. _moduleasm:
850
851Module-Level Inline Assembly
852----------------------------
853
854Modules may contain "module-level inline asm" blocks, which corresponds
855to the GCC "file scope inline asm" blocks. These blocks are internally
856concatenated by LLVM and treated as a single unit, but may be separated
857in the ``.ll`` file if desired. The syntax is very simple:
858
859.. code-block:: llvm
860
861 module asm "inline asm code goes here"
862 module asm "more can go here"
863
864The strings can contain any character by escaping non-printable
865characters. The escape sequence used is simply "\\xx" where "xx" is the
866two digit hex code for the number.
867
868The inline asm code is simply printed to the machine code .s file when
869assembly code is generated.
870
871Data Layout
872-----------
873
874A module may specify a target specific data layout string that specifies
875how data is to be laid out in memory. The syntax for the data layout is
876simply:
877
878.. code-block:: llvm
879
880 target datalayout = "layout specification"
881
882The *layout specification* consists of a list of specifications
883separated by the minus sign character ('-'). Each specification starts
884with a letter and may include other information after the letter to
885define some aspect of the data layout. The specifications accepted are
886as follows:
887
888``E``
889 Specifies that the target lays out data in big-endian form. That is,
890 the bits with the most significance have the lowest address
891 location.
892``e``
893 Specifies that the target lays out data in little-endian form. That
894 is, the bits with the least significance have the lowest address
895 location.
896``S<size>``
897 Specifies the natural alignment of the stack in bits. Alignment
898 promotion of stack variables is limited to the natural stack
899 alignment to avoid dynamic stack realignment. The stack alignment
900 must be a multiple of 8-bits. If omitted, the natural stack
901 alignment defaults to "unspecified", which does not prevent any
902 alignment promotions.
903``p[n]:<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
904 This specifies the *size* of a pointer and its ``<abi>`` and
905 ``<pref>``\erred alignments for address space ``n``. All sizes are in
906 bits. Specifying the ``<pref>`` alignment is optional. If omitted, the
907 preceding ``:`` should be omitted too. The address space, ``n`` is
908 optional, and if not specified, denotes the default address space 0.
909 The value of ``n`` must be in the range [1,2^23).
910``i<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
911 This specifies the alignment for an integer type of a given bit
912 ``<size>``. The value of ``<size>`` must be in the range [1,2^23).
913``v<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
914 This specifies the alignment for a vector type of a given bit
915 ``<size>``.
916``f<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
917 This specifies the alignment for a floating point type of a given bit
918 ``<size>``. Only values of ``<size>`` that are supported by the target
919 will work. 32 (float) and 64 (double) are supported on all targets; 80
920 or 128 (different flavors of long double) are also supported on some
921 targets.
922``a<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
923 This specifies the alignment for an aggregate type of a given bit
924 ``<size>``.
925``s<size>:<abi>:<pref>``
926 This specifies the alignment for a stack object of a given bit
927 ``<size>``.
928``n<size1>:<size2>:<size3>...``
929 This specifies a set of native integer widths for the target CPU in
930 bits. For example, it might contain ``n32`` for 32-bit PowerPC,
931 ``n32:64`` for PowerPC 64, or ``n8:16:32:64`` for X86-64. Elements of
932 this set are considered to support most general arithmetic operations
933 efficiently.
934
935When constructing the data layout for a given target, LLVM starts with a
936default set of specifications which are then (possibly) overridden by
937the specifications in the ``datalayout`` keyword. The default
938specifications are given in this list:
939
940- ``E`` - big endian
941- ``p:64:64:64`` - 64-bit pointers with 64-bit alignment
942- ``p1:32:32:32`` - 32-bit pointers with 32-bit alignment for address
943 space 1
944- ``p2:16:32:32`` - 16-bit pointers with 32-bit alignment for address
945 space 2
946- ``i1:8:8`` - i1 is 8-bit (byte) aligned
947- ``i8:8:8`` - i8 is 8-bit (byte) aligned
948- ``i16:16:16`` - i16 is 16-bit aligned
949- ``i32:32:32`` - i32 is 32-bit aligned
950- ``i64:32:64`` - i64 has ABI alignment of 32-bits but preferred
951 alignment of 64-bits
952- ``f32:32:32`` - float is 32-bit aligned
953- ``f64:64:64`` - double is 64-bit aligned
954- ``v64:64:64`` - 64-bit vector is 64-bit aligned
955- ``v128:128:128`` - 128-bit vector is 128-bit aligned
956- ``a0:0:1`` - aggregates are 8-bit aligned
957- ``s0:64:64`` - stack objects are 64-bit aligned
958
959When LLVM is determining the alignment for a given type, it uses the
960following rules:
961
962#. If the type sought is an exact match for one of the specifications,
963 that specification is used.
964#. If no match is found, and the type sought is an integer type, then
965 the smallest integer type that is larger than the bitwidth of the
966 sought type is used. If none of the specifications are larger than
967 the bitwidth then the largest integer type is used. For example,
968 given the default specifications above, the i7 type will use the
969 alignment of i8 (next largest) while both i65 and i256 will use the
970 alignment of i64 (largest specified).
971#. If no match is found, and the type sought is a vector type, then the
972 largest vector type that is smaller than the sought vector type will
973 be used as a fall back. This happens because <128 x double> can be
974 implemented in terms of 64 <2 x double>, for example.
975
976The function of the data layout string may not be what you expect.
977Notably, this is not a specification from the frontend of what alignment
978the code generator should use.
979
980Instead, if specified, the target data layout is required to match what
981the ultimate *code generator* expects. This string is used by the
982mid-level optimizers to improve code, and this only works if it matches
983what the ultimate code generator uses. If you would like to generate IR
984that does not embed this target-specific detail into the IR, then you
985don't have to specify the string. This will disable some optimizations
986that require precise layout information, but this also prevents those
987optimizations from introducing target specificity into the IR.
988
989.. _pointeraliasing:
990
991Pointer Aliasing Rules
992----------------------
993
994Any memory access must be done through a pointer value associated with
995an address range of the memory access, otherwise the behavior is
996undefined. Pointer values are associated with address ranges according
997to the following rules:
998
999- A pointer value is associated with the addresses associated with any
1000 value it is *based* on.
1001- An address of a global variable is associated with the address range
1002 of the variable's storage.
1003- The result value of an allocation instruction is associated with the
1004 address range of the allocated storage.
1005- A null pointer in the default address-space is associated with no
1006 address.
1007- An integer constant other than zero or a pointer value returned from
1008 a function not defined within LLVM may be associated with address
1009 ranges allocated through mechanisms other than those provided by
1010 LLVM. Such ranges shall not overlap with any ranges of addresses
1011 allocated by mechanisms provided by LLVM.
1012
1013A pointer value is *based* on another pointer value according to the
1014following rules:
1015
1016- A pointer value formed from a ``getelementptr`` operation is *based*
1017 on the first operand of the ``getelementptr``.
1018- The result value of a ``bitcast`` is *based* on the operand of the
1019 ``bitcast``.
1020- A pointer value formed by an ``inttoptr`` is *based* on all pointer
1021 values that contribute (directly or indirectly) to the computation of
1022 the pointer's value.
1023- The "*based* on" relationship is transitive.
1024
1025Note that this definition of *"based"* is intentionally similar to the
1026definition of *"based"* in C99, though it is slightly weaker.
1027
1028LLVM IR does not associate types with memory. The result type of a
1029``load`` merely indicates the size and alignment of the memory from
1030which to load, as well as the interpretation of the value. The first
1031operand type of a ``store`` similarly only indicates the size and
1032alignment of the store.
1033
1034Consequently, type-based alias analysis, aka TBAA, aka
1035``-fstrict-aliasing``, is not applicable to general unadorned LLVM IR.
1036:ref:`Metadata <metadata>` may be used to encode additional information
1037which specialized optimization passes may use to implement type-based
1038alias analysis.
1039
1040.. _volatile:
1041
1042Volatile Memory Accesses
1043------------------------
1044
1045Certain memory accesses, such as :ref:`load <i_load>`'s,
1046:ref:`store <i_store>`'s, and :ref:`llvm.memcpy <int_memcpy>`'s may be
1047marked ``volatile``. The optimizers must not change the number of
1048volatile operations or change their order of execution relative to other
1049volatile operations. The optimizers *may* change the order of volatile
1050operations relative to non-volatile operations. This is not Java's
1051"volatile" and has no cross-thread synchronization behavior.
1052
1053.. _memmodel:
1054
1055Memory Model for Concurrent Operations
1056--------------------------------------
1057
1058The LLVM IR does not define any way to start parallel threads of
1059execution or to register signal handlers. Nonetheless, there are
1060platform-specific ways to create them, and we define LLVM IR's behavior
1061in their presence. This model is inspired by the C++0x memory model.
1062
1063For a more informal introduction to this model, see the :doc:`Atomics`.
1064
1065We define a *happens-before* partial order as the least partial order
1066that
1067
1068- Is a superset of single-thread program order, and
1069- When a *synchronizes-with* ``b``, includes an edge from ``a`` to
1070 ``b``. *Synchronizes-with* pairs are introduced by platform-specific
1071 techniques, like pthread locks, thread creation, thread joining,
1072 etc., and by atomic instructions. (See also :ref:`Atomic Memory Ordering
1073 Constraints <ordering>`).
1074
1075Note that program order does not introduce *happens-before* edges
1076between a thread and signals executing inside that thread.
1077
1078Every (defined) read operation (load instructions, memcpy, atomic
1079loads/read-modify-writes, etc.) R reads a series of bytes written by
1080(defined) write operations (store instructions, atomic
1081stores/read-modify-writes, memcpy, etc.). For the purposes of this
1082section, initialized globals are considered to have a write of the
1083initializer which is atomic and happens before any other read or write
1084of the memory in question. For each byte of a read R, R\ :sub:`byte`
1085may see any write to the same byte, except:
1086
1087- If write\ :sub:`1` happens before write\ :sub:`2`, and
1088 write\ :sub:`2` happens before R\ :sub:`byte`, then
1089 R\ :sub:`byte` does not see write\ :sub:`1`.
1090- If R\ :sub:`byte` happens before write\ :sub:`3`, then
1091 R\ :sub:`byte` does not see write\ :sub:`3`.
1092
1093Given that definition, R\ :sub:`byte` is defined as follows:
1094
1095- If R is volatile, the result is target-dependent. (Volatile is
1096 supposed to give guarantees which can support ``sig_atomic_t`` in
1097 C/C++, and may be used for accesses to addresses which do not behave
1098 like normal memory. It does not generally provide cross-thread
1099 synchronization.)
1100- Otherwise, if there is no write to the same byte that happens before
1101 R\ :sub:`byte`, R\ :sub:`byte` returns ``undef`` for that byte.
1102- Otherwise, if R\ :sub:`byte` may see exactly one write,
1103 R\ :sub:`byte` returns the value written by that write.
1104- Otherwise, if R is atomic, and all the writes R\ :sub:`byte` may
1105 see are atomic, it chooses one of the values written. See the :ref:`Atomic
1106 Memory Ordering Constraints <ordering>` section for additional
1107 constraints on how the choice is made.
1108- Otherwise R\ :sub:`byte` returns ``undef``.
1109
1110R returns the value composed of the series of bytes it read. This
1111implies that some bytes within the value may be ``undef`` **without**
1112the entire value being ``undef``. Note that this only defines the
1113semantics of the operation; it doesn't mean that targets will emit more
1114than one instruction to read the series of bytes.
1115
1116Note that in cases where none of the atomic intrinsics are used, this
1117model places only one restriction on IR transformations on top of what
1118is required for single-threaded execution: introducing a store to a byte
1119which might not otherwise be stored is not allowed in general.
1120(Specifically, in the case where another thread might write to and read
1121from an address, introducing a store can change a load that may see
1122exactly one write into a load that may see multiple writes.)
1123
1124.. _ordering:
1125
1126Atomic Memory Ordering Constraints
1127----------------------------------
1128
1129Atomic instructions (:ref:`cmpxchg <i_cmpxchg>`,
1130:ref:`atomicrmw <i_atomicrmw>`, :ref:`fence <i_fence>`,
1131:ref:`atomic load <i_load>`, and :ref:`atomic store <i_store>`) take
1132an ordering parameter that determines which other atomic instructions on
1133the same address they *synchronize with*. These semantics are borrowed
1134from Java and C++0x, but are somewhat more colloquial. If these
1135descriptions aren't precise enough, check those specs (see spec
1136references in the :doc:`atomics guide <Atomics>`).
1137:ref:`fence <i_fence>` instructions treat these orderings somewhat
1138differently since they don't take an address. See that instruction's
1139documentation for details.
1140
1141For a simpler introduction to the ordering constraints, see the
1142:doc:`Atomics`.
1143
1144``unordered``
1145 The set of values that can be read is governed by the happens-before
1146 partial order. A value cannot be read unless some operation wrote
1147 it. This is intended to provide a guarantee strong enough to model
1148 Java's non-volatile shared variables. This ordering cannot be
1149 specified for read-modify-write operations; it is not strong enough
1150 to make them atomic in any interesting way.
1151``monotonic``
1152 In addition to the guarantees of ``unordered``, there is a single
1153 total order for modifications by ``monotonic`` operations on each
1154 address. All modification orders must be compatible with the
1155 happens-before order. There is no guarantee that the modification
1156 orders can be combined to a global total order for the whole program
1157 (and this often will not be possible). The read in an atomic
1158 read-modify-write operation (:ref:`cmpxchg <i_cmpxchg>` and
1159 :ref:`atomicrmw <i_atomicrmw>`) reads the value in the modification
1160 order immediately before the value it writes. If one atomic read
1161 happens before another atomic read of the same address, the later
1162 read must see the same value or a later value in the address's
1163 modification order. This disallows reordering of ``monotonic`` (or
1164 stronger) operations on the same address. If an address is written
1165 ``monotonic``-ally by one thread, and other threads ``monotonic``-ally
1166 read that address repeatedly, the other threads must eventually see
1167 the write. This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x
1168 ``memory_order_relaxed``.
1169``acquire``
1170 In addition to the guarantees of ``monotonic``, a
1171 *synchronizes-with* edge may be formed with a ``release`` operation.
1172 This is intended to model C++'s ``memory_order_acquire``.
1173``release``
1174 In addition to the guarantees of ``monotonic``, if this operation
1175 writes a value which is subsequently read by an ``acquire``
1176 operation, it *synchronizes-with* that operation. (This isn't a
1177 complete description; see the C++0x definition of a release
1178 sequence.) This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x
1179 ``memory_order_release``.
1180``acq_rel`` (acquire+release)
1181 Acts as both an ``acquire`` and ``release`` operation on its
1182 address. This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x ``memory_order_acq_rel``.
1183``seq_cst`` (sequentially consistent)
1184 In addition to the guarantees of ``acq_rel`` (``acquire`` for an
1185 operation which only reads, ``release`` for an operation which only
1186 writes), there is a global total order on all
1187 sequentially-consistent operations on all addresses, which is
1188 consistent with the *happens-before* partial order and with the
1189 modification orders of all the affected addresses. Each
1190 sequentially-consistent read sees the last preceding write to the
1191 same address in this global order. This corresponds to the C++0x/C1x
1192 ``memory_order_seq_cst`` and Java volatile.
1193
1194.. _singlethread:
1195
1196If an atomic operation is marked ``singlethread``, it only *synchronizes
1197with* or participates in modification and seq\_cst total orderings with
1198other operations running in the same thread (for example, in signal
1199handlers).
1200
1201.. _fastmath:
1202
1203Fast-Math Flags
1204---------------
1205
1206LLVM IR floating-point binary ops (:ref:`fadd <i_fadd>`,
1207:ref:`fsub <i_fsub>`, :ref:`fmul <i_fmul>`, :ref:`fdiv <i_fdiv>`,
1208:ref:`frem <i_frem>`) have the following flags that can set to enable
1209otherwise unsafe floating point operations
1210
1211``nnan``
1212 No NaNs - Allow optimizations to assume the arguments and result are not
1213 NaN. Such optimizations are required to retain defined behavior over
1214 NaNs, but the value of the result is undefined.
1215
1216``ninf``
1217 No Infs - Allow optimizations to assume the arguments and result are not
1218 +/-Inf. Such optimizations are required to retain defined behavior over
1219 +/-Inf, but the value of the result is undefined.
1220
1221``nsz``
1222 No Signed Zeros - Allow optimizations to treat the sign of a zero
1223 argument or result as insignificant.
1224
1225``arcp``
1226 Allow Reciprocal - Allow optimizations to use the reciprocal of an
1227 argument rather than perform division.
1228
1229``fast``
1230 Fast - Allow algebraically equivalent transformations that may
1231 dramatically change results in floating point (e.g. reassociate). This
1232 flag implies all the others.
1233
1234.. _typesystem:
1235
1236Type System
1237===========
1238
1239The LLVM type system is one of the most important features of the
1240intermediate representation. Being typed enables a number of
1241optimizations to be performed on the intermediate representation
1242directly, without having to do extra analyses on the side before the
1243transformation. A strong type system makes it easier to read the
1244generated code and enables novel analyses and transformations that are
1245not feasible to perform on normal three address code representations.
1246
1247Type Classifications
1248--------------------
1249
1250The types fall into a few useful classifications:
1251
1252
1253.. list-table::
1254 :header-rows: 1
1255
1256 * - Classification
1257 - Types
1258
1259 * - :ref:`integer <t_integer>`
1260 - ``i1``, ``i2``, ``i3``, ... ``i8``, ... ``i16``, ... ``i32``, ...
1261 ``i64``, ...
1262
1263 * - :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`
1264 - ``half``, ``float``, ``double``, ``x86_fp80``, ``fp128``,
1265 ``ppc_fp128``
1266
1267
1268 * - first class
1269
1270 .. _t_firstclass:
1271
1272 - :ref:`integer <t_integer>`, :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`,
1273 :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>`, :ref:`vector <t_vector>`,
1274 :ref:`structure <t_struct>`, :ref:`array <t_array>`,
1275 :ref:`label <t_label>`, :ref:`metadata <t_metadata>`.
1276
1277 * - :ref:`primitive <t_primitive>`
1278 - :ref:`label <t_label>`,
1279 :ref:`void <t_void>`,
1280 :ref:`integer <t_integer>`,
1281 :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`,
1282 :ref:`x86mmx <t_x86mmx>`,
1283 :ref:`metadata <t_metadata>`.
1284
1285 * - :ref:`derived <t_derived>`
1286 - :ref:`array <t_array>`,
1287 :ref:`function <t_function>`,
1288 :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>`,
1289 :ref:`structure <t_struct>`,
1290 :ref:`vector <t_vector>`,
1291 :ref:`opaque <t_opaque>`.
1292
1293The :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` types are perhaps the most important.
1294Values of these types are the only ones which can be produced by
1295instructions.
1296
1297.. _t_primitive:
1298
1299Primitive Types
1300---------------
1301
1302The primitive types are the fundamental building blocks of the LLVM
1303system.
1304
1305.. _t_integer:
1306
1307Integer Type
1308^^^^^^^^^^^^
1309
1310Overview:
1311"""""""""
1312
1313The integer type is a very simple type that simply specifies an
1314arbitrary bit width for the integer type desired. Any bit width from 1
1315bit to 2\ :sup:`23`\ -1 (about 8 million) can be specified.
1316
1317Syntax:
1318"""""""
1319
1320::
1321
1322 iN
1323
1324The number of bits the integer will occupy is specified by the ``N``
1325value.
1326
1327Examples:
1328"""""""""
1329
1330+----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1331| ``i1`` | a single-bit integer. |
1332+----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1333| ``i32`` | a 32-bit integer. |
1334+----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1335| ``i1942652`` | a really big integer of over 1 million bits. |
1336+----------------+------------------------------------------------+
1337
1338.. _t_floating:
1339
1340Floating Point Types
1341^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1342
1343.. list-table::
1344 :header-rows: 1
1345
1346 * - Type
1347 - Description
1348
1349 * - ``half``
1350 - 16-bit floating point value
1351
1352 * - ``float``
1353 - 32-bit floating point value
1354
1355 * - ``double``
1356 - 64-bit floating point value
1357
1358 * - ``fp128``
1359 - 128-bit floating point value (112-bit mantissa)
1360
1361 * - ``x86_fp80``
1362 - 80-bit floating point value (X87)
1363
1364 * - ``ppc_fp128``
1365 - 128-bit floating point value (two 64-bits)
1366
1367.. _t_x86mmx:
1368
1369X86mmx Type
1370^^^^^^^^^^^
1371
1372Overview:
1373"""""""""
1374
1375The x86mmx type represents a value held in an MMX register on an x86
1376machine. The operations allowed on it are quite limited: parameters and
1377return values, load and store, and bitcast. User-specified MMX
1378instructions are represented as intrinsic or asm calls with arguments
1379and/or results of this type. There are no arrays, vectors or constants
1380of this type.
1381
1382Syntax:
1383"""""""
1384
1385::
1386
1387 x86mmx
1388
1389.. _t_void:
1390
1391Void Type
1392^^^^^^^^^
1393
1394Overview:
1395"""""""""
1396
1397The void type does not represent any value and has no size.
1398
1399Syntax:
1400"""""""
1401
1402::
1403
1404 void
1405
1406.. _t_label:
1407
1408Label Type
1409^^^^^^^^^^
1410
1411Overview:
1412"""""""""
1413
1414The label type represents code labels.
1415
1416Syntax:
1417"""""""
1418
1419::
1420
1421 label
1422
1423.. _t_metadata:
1424
1425Metadata Type
1426^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1427
1428Overview:
1429"""""""""
1430
1431The metadata type represents embedded metadata. No derived types may be
1432created from metadata except for :ref:`function <t_function>` arguments.
1433
1434Syntax:
1435"""""""
1436
1437::
1438
1439 metadata
1440
1441.. _t_derived:
1442
1443Derived Types
1444-------------
1445
1446The real power in LLVM comes from the derived types in the system. This
1447is what allows a programmer to represent arrays, functions, pointers,
1448and other useful types. Each of these types contain one or more element
1449types which may be a primitive type, or another derived type. For
1450example, it is possible to have a two dimensional array, using an array
1451as the element type of another array.
1452
1453.. _t_aggregate:
1454
1455Aggregate Types
1456^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1457
1458Aggregate Types are a subset of derived types that can contain multiple
1459member types. :ref:`Arrays <t_array>` and :ref:`structs <t_struct>` are
1460aggregate types. :ref:`Vectors <t_vector>` are not considered to be
1461aggregate types.
1462
1463.. _t_array:
1464
1465Array Type
1466^^^^^^^^^^
1467
1468Overview:
1469"""""""""
1470
1471The array type is a very simple derived type that arranges elements
1472sequentially in memory. The array type requires a size (number of
1473elements) and an underlying data type.
1474
1475Syntax:
1476"""""""
1477
1478::
1479
1480 [<# elements> x <elementtype>]
1481
1482The number of elements is a constant integer value; ``elementtype`` may
1483be any type with a size.
1484
1485Examples:
1486"""""""""
1487
1488+------------------+--------------------------------------+
1489| ``[40 x i32]`` | Array of 40 32-bit integer values. |
1490+------------------+--------------------------------------+
1491| ``[41 x i32]`` | Array of 41 32-bit integer values. |
1492+------------------+--------------------------------------+
1493| ``[4 x i8]`` | Array of 4 8-bit integer values. |
1494+------------------+--------------------------------------+
1495
1496Here are some examples of multidimensional arrays:
1497
1498+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1499| ``[3 x [4 x i32]]`` | 3x4 array of 32-bit integer values. |
1500+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1501| ``[12 x [10 x float]]`` | 12x10 array of single precision floating point values. |
1502+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1503| ``[2 x [3 x [4 x i16]]]`` | 2x3x4 array of 16-bit integer values. |
1504+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+
1505
1506There is no restriction on indexing beyond the end of the array implied
1507by a static type (though there are restrictions on indexing beyond the
1508bounds of an allocated object in some cases). This means that
1509single-dimension 'variable sized array' addressing can be implemented in
1510LLVM with a zero length array type. An implementation of 'pascal style
1511arrays' in LLVM could use the type "``{ i32, [0 x float]}``", for
1512example.
1513
1514.. _t_function:
1515
1516Function Type
1517^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1518
1519Overview:
1520"""""""""
1521
1522The function type can be thought of as a function signature. It consists
1523of a return type and a list of formal parameter types. The return type
1524of a function type is a first class type or a void type.
1525
1526Syntax:
1527"""""""
1528
1529::
1530
1531 <returntype> (<parameter list>)
1532
1533...where '``<parameter list>``' is a comma-separated list of type
1534specifiers. Optionally, the parameter list may include a type ``...``,
1535which indicates that the function takes a variable number of arguments.
1536Variable argument functions can access their arguments with the
1537:ref:`variable argument handling intrinsic <int_varargs>` functions.
1538'``<returntype>``' is any type except :ref:`label <t_label>`.
1539
1540Examples:
1541"""""""""
1542
1543+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1544| ``i32 (i32)`` | function taking an ``i32``, returning an ``i32`` |
1545+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1546| ``float (i16, i32 *) *`` | :ref:`Pointer <t_pointer>` to a function that takes an ``i16`` and a :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` to ``i32``, returning ``float``. |
1547+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1548| ``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. |
1549+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1550| ``{i32, i32} (i32)`` | A function taking an ``i32``, returning a :ref:`structure <t_struct>` containing two ``i32`` values |
1551+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1552
1553.. _t_struct:
1554
1555Structure Type
1556^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1557
1558Overview:
1559"""""""""
1560
1561The structure type is used to represent a collection of data members
1562together in memory. The elements of a structure may be any type that has
1563a size.
1564
1565Structures in memory are accessed using '``load``' and '``store``' by
1566getting a pointer to a field with the '``getelementptr``' instruction.
1567Structures in registers are accessed using the '``extractvalue``' and
1568'``insertvalue``' instructions.
1569
1570Structures may optionally be "packed" structures, which indicate that
1571the alignment of the struct is one byte, and that there is no padding
1572between the elements. In non-packed structs, padding between field types
1573is inserted as defined by the DataLayout string in the module, which is
1574required to match what the underlying code generator expects.
1575
1576Structures can either be "literal" or "identified". A literal structure
1577is defined inline with other types (e.g. ``{i32, i32}*``) whereas
1578identified types are always defined at the top level with a name.
1579Literal types are uniqued by their contents and can never be recursive
1580or opaque since there is no way to write one. Identified types can be
1581recursive, can be opaqued, and are never uniqued.
1582
1583Syntax:
1584"""""""
1585
1586::
1587
1588 %T1 = type { <type list> } ; Identified normal struct type
1589 %T2 = type <{ <type list> }> ; Identified packed struct type
1590
1591Examples:
1592"""""""""
1593
1594+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1595| ``{ i32, i32, i32 }`` | A triple of three ``i32`` values |
1596+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1597| ``{ 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``. |
1598+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1599| ``<{ i8, i32 }>`` | A packed struct known to be 5 bytes in size. |
1600+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1601
1602.. _t_opaque:
1603
1604Opaque Structure Types
1605^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1606
1607Overview:
1608"""""""""
1609
1610Opaque structure types are used to represent named structure types that
1611do not have a body specified. This corresponds (for example) to the C
1612notion of a forward declared structure.
1613
1614Syntax:
1615"""""""
1616
1617::
1618
1619 %X = type opaque
1620 %52 = type opaque
1621
1622Examples:
1623"""""""""
1624
1625+--------------+-------------------+
1626| ``opaque`` | An opaque type. |
1627+--------------+-------------------+
1628
1629.. _t_pointer:
1630
1631Pointer Type
1632^^^^^^^^^^^^
1633
1634Overview:
1635"""""""""
1636
1637The pointer type is used to specify memory locations. Pointers are
1638commonly used to reference objects in memory.
1639
1640Pointer types may have an optional address space attribute defining the
1641numbered address space where the pointed-to object resides. The default
1642address space is number zero. The semantics of non-zero address spaces
1643are target-specific.
1644
1645Note that LLVM does not permit pointers to void (``void*``) nor does it
1646permit pointers to labels (``label*``). Use ``i8*`` instead.
1647
1648Syntax:
1649"""""""
1650
1651::
1652
1653 <type> *
1654
1655Examples:
1656"""""""""
1657
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+-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1665
1666.. _t_vector:
1667
1668Vector Type
1669^^^^^^^^^^^
1670
1671Overview:
1672"""""""""
1673
1674A vector type is a simple derived type that represents a vector of
1675elements. Vector types are used when multiple primitive data are
1676operated in parallel using a single instruction (SIMD). A vector type
1677requires a size (number of elements) and an underlying primitive data
1678type. Vector types are considered :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>`.
1679
1680Syntax:
1681"""""""
1682
1683::
1684
1685 < <# elements> x <elementtype> >
1686
1687The number of elements is a constant integer value larger than 0;
1688elementtype may be any integer or floating point type, or a pointer to
1689these types. Vectors of size zero are not allowed.
1690
1691Examples:
1692"""""""""
1693
1694+-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1695| ``<4 x i32>`` | Vector of 4 32-bit integer values. |
1696+-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1697| ``<8 x float>`` | Vector of 8 32-bit floating-point values. |
1698+-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1699| ``<2 x i64>`` | Vector of 2 64-bit integer values. |
1700+-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1701| ``<4 x i64*>`` | Vector of 4 pointers to 64-bit integer values. |
1702+-------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
1703
1704Constants
1705=========
1706
1707LLVM has several different basic types of constants. This section
1708describes them all and their syntax.
1709
1710Simple Constants
1711----------------
1712
1713**Boolean constants**
1714 The two strings '``true``' and '``false``' are both valid constants
1715 of the ``i1`` type.
1716**Integer constants**
1717 Standard integers (such as '4') are constants of the
1718 :ref:`integer <t_integer>` type. Negative numbers may be used with
1719 integer types.
1720**Floating point constants**
1721 Floating point constants use standard decimal notation (e.g.
1722 123.421), exponential notation (e.g. 1.23421e+2), or a more precise
1723 hexadecimal notation (see below). The assembler requires the exact
1724 decimal value of a floating-point constant. For example, the
1725 assembler accepts 1.25 but rejects 1.3 because 1.3 is a repeating
1726 decimal in binary. Floating point constants must have a :ref:`floating
1727 point <t_floating>` type.
1728**Null pointer constants**
1729 The identifier '``null``' is recognized as a null pointer constant
1730 and must be of :ref:`pointer type <t_pointer>`.
1731
1732The one non-intuitive notation for constants is the hexadecimal form of
1733floating point constants. For example, the form
1734'``double 0x432ff973cafa8000``' is equivalent to (but harder to read
1735than) '``double 4.5e+15``'. The only time hexadecimal floating point
1736constants are required (and the only time that they are generated by the
1737disassembler) is when a floating point constant must be emitted but it
1738cannot be represented as a decimal floating point number in a reasonable
1739number of digits. For example, NaN's, infinities, and other special
1740values are represented in their IEEE hexadecimal format so that assembly
1741and disassembly do not cause any bits to change in the constants.
1742
1743When using the hexadecimal form, constants of types half, float, and
1744double are represented using the 16-digit form shown above (which
1745matches the IEEE754 representation for double); half and float values
1746must, however, be exactly representable as IEE754 half and single
1747precision, respectively. Hexadecimal format is always used for long
1748double, and there are three forms of long double. The 80-bit format used
1749by x86 is represented as ``0xK`` followed by 20 hexadecimal digits. The
1750128-bit format used by PowerPC (two adjacent doubles) is represented by
1751``0xM`` followed by 32 hexadecimal digits. The IEEE 128-bit format is
1752represented by ``0xL`` followed by 32 hexadecimal digits; no currently
1753supported target uses this format. Long doubles will only work if they
1754match the long double format on your target. The IEEE 16-bit format
1755(half precision) is represented by ``0xH`` followed by 4 hexadecimal
1756digits. All hexadecimal formats are big-endian (sign bit at the left).
1757
1758There are no constants of type x86mmx.
1759
1760Complex Constants
1761-----------------
1762
1763Complex constants are a (potentially recursive) combination of simple
1764constants and smaller complex constants.
1765
1766**Structure constants**
1767 Structure constants are represented with notation similar to
1768 structure type definitions (a comma separated list of elements,
1769 surrounded by braces (``{}``)). For example:
1770 "``{ i32 4, float 17.0, i32* @G }``", where "``@G``" is declared as
1771 "``@G = external global i32``". Structure constants must have
1772 :ref:`structure type <t_struct>`, and the number and types of elements
1773 must match those specified by the type.
1774**Array constants**
1775 Array constants are represented with notation similar to array type
1776 definitions (a comma separated list of elements, surrounded by
1777 square brackets (``[]``)). For example:
1778 "``[ i32 42, i32 11, i32 74 ]``". Array constants must have
1779 :ref:`array type <t_array>`, and the number and types of elements must
1780 match those specified by the type.
1781**Vector constants**
1782 Vector constants are represented with notation similar to vector
1783 type definitions (a comma separated list of elements, surrounded by
1784 less-than/greater-than's (``<>``)). For example:
1785 "``< i32 42, i32 11, i32 74, i32 100 >``". Vector constants
1786 must have :ref:`vector type <t_vector>`, and the number and types of
1787 elements must match those specified by the type.
1788**Zero initialization**
1789 The string '``zeroinitializer``' can be used to zero initialize a
1790 value to zero of *any* type, including scalar and
1791 :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` types. This is often used to avoid
1792 having to print large zero initializers (e.g. for large arrays) and
1793 is always exactly equivalent to using explicit zero initializers.
1794**Metadata node**
1795 A metadata node is a structure-like constant with :ref:`metadata
1796 type <t_metadata>`. For example:
1797 "``metadata !{ i32 0, metadata !"test" }``". Unlike other
1798 constants that are meant to be interpreted as part of the
1799 instruction stream, metadata is a place to attach additional
1800 information such as debug info.
1801
1802Global Variable and Function Addresses
1803--------------------------------------
1804
1805The addresses of :ref:`global variables <globalvars>` and
1806:ref:`functions <functionstructure>` are always implicitly valid
1807(link-time) constants. These constants are explicitly referenced when
1808the :ref:`identifier for the global <identifiers>` is used and always have
1809:ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` type. For example, the following is a legal LLVM
1810file:
1811
1812.. code-block:: llvm
1813
1814 @X = global i32 17
1815 @Y = global i32 42
1816 @Z = global [2 x i32*] [ i32* @X, i32* @Y ]
1817
1818.. _undefvalues:
1819
1820Undefined Values
1821----------------
1822
1823The string '``undef``' can be used anywhere a constant is expected, and
1824indicates that the user of the value may receive an unspecified
1825bit-pattern. Undefined values may be of any type (other than '``label``'
1826or '``void``') and be used anywhere a constant is permitted.
1827
1828Undefined values are useful because they indicate to the compiler that
1829the program is well defined no matter what value is used. This gives the
1830compiler more freedom to optimize. Here are some examples of
1831(potentially surprising) transformations that are valid (in pseudo IR):
1832
1833.. code-block:: llvm
1834
1835 %A = add %X, undef
1836 %B = sub %X, undef
1837 %C = xor %X, undef
1838 Safe:
1839 %A = undef
1840 %B = undef
1841 %C = undef
1842
1843This is safe because all of the output bits are affected by the undef
1844bits. Any output bit can have a zero or one depending on the input bits.
1845
1846.. code-block:: llvm
1847
1848 %A = or %X, undef
1849 %B = and %X, undef
1850 Safe:
1851 %A = -1
1852 %B = 0
1853 Unsafe:
1854 %A = undef
1855 %B = undef
1856
1857These logical operations have bits that are not always affected by the
1858input. For example, if ``%X`` has a zero bit, then the output of the
1859'``and``' operation will always be a zero for that bit, no matter what
1860the corresponding bit from the '``undef``' is. As such, it is unsafe to
1861optimize or assume that the result of the '``and``' is '``undef``'.
1862However, it is safe to assume that all bits of the '``undef``' could be
18630, and optimize the '``and``' to 0. Likewise, it is safe to assume that
1864all the bits of the '``undef``' operand to the '``or``' could be set,
1865allowing the '``or``' to be folded to -1.
1866
1867.. code-block:: llvm
1868
1869 %A = select undef, %X, %Y
1870 %B = select undef, 42, %Y
1871 %C = select %X, %Y, undef
1872 Safe:
1873 %A = %X (or %Y)
1874 %B = 42 (or %Y)
1875 %C = %Y
1876 Unsafe:
1877 %A = undef
1878 %B = undef
1879 %C = undef
1880
1881This set of examples shows that undefined '``select``' (and conditional
1882branch) conditions can go *either way*, but they have to come from one
1883of the two operands. In the ``%A`` example, if ``%X`` and ``%Y`` were
1884both known to have a clear low bit, then ``%A`` would have to have a
1885cleared low bit. However, in the ``%C`` example, the optimizer is
1886allowed to assume that the '``undef``' operand could be the same as
1887``%Y``, allowing the whole '``select``' to be eliminated.
1888
1889.. code-block:: llvm
1890
1891 %A = xor undef, undef
1892
1893 %B = undef
1894 %C = xor %B, %B
1895
1896 %D = undef
1897 %E = icmp lt %D, 4
1898 %F = icmp gte %D, 4
1899
1900 Safe:
1901 %A = undef
1902 %B = undef
1903 %C = undef
1904 %D = undef
1905 %E = undef
1906 %F = undef
1907
1908This example points out that two '``undef``' operands are not
1909necessarily the same. This can be surprising to people (and also matches
1910C semantics) where they assume that "``X^X``" is always zero, even if
1911``X`` is undefined. This isn't true for a number of reasons, but the
1912short answer is that an '``undef``' "variable" can arbitrarily change
1913its value over its "live range". This is true because the variable
1914doesn't actually *have a live range*. Instead, the value is logically
1915read from arbitrary registers that happen to be around when needed, so
1916the value is not necessarily consistent over time. In fact, ``%A`` and
1917``%C`` need to have the same semantics or the core LLVM "replace all
1918uses with" concept would not hold.
1919
1920.. code-block:: llvm
1921
1922 %A = fdiv undef, %X
1923 %B = fdiv %X, undef
1924 Safe:
1925 %A = undef
1926 b: unreachable
1927
1928These examples show the crucial difference between an *undefined value*
1929and *undefined behavior*. An undefined value (like '``undef``') is
1930allowed to have an arbitrary bit-pattern. This means that the ``%A``
1931operation can be constant folded to '``undef``', because the '``undef``'
1932could be an SNaN, and ``fdiv`` is not (currently) defined on SNaN's.
1933However, in the second example, we can make a more aggressive
1934assumption: because the ``undef`` is allowed to be an arbitrary value,
1935we are allowed to assume that it could be zero. Since a divide by zero
1936has *undefined behavior*, we are allowed to assume that the operation
1937does not execute at all. This allows us to delete the divide and all
1938code after it. Because the undefined operation "can't happen", the
1939optimizer can assume that it occurs in dead code.
1940
1941.. code-block:: llvm
1942
1943 a: store undef -> %X
1944 b: store %X -> undef
1945 Safe:
1946 a: <deleted>
1947 b: unreachable
1948
1949These examples reiterate the ``fdiv`` example: a store *of* an undefined
1950value can be assumed to not have any effect; we can assume that the
1951value is overwritten with bits that happen to match what was already
1952there. However, a store *to* an undefined location could clobber
1953arbitrary memory, therefore, it has undefined behavior.
1954
1955.. _poisonvalues:
1956
1957Poison Values
1958-------------
1959
1960Poison values are similar to :ref:`undef values <undefvalues>`, however
1961they also represent the fact that an instruction or constant expression
1962which cannot evoke side effects has nevertheless detected a condition
1963which results in undefined behavior.
1964
1965There is currently no way of representing a poison value in the IR; they
1966only exist when produced by operations such as :ref:`add <i_add>` with
1967the ``nsw`` flag.
1968
1969Poison value behavior is defined in terms of value *dependence*:
1970
1971- Values other than :ref:`phi <i_phi>` nodes depend on their operands.
1972- :ref:`Phi <i_phi>` nodes depend on the operand corresponding to
1973 their dynamic predecessor basic block.
1974- Function arguments depend on the corresponding actual argument values
1975 in the dynamic callers of their functions.
1976- :ref:`Call <i_call>` instructions depend on the :ref:`ret <i_ret>`
1977 instructions that dynamically transfer control back to them.
1978- :ref:`Invoke <i_invoke>` instructions depend on the
1979 :ref:`ret <i_ret>`, :ref:`resume <i_resume>`, or exception-throwing
1980 call instructions that dynamically transfer control back to them.
1981- Non-volatile loads and stores depend on the most recent stores to all
1982 of the referenced memory addresses, following the order in the IR
1983 (including loads and stores implied by intrinsics such as
1984 :ref:`@llvm.memcpy <int_memcpy>`.)
1985- An instruction with externally visible side effects depends on the
1986 most recent preceding instruction with externally visible side
1987 effects, following the order in the IR. (This includes :ref:`volatile
1988 operations <volatile>`.)
1989- An instruction *control-depends* on a :ref:`terminator
1990 instruction <terminators>` if the terminator instruction has
1991 multiple successors and the instruction is always executed when
1992 control transfers to one of the successors, and may not be executed
1993 when control is transferred to another.
1994- Additionally, an instruction also *control-depends* on a terminator
1995 instruction if the set of instructions it otherwise depends on would
1996 be different if the terminator had transferred control to a different
1997 successor.
1998- Dependence is transitive.
1999
2000Poison Values have the same behavior as :ref:`undef values <undefvalues>`,
2001with the additional affect that any instruction which has a *dependence*
2002on a poison value has undefined behavior.
2003
2004Here are some examples:
2005
2006.. code-block:: llvm
2007
2008 entry:
2009 %poison = sub nuw i32 0, 1 ; Results in a poison value.
2010 %still_poison = and i32 %poison, 0 ; 0, but also poison.
2011 %poison_yet_again = getelementptr i32* @h, i32 %still_poison
2012 store i32 0, i32* %poison_yet_again ; memory at @h[0] is poisoned
2013
2014 store i32 %poison, i32* @g ; Poison value stored to memory.
2015 %poison2 = load i32* @g ; Poison value loaded back from memory.
2016
2017 store volatile i32 %poison, i32* @g ; External observation; undefined behavior.
2018
2019 %narrowaddr = bitcast i32* @g to i16*
2020 %wideaddr = bitcast i32* @g to i64*
2021 %poison3 = load i16* %narrowaddr ; Returns a poison value.
2022 %poison4 = load i64* %wideaddr ; Returns a poison value.
2023
2024 %cmp = icmp slt i32 %poison, 0 ; Returns a poison value.
2025 br i1 %cmp, label %true, label %end ; Branch to either destination.
2026
2027 true:
2028 store volatile i32 0, i32* @g ; This is control-dependent on %cmp, so
2029 ; it has undefined behavior.
2030 br label %end
2031
2032 end:
2033 %p = phi i32 [ 0, %entry ], [ 1, %true ]
2034 ; Both edges into this PHI are
2035 ; control-dependent on %cmp, so this
2036 ; always results in a poison value.
2037
2038 store volatile i32 0, i32* @g ; This would depend on the store in %true
2039 ; if %cmp is true, or the store in %entry
2040 ; otherwise, so this is undefined behavior.
2041
2042 br i1 %cmp, label %second_true, label %second_end
2043 ; The same branch again, but this time the
2044 ; true block doesn't have side effects.
2045
2046 second_true:
2047 ; No side effects!
2048 ret void
2049
2050 second_end:
2051 store volatile i32 0, i32* @g ; This time, the instruction always depends
2052 ; on the store in %end. Also, it is
2053 ; control-equivalent to %end, so this is
2054 ; well-defined (ignoring earlier undefined
2055 ; behavior in this example).
2056
2057.. _blockaddress:
2058
2059Addresses of Basic Blocks
2060-------------------------
2061
2062``blockaddress(@function, %block)``
2063
2064The '``blockaddress``' constant computes the address of the specified
2065basic block in the specified function, and always has an ``i8*`` type.
2066Taking the address of the entry block is illegal.
2067
2068This value only has defined behavior when used as an operand to the
2069':ref:`indirectbr <i_indirectbr>`' instruction, or for comparisons
2070against null. Pointer equality tests between labels addresses results in
2071undefined behavior — though, again, comparison against null is ok, and
2072no label is equal to the null pointer. This may be passed around as an
2073opaque pointer sized value as long as the bits are not inspected. This
2074allows ``ptrtoint`` and arithmetic to be performed on these values so
2075long as the original value is reconstituted before the ``indirectbr``
2076instruction.
2077
2078Finally, some targets may provide defined semantics when using the value
2079as the operand to an inline assembly, but that is target specific.
2080
2081Constant Expressions
2082--------------------
2083
2084Constant expressions are used to allow expressions involving other
2085constants to be used as constants. Constant expressions may be of any
2086:ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type and may involve any LLVM operation
2087that does not have side effects (e.g. load and call are not supported).
2088The following is the syntax for constant expressions:
2089
2090``trunc (CST to TYPE)``
2091 Truncate a constant to another type. The bit size of CST must be
2092 larger than the bit size of TYPE. Both types must be integers.
2093``zext (CST to TYPE)``
2094 Zero extend a constant to another type. The bit size of CST must be
2095 smaller than the bit size of TYPE. Both types must be integers.
2096``sext (CST to TYPE)``
2097 Sign extend a constant to another type. The bit size of CST must be
2098 smaller than the bit size of TYPE. Both types must be integers.
2099``fptrunc (CST to TYPE)``
2100 Truncate a floating point constant to another floating point type.
2101 The size of CST must be larger than the size of TYPE. Both types
2102 must be floating point.
2103``fpext (CST to TYPE)``
2104 Floating point extend a constant to another type. The size of CST
2105 must be smaller or equal to the size of TYPE. Both types must be
2106 floating point.
2107``fptoui (CST to TYPE)``
2108 Convert a floating point constant to the corresponding unsigned
2109 integer constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector integer type. CST
2110 must be of scalar or vector floating point type. Both CST and TYPE
2111 must be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the
2112 value won't fit in the integer type, the results are undefined.
2113``fptosi (CST to TYPE)``
2114 Convert a floating point constant to the corresponding signed
2115 integer constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector integer type. CST
2116 must be of scalar or vector floating point type. Both CST and TYPE
2117 must be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the
2118 value won't fit in the integer type, the results are undefined.
2119``uitofp (CST to TYPE)``
2120 Convert an unsigned integer constant to the corresponding floating
2121 point constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector floating point type.
2122 CST must be of scalar or vector integer type. Both CST and TYPE must
2123 be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the value
2124 won't fit in the floating point type, the results are undefined.
2125``sitofp (CST to TYPE)``
2126 Convert a signed integer constant to the corresponding floating
2127 point constant. TYPE must be a scalar or vector floating point type.
2128 CST must be of scalar or vector integer type. Both CST and TYPE must
2129 be scalars, or vectors of the same number of elements. If the value
2130 won't fit in the floating point type, the results are undefined.
2131``ptrtoint (CST to TYPE)``
2132 Convert a pointer typed constant to the corresponding integer
2133 constant ``TYPE`` must be an integer type. ``CST`` must be of
2134 pointer type. The ``CST`` value is zero extended, truncated, or
2135 unchanged to make it fit in ``TYPE``.
2136``inttoptr (CST to TYPE)``
2137 Convert an integer constant to a pointer constant. TYPE must be a
2138 pointer type. CST must be of integer type. The CST value is zero
2139 extended, truncated, or unchanged to make it fit in a pointer size.
2140 This one is *really* dangerous!
2141``bitcast (CST to TYPE)``
2142 Convert a constant, CST, to another TYPE. The constraints of the
2143 operands are the same as those for the :ref:`bitcast
2144 instruction <i_bitcast>`.
2145``getelementptr (CSTPTR, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``, ``getelementptr inbounds (CSTPTR, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``
2146 Perform the :ref:`getelementptr operation <i_getelementptr>` on
2147 constants. As with the :ref:`getelementptr <i_getelementptr>`
2148 instruction, the index list may have zero or more indexes, which are
2149 required to make sense for the type of "CSTPTR".
2150``select (COND, VAL1, VAL2)``
2151 Perform the :ref:`select operation <i_select>` on constants.
2152``icmp COND (VAL1, VAL2)``
2153 Performs the :ref:`icmp operation <i_icmp>` on constants.
2154``fcmp COND (VAL1, VAL2)``
2155 Performs the :ref:`fcmp operation <i_fcmp>` on constants.
2156``extractelement (VAL, IDX)``
2157 Perform the :ref:`extractelement operation <i_extractelement>` on
2158 constants.
2159``insertelement (VAL, ELT, IDX)``
2160 Perform the :ref:`insertelement operation <i_insertelement>` on
2161 constants.
2162``shufflevector (VEC1, VEC2, IDXMASK)``
2163 Perform the :ref:`shufflevector operation <i_shufflevector>` on
2164 constants.
2165``extractvalue (VAL, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``
2166 Perform the :ref:`extractvalue operation <i_extractvalue>` on
2167 constants. The index list is interpreted in a similar manner as
2168 indices in a ':ref:`getelementptr <i_getelementptr>`' operation. At
2169 least one index value must be specified.
2170``insertvalue (VAL, ELT, IDX0, IDX1, ...)``
2171 Perform the :ref:`insertvalue operation <i_insertvalue>` on constants.
2172 The index list is interpreted in a similar manner as indices in a
2173 ':ref:`getelementptr <i_getelementptr>`' operation. At least one index
2174 value must be specified.
2175``OPCODE (LHS, RHS)``
2176 Perform the specified operation of the LHS and RHS constants. OPCODE
2177 may be any of the :ref:`binary <binaryops>` or :ref:`bitwise
2178 binary <bitwiseops>` operations. The constraints on operands are
2179 the same as those for the corresponding instruction (e.g. no bitwise
2180 operations on floating point values are allowed).
2181
2182Other Values
2183============
2184
2185Inline Assembler Expressions
2186----------------------------
2187
2188LLVM supports inline assembler expressions (as opposed to :ref:`Module-Level
2189Inline Assembly <moduleasm>`) through the use of a special value. This
2190value represents the inline assembler as a string (containing the
2191instructions to emit), a list of operand constraints (stored as a
2192string), a flag that indicates whether or not the inline asm expression
2193has side effects, and a flag indicating whether the function containing
2194the asm needs to align its stack conservatively. An example inline
2195assembler expression is:
2196
2197.. code-block:: llvm
2198
2199 i32 (i32) asm "bswap $0", "=r,r"
2200
2201Inline assembler expressions may **only** be used as the callee operand
2202of a :ref:`call <i_call>` or an :ref:`invoke <i_invoke>` instruction.
2203Thus, typically we have:
2204
2205.. code-block:: llvm
2206
2207 %X = call i32 asm "bswap $0", "=r,r"(i32 %Y)
2208
2209Inline asms with side effects not visible in the constraint list must be
2210marked as having side effects. This is done through the use of the
2211'``sideeffect``' keyword, like so:
2212
2213.. code-block:: llvm
2214
2215 call void asm sideeffect "eieio", ""()
2216
2217In some cases inline asms will contain code that will not work unless
2218the stack is aligned in some way, such as calls or SSE instructions on
2219x86, yet will not contain code that does that alignment within the asm.
2220The compiler should make conservative assumptions about what the asm
2221might contain and should generate its usual stack alignment code in the
2222prologue if the '``alignstack``' keyword is present:
2223
2224.. code-block:: llvm
2225
2226 call void asm alignstack "eieio", ""()
2227
2228Inline asms also support using non-standard assembly dialects. The
2229assumed dialect is ATT. When the '``inteldialect``' keyword is present,
2230the inline asm is using the Intel dialect. Currently, ATT and Intel are
2231the only supported dialects. An example is:
2232
2233.. code-block:: llvm
2234
2235 call void asm inteldialect "eieio", ""()
2236
2237If multiple keywords appear the '``sideeffect``' keyword must come
2238first, the '``alignstack``' keyword second and the '``inteldialect``'
2239keyword last.
2240
2241Inline Asm Metadata
2242^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2243
2244The call instructions that wrap inline asm nodes may have a
2245"``!srcloc``" MDNode attached to it that contains a list of constant
2246integers. If present, the code generator will use the integer as the
2247location cookie value when report errors through the ``LLVMContext``
2248error reporting mechanisms. This allows a front-end to correlate backend
2249errors that occur with inline asm back to the source code that produced
2250it. For example:
2251
2252.. code-block:: llvm
2253
2254 call void asm sideeffect "something bad", ""(), !srcloc !42
2255 ...
2256 !42 = !{ i32 1234567 }
2257
2258It is up to the front-end to make sense of the magic numbers it places
2259in the IR. If the MDNode contains multiple constants, the code generator
2260will use the one that corresponds to the line of the asm that the error
2261occurs on.
2262
2263.. _metadata:
2264
2265Metadata Nodes and Metadata Strings
2266-----------------------------------
2267
2268LLVM IR allows metadata to be attached to instructions in the program
2269that can convey extra information about the code to the optimizers and
2270code generator. One example application of metadata is source-level
2271debug information. There are two metadata primitives: strings and nodes.
2272All metadata has the ``metadata`` type and is identified in syntax by a
2273preceding exclamation point ('``!``').
2274
2275A metadata string is a string surrounded by double quotes. It can
2276contain any character by escaping non-printable characters with
2277"``\xx``" where "``xx``" is the two digit hex code. For example:
2278"``!"test\00"``".
2279
2280Metadata nodes are represented with notation similar to structure
2281constants (a comma separated list of elements, surrounded by braces and
2282preceded by an exclamation point). Metadata nodes can have any values as
2283their operand. For example:
2284
2285.. code-block:: llvm
2286
2287 !{ metadata !"test\00", i32 10}
2288
2289A :ref:`named metadata <namedmetadatastructure>` is a collection of
2290metadata nodes, which can be looked up in the module symbol table. For
2291example:
2292
2293.. code-block:: llvm
2294
2295 !foo = metadata !{!4, !3}
2296
2297Metadata can be used as function arguments. Here ``llvm.dbg.value``
2298function is using two metadata arguments:
2299
2300.. code-block:: llvm
2301
2302 call void @llvm.dbg.value(metadata !24, i64 0, metadata !25)
2303
2304Metadata can be attached with an instruction. Here metadata ``!21`` is
2305attached to the ``add`` instruction using the ``!dbg`` identifier:
2306
2307.. code-block:: llvm
2308
2309 %indvar.next = add i64 %indvar, 1, !dbg !21
2310
2311More information about specific metadata nodes recognized by the
2312optimizers and code generator is found below.
2313
2314'``tbaa``' Metadata
2315^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2316
2317In LLVM IR, memory does not have types, so LLVM's own type system is not
2318suitable for doing TBAA. Instead, metadata is added to the IR to
2319describe a type system of a higher level language. This can be used to
2320implement typical C/C++ TBAA, but it can also be used to implement
2321custom alias analysis behavior for other languages.
2322
2323The current metadata format is very simple. TBAA metadata nodes have up
2324to three fields, e.g.:
2325
2326.. code-block:: llvm
2327
2328 !0 = metadata !{ metadata !"an example type tree" }
2329 !1 = metadata !{ metadata !"int", metadata !0 }
2330 !2 = metadata !{ metadata !"float", metadata !0 }
2331 !3 = metadata !{ metadata !"const float", metadata !2, i64 1 }
2332
2333The first field is an identity field. It can be any value, usually a
2334metadata string, which uniquely identifies the type. The most important
2335name in the tree is the name of the root node. Two trees with different
2336root node names are entirely disjoint, even if they have leaves with
2337common names.
2338
2339The second field identifies the type's parent node in the tree, or is
2340null or omitted for a root node. A type is considered to alias all of
2341its descendants and all of its ancestors in the tree. Also, a type is
2342considered to alias all types in other trees, so that bitcode produced
2343from multiple front-ends is handled conservatively.
2344
2345If the third field is present, it's an integer which if equal to 1
2346indicates that the type is "constant" (meaning
2347``pointsToConstantMemory`` should return true; see `other useful
2348AliasAnalysis methods <AliasAnalysis.html#OtherItfs>`_).
2349
2350'``tbaa.struct``' Metadata
2351^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2352
2353The :ref:`llvm.memcpy <int_memcpy>` is often used to implement
2354aggregate assignment operations in C and similar languages, however it
2355is defined to copy a contiguous region of memory, which is more than
2356strictly necessary for aggregate types which contain holes due to
2357padding. Also, it doesn't contain any TBAA information about the fields
2358of the aggregate.
2359
2360``!tbaa.struct`` metadata can describe which memory subregions in a
2361memcpy are padding and what the TBAA tags of the struct are.
2362
2363The current metadata format is very simple. ``!tbaa.struct`` metadata
2364nodes are a list of operands which are in conceptual groups of three.
2365For each group of three, the first operand gives the byte offset of a
2366field in bytes, the second gives its size in bytes, and the third gives
2367its tbaa tag. e.g.:
2368
2369.. code-block:: llvm
2370
2371 !4 = metadata !{ i64 0, i64 4, metadata !1, i64 8, i64 4, metadata !2 }
2372
2373This describes a struct with two fields. The first is at offset 0 bytes
2374with size 4 bytes, and has tbaa tag !1. The second is at offset 8 bytes
2375and has size 4 bytes and has tbaa tag !2.
2376
2377Note that the fields need not be contiguous. In this example, there is a
23784 byte gap between the two fields. This gap represents padding which
2379does not carry useful data and need not be preserved.
2380
2381'``fpmath``' Metadata
2382^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2383
2384``fpmath`` metadata may be attached to any instruction of floating point
2385type. It can be used to express the maximum acceptable error in the
2386result of that instruction, in ULPs, thus potentially allowing the
2387compiler to use a more efficient but less accurate method of computing
2388it. ULP is defined as follows:
2389
2390 If ``x`` is a real number that lies between two finite consecutive
2391 floating-point numbers ``a`` and ``b``, without being equal to one
2392 of them, then ``ulp(x) = |b - a|``, otherwise ``ulp(x)`` is the
2393 distance between the two non-equal finite floating-point numbers
2394 nearest ``x``. Moreover, ``ulp(NaN)`` is ``NaN``.
2395
2396The metadata node shall consist of a single positive floating point
2397number representing the maximum relative error, for example:
2398
2399.. code-block:: llvm
2400
2401 !0 = metadata !{ float 2.5 } ; maximum acceptable inaccuracy is 2.5 ULPs
2402
2403'``range``' Metadata
2404^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2405
2406``range`` metadata may be attached only to loads of integer types. It
2407expresses the possible ranges the loaded value is in. The ranges are
2408represented with a flattened list of integers. The loaded value is known
2409to be in the union of the ranges defined by each consecutive pair. Each
2410pair has the following properties:
2411
2412- The type must match the type loaded by the instruction.
2413- The pair ``a,b`` represents the range ``[a,b)``.
2414- Both ``a`` and ``b`` are constants.
2415- The range is allowed to wrap.
2416- The range should not represent the full or empty set. That is,
2417 ``a!=b``.
2418
2419In addition, the pairs must be in signed order of the lower bound and
2420they must be non-contiguous.
2421
2422Examples:
2423
2424.. code-block:: llvm
2425
2426 %a = load i8* %x, align 1, !range !0 ; Can only be 0 or 1
2427 %b = load i8* %y, align 1, !range !1 ; Can only be 255 (-1), 0 or 1
2428 %c = load i8* %z, align 1, !range !2 ; Can only be 0, 1, 3, 4 or 5
2429 %d = load i8* %z, align 1, !range !3 ; Can only be -2, -1, 3, 4 or 5
2430 ...
2431 !0 = metadata !{ i8 0, i8 2 }
2432 !1 = metadata !{ i8 255, i8 2 }
2433 !2 = metadata !{ i8 0, i8 2, i8 3, i8 6 }
2434 !3 = metadata !{ i8 -2, i8 0, i8 3, i8 6 }
2435
2436Module Flags Metadata
2437=====================
2438
2439Information about the module as a whole is difficult to convey to LLVM's
2440subsystems. The LLVM IR isn't sufficient to transmit this information.
2441The ``llvm.module.flags`` named metadata exists in order to facilitate
2442this. These flags are in the form of key / value pairs — much like a
2443dictionary — making it easy for any subsystem who cares about a flag to
2444look it up.
2445
2446The ``llvm.module.flags`` metadata contains a list of metadata triplets.
2447Each triplet has the following form:
2448
2449- The first element is a *behavior* flag, which specifies the behavior
2450 when two (or more) modules are merged together, and it encounters two
2451 (or more) metadata with the same ID. The supported behaviors are
2452 described below.
2453- The second element is a metadata string that is a unique ID for the
2454 metadata. How each ID is interpreted is documented below.
2455- The third element is the value of the flag.
2456
2457When two (or more) modules are merged together, the resulting
2458``llvm.module.flags`` metadata is the union of the modules'
2459``llvm.module.flags`` metadata. The only exception being a flag with the
2460*Override* behavior, which may override another flag's value (see
2461below).
2462
2463The following behaviors are supported:
2464
2465.. list-table::
2466 :header-rows: 1
2467 :widths: 10 90
2468
2469 * - Value
2470 - Behavior
2471
2472 * - 1
2473 - **Error**
2474 Emits an error if two values disagree. It is an error to have an
2475 ID with both an Error and a Warning behavior.
2476
2477 * - 2
2478 - **Warning**
2479 Emits a warning if two values disagree.
2480
2481 * - 3
2482 - **Require**
2483 Emits an error when the specified value is not present or doesn't
2484 have the specified value. It is an error for two (or more)
2485 ``llvm.module.flags`` with the same ID to have the Require behavior
2486 but different values. There may be multiple Require flags per ID.
2487
2488 * - 4
2489 - **Override**
2490 Uses the specified value if the two values disagree. It is an
2491 error for two (or more) ``llvm.module.flags`` with the same ID
2492 to have the Override behavior but different values.
2493
2494An example of module flags:
2495
2496.. code-block:: llvm
2497
2498 !0 = metadata !{ i32 1, metadata !"foo", i32 1 }
2499 !1 = metadata !{ i32 4, metadata !"bar", i32 37 }
2500 !2 = metadata !{ i32 2, metadata !"qux", i32 42 }
2501 !3 = metadata !{ i32 3, metadata !"qux",
2502 metadata !{
2503 metadata !"foo", i32 1
2504 }
2505 }
2506 !llvm.module.flags = !{ !0, !1, !2, !3 }
2507
2508- Metadata ``!0`` has the ID ``!"foo"`` and the value '1'. The behavior
2509 if two or more ``!"foo"`` flags are seen is to emit an error if their
2510 values are not equal.
2511
2512- Metadata ``!1`` has the ID ``!"bar"`` and the value '37'. The
2513 behavior if two or more ``!"bar"`` flags are seen is to use the value
2514 '37' if their values are not equal.
2515
2516- Metadata ``!2`` has the ID ``!"qux"`` and the value '42'. The
2517 behavior if two or more ``!"qux"`` flags are seen is to emit a
2518 warning if their values are not equal.
2519
2520- Metadata ``!3`` has the ID ``!"qux"`` and the value:
2521
2522 ::
2523
2524 metadata !{ metadata !"foo", i32 1 }
2525
2526 The behavior is to emit an error if the ``llvm.module.flags`` does
2527 not contain a flag with the ID ``!"foo"`` that has the value '1'. If
2528 two or more ``!"qux"`` flags exist, then they must have the same
2529 value or an error will be issued.
2530
2531Objective-C Garbage Collection Module Flags Metadata
2532----------------------------------------------------
2533
2534On the Mach-O platform, Objective-C stores metadata about garbage
2535collection in a special section called "image info". The metadata
2536consists of a version number and a bitmask specifying what types of
2537garbage collection are supported (if any) by the file. If two or more
2538modules are linked together their garbage collection metadata needs to
2539be merged rather than appended together.
2540
2541The Objective-C garbage collection module flags metadata consists of the
2542following key-value pairs:
2543
2544.. list-table::
2545 :header-rows: 1
2546 :widths: 30 70
2547
2548 * - Key
2549 - Value
2550
2551 * - ``Objective-C Version``
2552 - **[Required]** — The Objective-C ABI version. Valid values are 1 and 2.
2553
2554 * - ``Objective-C Image Info Version``
2555 - **[Required]** — The version of the image info section. Currently
2556 always 0.
2557
2558 * - ``Objective-C Image Info Section``
2559 - **[Required]** — The section to place the metadata. Valid values are
2560 ``"__OBJC, __image_info, regular"`` for Objective-C ABI version 1, and
2561 ``"__DATA,__objc_imageinfo, regular, no_dead_strip"`` for
2562 Objective-C ABI version 2.
2563
2564 * - ``Objective-C Garbage Collection``
2565 - **[Required]** — Specifies whether garbage collection is supported or
2566 not. Valid values are 0, for no garbage collection, and 2, for garbage
2567 collection supported.
2568
2569 * - ``Objective-C GC Only``
2570 - **[Optional]** — Specifies that only garbage collection is supported.
2571 If present, its value must be 6. This flag requires that the
2572 ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` flag have the value 2.
2573
2574Some important flag interactions:
2575
2576- If a module with ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` set to 0 is
2577 merged with a module with ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` set to
2578 2, then the resulting module has the
2579 ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` flag set to 0.
2580- A module with ``Objective-C Garbage Collection`` set to 0 cannot be
2581 merged with a module with ``Objective-C GC Only`` set to 6.
2582
2583Intrinsic Global Variables
2584==========================
2585
2586LLVM has a number of "magic" global variables that contain data that
2587affect code generation or other IR semantics. These are documented here.
2588All globals of this sort should have a section specified as
2589"``llvm.metadata``". This section and all globals that start with
2590"``llvm.``" are reserved for use by LLVM.
2591
2592The '``llvm.used``' Global Variable
2593-----------------------------------
2594
2595The ``@llvm.used`` global is an array with i8\* element type which has
2596:ref:`appending linkage <linkage_appending>`. This array contains a list of
2597pointers to global variables and functions which may optionally have a
2598pointer cast formed of bitcast or getelementptr. For example, a legal
2599use of it is:
2600
2601.. code-block:: llvm
2602
2603 @X = global i8 4
2604 @Y = global i32 123
2605
2606 @llvm.used = appending global [2 x i8*] [
2607 i8* @X,
2608 i8* bitcast (i32* @Y to i8*)
2609 ], section "llvm.metadata"
2610
2611If a global variable appears in the ``@llvm.used`` list, then the
2612compiler, assembler, and linker are required to treat the symbol as if
2613there is a reference to the global that it cannot see. For example, if a
2614variable has internal linkage and no references other than that from the
2615``@llvm.used`` list, it cannot be deleted. This is commonly used to
2616represent references from inline asms and other things the compiler
2617cannot "see", and corresponds to "``attribute((used))``" in GNU C.
2618
2619On some targets, the code generator must emit a directive to the
2620assembler or object file to prevent the assembler and linker from
2621molesting the symbol.
2622
2623The '``llvm.compiler.used``' Global Variable
2624--------------------------------------------
2625
2626The ``@llvm.compiler.used`` directive is the same as the ``@llvm.used``
2627directive, except that it only prevents the compiler from touching the
2628symbol. On targets that support it, this allows an intelligent linker to
2629optimize references to the symbol without being impeded as it would be
2630by ``@llvm.used``.
2631
2632This is a rare construct that should only be used in rare circumstances,
2633and should not be exposed to source languages.
2634
2635The '``llvm.global_ctors``' Global Variable
2636-------------------------------------------
2637
2638.. code-block:: llvm
2639
2640 %0 = type { i32, void ()* }
2641 @llvm.global_ctors = appending global [1 x %0] [%0 { i32 65535, void ()* @ctor }]
2642
2643The ``@llvm.global_ctors`` array contains a list of constructor
2644functions and associated priorities. The functions referenced by this
2645array will be called in ascending order of priority (i.e. lowest first)
2646when the module is loaded. The order of functions with the same priority
2647is not defined.
2648
2649The '``llvm.global_dtors``' Global Variable
2650-------------------------------------------
2651
2652.. code-block:: llvm
2653
2654 %0 = type { i32, void ()* }
2655 @llvm.global_dtors = appending global [1 x %0] [%0 { i32 65535, void ()* @dtor }]
2656
2657The ``@llvm.global_dtors`` array contains a list of destructor functions
2658and associated priorities. The functions referenced by this array will
2659be called in descending order of priority (i.e. highest first) when the
2660module is loaded. The order of functions with the same priority is not
2661defined.
2662
2663Instruction Reference
2664=====================
2665
2666The LLVM instruction set consists of several different classifications
2667of instructions: :ref:`terminator instructions <terminators>`, :ref:`binary
2668instructions <binaryops>`, :ref:`bitwise binary
2669instructions <bitwiseops>`, :ref:`memory instructions <memoryops>`, and
2670:ref:`other instructions <otherops>`.
2671
2672.. _terminators:
2673
2674Terminator Instructions
2675-----------------------
2676
2677As mentioned :ref:`previously <functionstructure>`, every basic block in a
2678program ends with a "Terminator" instruction, which indicates which
2679block should be executed after the current block is finished. These
2680terminator instructions typically yield a '``void``' value: they produce
2681control flow, not values (the one exception being the
2682':ref:`invoke <i_invoke>`' instruction).
2683
2684The terminator instructions are: ':ref:`ret <i_ret>`',
2685':ref:`br <i_br>`', ':ref:`switch <i_switch>`',
2686':ref:`indirectbr <i_indirectbr>`', ':ref:`invoke <i_invoke>`',
2687':ref:`resume <i_resume>`', and ':ref:`unreachable <i_unreachable>`'.
2688
2689.. _i_ret:
2690
2691'``ret``' Instruction
2692^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2693
2694Syntax:
2695"""""""
2696
2697::
2698
2699 ret <type> <value> ; Return a value from a non-void function
2700 ret void ; Return from void function
2701
2702Overview:
2703"""""""""
2704
2705The '``ret``' instruction is used to return control flow (and optionally
2706a value) from a function back to the caller.
2707
2708There are two forms of the '``ret``' instruction: one that returns a
2709value and then causes control flow, and one that just causes control
2710flow to occur.
2711
2712Arguments:
2713""""""""""
2714
2715The '``ret``' instruction optionally accepts a single argument, the
2716return value. The type of the return value must be a ':ref:`first
2717class <t_firstclass>`' type.
2718
2719A function is not :ref:`well formed <wellformed>` if it it has a non-void
2720return type and contains a '``ret``' instruction with no return value or
2721a return value with a type that does not match its type, or if it has a
2722void return type and contains a '``ret``' instruction with a return
2723value.
2724
2725Semantics:
2726""""""""""
2727
2728When the '``ret``' instruction is executed, control flow returns back to
2729the calling function's context. If the caller is a
2730":ref:`call <i_call>`" instruction, execution continues at the
2731instruction after the call. If the caller was an
2732":ref:`invoke <i_invoke>`" instruction, execution continues at the
2733beginning of the "normal" destination block. If the instruction returns
2734a value, that value shall set the call or invoke instruction's return
2735value.
2736
2737Example:
2738""""""""
2739
2740.. code-block:: llvm
2741
2742 ret i32 5 ; Return an integer value of 5
2743 ret void ; Return from a void function
2744 ret { i32, i8 } { i32 4, i8 2 } ; Return a struct of values 4 and 2
2745
2746.. _i_br:
2747
2748'``br``' Instruction
2749^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2750
2751Syntax:
2752"""""""
2753
2754::
2755
2756 br i1 <cond>, label <iftrue>, label <iffalse>
2757 br label <dest> ; Unconditional branch
2758
2759Overview:
2760"""""""""
2761
2762The '``br``' instruction is used to cause control flow to transfer to a
2763different basic block in the current function. There are two forms of
2764this instruction, corresponding to a conditional branch and an
2765unconditional branch.
2766
2767Arguments:
2768""""""""""
2769
2770The conditional branch form of the '``br``' instruction takes a single
2771'``i1``' value and two '``label``' values. The unconditional form of the
2772'``br``' instruction takes a single '``label``' value as a target.
2773
2774Semantics:
2775""""""""""
2776
2777Upon execution of a conditional '``br``' instruction, the '``i1``'
2778argument is evaluated. If the value is ``true``, control flows to the
2779'``iftrue``' ``label`` argument. If "cond" is ``false``, control flows
2780to the '``iffalse``' ``label`` argument.
2781
2782Example:
2783""""""""
2784
2785.. code-block:: llvm
2786
2787 Test:
2788 %cond = icmp eq i32 %a, %b
2789 br i1 %cond, label %IfEqual, label %IfUnequal
2790 IfEqual:
2791 ret i32 1
2792 IfUnequal:
2793 ret i32 0
2794
2795.. _i_switch:
2796
2797'``switch``' Instruction
2798^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2799
2800Syntax:
2801"""""""
2802
2803::
2804
2805 switch <intty> <value>, label <defaultdest> [ <intty> <val>, label <dest> ... ]
2806
2807Overview:
2808"""""""""
2809
2810The '``switch``' instruction is used to transfer control flow to one of
2811several different places. It is a generalization of the '``br``'
2812instruction, allowing a branch to occur to one of many possible
2813destinations.
2814
2815Arguments:
2816""""""""""
2817
2818The '``switch``' instruction uses three parameters: an integer
2819comparison value '``value``', a default '``label``' destination, and an
2820array of pairs of comparison value constants and '``label``'s. The table
2821is not allowed to contain duplicate constant entries.
2822
2823Semantics:
2824""""""""""
2825
2826The ``switch`` instruction specifies a table of values and destinations.
2827When the '``switch``' instruction is executed, this table is searched
2828for the given value. If the value is found, control flow is transferred
2829to the corresponding destination; otherwise, control flow is transferred
2830to the default destination.
2831
2832Implementation:
2833"""""""""""""""
2834
2835Depending on properties of the target machine and the particular
2836``switch`` instruction, this instruction may be code generated in
2837different ways. For example, it could be generated as a series of
2838chained conditional branches or with a lookup table.
2839
2840Example:
2841""""""""
2842
2843.. code-block:: llvm
2844
2845 ; Emulate a conditional br instruction
2846 %Val = zext i1 %value to i32
2847 switch i32 %Val, label %truedest [ i32 0, label %falsedest ]
2848
2849 ; Emulate an unconditional br instruction
2850 switch i32 0, label %dest [ ]
2851
2852 ; Implement a jump table:
2853 switch i32 %val, label %otherwise [ i32 0, label %onzero
2854 i32 1, label %onone
2855 i32 2, label %ontwo ]
2856
2857.. _i_indirectbr:
2858
2859'``indirectbr``' Instruction
2860^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2861
2862Syntax:
2863"""""""
2864
2865::
2866
2867 indirectbr <somety>* <address>, [ label <dest1>, label <dest2>, ... ]
2868
2869Overview:
2870"""""""""
2871
2872The '``indirectbr``' instruction implements an indirect branch to a
2873label within the current function, whose address is specified by
2874"``address``". Address must be derived from a
2875:ref:`blockaddress <blockaddress>` constant.
2876
2877Arguments:
2878""""""""""
2879
2880The '``address``' argument is the address of the label to jump to. The
2881rest of the arguments indicate the full set of possible destinations
2882that the address may point to. Blocks are allowed to occur multiple
2883times in the destination list, though this isn't particularly useful.
2884
2885This destination list is required so that dataflow analysis has an
2886accurate understanding of the CFG.
2887
2888Semantics:
2889""""""""""
2890
2891Control transfers to the block specified in the address argument. All
2892possible destination blocks must be listed in the label list, otherwise
2893this instruction has undefined behavior. This implies that jumps to
2894labels defined in other functions have undefined behavior as well.
2895
2896Implementation:
2897"""""""""""""""
2898
2899This is typically implemented with a jump through a register.
2900
2901Example:
2902""""""""
2903
2904.. code-block:: llvm
2905
2906 indirectbr i8* %Addr, [ label %bb1, label %bb2, label %bb3 ]
2907
2908.. _i_invoke:
2909
2910'``invoke``' Instruction
2911^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2912
2913Syntax:
2914"""""""
2915
2916::
2917
2918 <result> = invoke [cconv] [ret attrs] <ptr to function ty> <function ptr val>(<function args>) [fn attrs]
2919 to label <normal label> unwind label <exception label>
2920
2921Overview:
2922"""""""""
2923
2924The '``invoke``' instruction causes control to transfer to a specified
2925function, with the possibility of control flow transfer to either the
2926'``normal``' label or the '``exception``' label. If the callee function
2927returns with the "``ret``" instruction, control flow will return to the
2928"normal" label. If the callee (or any indirect callees) returns via the
2929":ref:`resume <i_resume>`" instruction or other exception handling
2930mechanism, control is interrupted and continued at the dynamically
2931nearest "exception" label.
2932
2933The '``exception``' label is a `landing
2934pad <ExceptionHandling.html#overview>`_ for the exception. As such,
2935'``exception``' label is required to have the
2936":ref:`landingpad <i_landingpad>`" instruction, which contains the
2937information about the behavior of the program after unwinding happens,
2938as its first non-PHI instruction. The restrictions on the
2939"``landingpad``" instruction's tightly couples it to the "``invoke``"
2940instruction, so that the important information contained within the
2941"``landingpad``" instruction can't be lost through normal code motion.
2942
2943Arguments:
2944""""""""""
2945
2946This instruction requires several arguments:
2947
2948#. The optional "cconv" marker indicates which :ref:`calling
2949 convention <callingconv>` the call should use. If none is
2950 specified, the call defaults to using C calling conventions.
2951#. The optional :ref:`Parameter Attributes <paramattrs>` list for return
2952 values. Only '``zeroext``', '``signext``', and '``inreg``' attributes
2953 are valid here.
2954#. '``ptr to function ty``': shall be the signature of the pointer to
2955 function value being invoked. In most cases, this is a direct
2956 function invocation, but indirect ``invoke``'s are just as possible,
2957 branching off an arbitrary pointer to function value.
2958#. '``function ptr val``': An LLVM value containing a pointer to a
2959 function to be invoked.
2960#. '``function args``': argument list whose types match the function
2961 signature argument types and parameter attributes. All arguments must
2962 be of :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type. If the function signature
2963 indicates the function accepts a variable number of arguments, the
2964 extra arguments can be specified.
2965#. '``normal label``': the label reached when the called function
2966 executes a '``ret``' instruction.
2967#. '``exception label``': the label reached when a callee returns via
2968 the :ref:`resume <i_resume>` instruction or other exception handling
2969 mechanism.
2970#. The optional :ref:`function attributes <fnattrs>` list. Only
2971 '``noreturn``', '``nounwind``', '``readonly``' and '``readnone``'
2972 attributes are valid here.
2973
2974Semantics:
2975""""""""""
2976
2977This instruction is designed to operate as a standard '``call``'
2978instruction in most regards. The primary difference is that it
2979establishes an association with a label, which is used by the runtime
2980library to unwind the stack.
2981
2982This instruction is used in languages with destructors to ensure that
2983proper cleanup is performed in the case of either a ``longjmp`` or a
2984thrown exception. Additionally, this is important for implementation of
2985'``catch``' clauses in high-level languages that support them.
2986
2987For the purposes of the SSA form, the definition of the value returned
2988by the '``invoke``' instruction is deemed to occur on the edge from the
2989current block to the "normal" label. If the callee unwinds then no
2990return value is available.
2991
2992Example:
2993""""""""
2994
2995.. code-block:: llvm
2996
2997 %retval = invoke i32 @Test(i32 15) to label %Continue
2998 unwind label %TestCleanup ; {i32}:retval set
2999 %retval = invoke coldcc i32 %Testfnptr(i32 15) to label %Continue
3000 unwind label %TestCleanup ; {i32}:retval set
3001
3002.. _i_resume:
3003
3004'``resume``' Instruction
3005^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3006
3007Syntax:
3008"""""""
3009
3010::
3011
3012 resume <type> <value>
3013
3014Overview:
3015"""""""""
3016
3017The '``resume``' instruction is a terminator instruction that has no
3018successors.
3019
3020Arguments:
3021""""""""""
3022
3023The '``resume``' instruction requires one argument, which must have the
3024same type as the result of any '``landingpad``' instruction in the same
3025function.
3026
3027Semantics:
3028""""""""""
3029
3030The '``resume``' instruction resumes propagation of an existing
3031(in-flight) exception whose unwinding was interrupted with a
3032:ref:`landingpad <i_landingpad>` instruction.
3033
3034Example:
3035""""""""
3036
3037.. code-block:: llvm
3038
3039 resume { i8*, i32 } %exn
3040
3041.. _i_unreachable:
3042
3043'``unreachable``' Instruction
3044^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3045
3046Syntax:
3047"""""""
3048
3049::
3050
3051 unreachable
3052
3053Overview:
3054"""""""""
3055
3056The '``unreachable``' instruction has no defined semantics. This
3057instruction is used to inform the optimizer that a particular portion of
3058the code is not reachable. This can be used to indicate that the code
3059after a no-return function cannot be reached, and other facts.
3060
3061Semantics:
3062""""""""""
3063
3064The '``unreachable``' instruction has no defined semantics.
3065
3066.. _binaryops:
3067
3068Binary Operations
3069-----------------
3070
3071Binary operators are used to do most of the computation in a program.
3072They require two operands of the same type, execute an operation on
3073them, and produce a single value. The operands might represent multiple
3074data, as is the case with the :ref:`vector <t_vector>` data type. The
3075result value has the same type as its operands.
3076
3077There are several different binary operators:
3078
3079.. _i_add:
3080
3081'``add``' Instruction
3082^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3083
3084Syntax:
3085"""""""
3086
3087::
3088
3089 <result> = add <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3090 <result> = add nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3091 <result> = add nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3092 <result> = add nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3093
3094Overview:
3095"""""""""
3096
3097The '``add``' instruction returns the sum of its two operands.
3098
3099Arguments:
3100""""""""""
3101
3102The two arguments to the '``add``' instruction must be
3103:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3104arguments must have identical types.
3105
3106Semantics:
3107""""""""""
3108
3109The value produced is the integer sum of the two operands.
3110
3111If the sum has unsigned overflow, the result returned is the
3112mathematical result modulo 2\ :sup:`n`\ , where n is the bit width of
3113the result.
3114
3115Because LLVM integers use a two's complement representation, this
3116instruction is appropriate for both signed and unsigned integers.
3117
3118``nuw`` and ``nsw`` stand for "No Unsigned Wrap" and "No Signed Wrap",
3119respectively. If the ``nuw`` and/or ``nsw`` keywords are present, the
3120result value of the ``add`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if
3121unsigned and/or signed overflow, respectively, occurs.
3122
3123Example:
3124""""""""
3125
3126.. code-block:: llvm
3127
3128 <result> = add i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 + %var
3129
3130.. _i_fadd:
3131
3132'``fadd``' Instruction
3133^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3134
3135Syntax:
3136"""""""
3137
3138::
3139
3140 <result> = fadd [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3141
3142Overview:
3143"""""""""
3144
3145The '``fadd``' instruction returns the sum of its two operands.
3146
3147Arguments:
3148""""""""""
3149
3150The two arguments to the '``fadd``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3151point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3152Both arguments must have identical types.
3153
3154Semantics:
3155""""""""""
3156
3157The value produced is the floating point sum of the two operands. This
3158instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math flags <fastmath>`,
3159which are optimization hints to enable otherwise unsafe floating point
3160optimizations:
3161
3162Example:
3163""""""""
3164
3165.. code-block:: llvm
3166
3167 <result> = fadd float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 + %var
3168
3169'``sub``' Instruction
3170^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3171
3172Syntax:
3173"""""""
3174
3175::
3176
3177 <result> = sub <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3178 <result> = sub nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3179 <result> = sub nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3180 <result> = sub nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3181
3182Overview:
3183"""""""""
3184
3185The '``sub``' instruction returns the difference of its two operands.
3186
3187Note that the '``sub``' instruction is used to represent the '``neg``'
3188instruction present in most other intermediate representations.
3189
3190Arguments:
3191""""""""""
3192
3193The two arguments to the '``sub``' instruction must be
3194:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3195arguments must have identical types.
3196
3197Semantics:
3198""""""""""
3199
3200The value produced is the integer difference of the two operands.
3201
3202If the difference has unsigned overflow, the result returned is the
3203mathematical result modulo 2\ :sup:`n`\ , where n is the bit width of
3204the result.
3205
3206Because LLVM integers use a two's complement representation, this
3207instruction is appropriate for both signed and unsigned integers.
3208
3209``nuw`` and ``nsw`` stand for "No Unsigned Wrap" and "No Signed Wrap",
3210respectively. If the ``nuw`` and/or ``nsw`` keywords are present, the
3211result value of the ``sub`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if
3212unsigned and/or signed overflow, respectively, occurs.
3213
3214Example:
3215""""""""
3216
3217.. code-block:: llvm
3218
3219 <result> = sub i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 - %var
3220 <result> = sub i32 0, %val ; yields {i32}:result = -%var
3221
3222.. _i_fsub:
3223
3224'``fsub``' Instruction
3225^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3226
3227Syntax:
3228"""""""
3229
3230::
3231
3232 <result> = fsub [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3233
3234Overview:
3235"""""""""
3236
3237The '``fsub``' instruction returns the difference of its two operands.
3238
3239Note that the '``fsub``' instruction is used to represent the '``fneg``'
3240instruction present in most other intermediate representations.
3241
3242Arguments:
3243""""""""""
3244
3245The two arguments to the '``fsub``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3246point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3247Both arguments must have identical types.
3248
3249Semantics:
3250""""""""""
3251
3252The value produced is the floating point difference of the two operands.
3253This instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math
3254flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints to enable otherwise
3255unsafe floating point optimizations:
3256
3257Example:
3258""""""""
3259
3260.. code-block:: llvm
3261
3262 <result> = fsub float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 - %var
3263 <result> = fsub float -0.0, %val ; yields {float}:result = -%var
3264
3265'``mul``' Instruction
3266^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3267
3268Syntax:
3269"""""""
3270
3271::
3272
3273 <result> = mul <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3274 <result> = mul nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3275 <result> = mul nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3276 <result> = mul nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3277
3278Overview:
3279"""""""""
3280
3281The '``mul``' instruction returns the product of its two operands.
3282
3283Arguments:
3284""""""""""
3285
3286The two arguments to the '``mul``' instruction must be
3287:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3288arguments must have identical types.
3289
3290Semantics:
3291""""""""""
3292
3293The value produced is the integer product of the two operands.
3294
3295If the result of the multiplication has unsigned overflow, the result
3296returned is the mathematical result modulo 2\ :sup:`n`\ , where n is the
3297bit width of the result.
3298
3299Because LLVM integers use a two's complement representation, and the
3300result is the same width as the operands, this instruction returns the
3301correct result for both signed and unsigned integers. If a full product
3302(e.g. ``i32`` * ``i32`` -> ``i64``) is needed, the operands should be
3303sign-extended or zero-extended as appropriate to the width of the full
3304product.
3305
3306``nuw`` and ``nsw`` stand for "No Unsigned Wrap" and "No Signed Wrap",
3307respectively. If the ``nuw`` and/or ``nsw`` keywords are present, the
3308result value of the ``mul`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if
3309unsigned and/or signed overflow, respectively, occurs.
3310
3311Example:
3312""""""""
3313
3314.. code-block:: llvm
3315
3316 <result> = mul i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 * %var
3317
3318.. _i_fmul:
3319
3320'``fmul``' Instruction
3321^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3322
3323Syntax:
3324"""""""
3325
3326::
3327
3328 <result> = fmul [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3329
3330Overview:
3331"""""""""
3332
3333The '``fmul``' instruction returns the product of its two operands.
3334
3335Arguments:
3336""""""""""
3337
3338The two arguments to the '``fmul``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3339point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3340Both arguments must have identical types.
3341
3342Semantics:
3343""""""""""
3344
3345The value produced is the floating point product of the two operands.
3346This instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math
3347flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints to enable otherwise
3348unsafe floating point optimizations:
3349
3350Example:
3351""""""""
3352
3353.. code-block:: llvm
3354
3355 <result> = fmul float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 * %var
3356
3357'``udiv``' Instruction
3358^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3359
3360Syntax:
3361"""""""
3362
3363::
3364
3365 <result> = udiv <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3366 <result> = udiv exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3367
3368Overview:
3369"""""""""
3370
3371The '``udiv``' instruction returns the quotient of its two operands.
3372
3373Arguments:
3374""""""""""
3375
3376The two arguments to the '``udiv``' instruction must be
3377:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3378arguments must have identical types.
3379
3380Semantics:
3381""""""""""
3382
3383The value produced is the unsigned integer quotient of the two operands.
3384
3385Note that unsigned integer division and signed integer division are
3386distinct operations; for signed integer division, use '``sdiv``'.
3387
3388Division by zero leads to undefined behavior.
3389
3390If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``udiv`` is
3391a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if %op1 is not a multiple of %op2 (as
3392such, "((a udiv exact b) mul b) == a").
3393
3394Example:
3395""""""""
3396
3397.. code-block:: llvm
3398
3399 <result> = udiv i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 / %var
3400
3401'``sdiv``' Instruction
3402^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3403
3404Syntax:
3405"""""""
3406
3407::
3408
3409 <result> = sdiv <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3410 <result> = sdiv exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3411
3412Overview:
3413"""""""""
3414
3415The '``sdiv``' instruction returns the quotient of its two operands.
3416
3417Arguments:
3418""""""""""
3419
3420The two arguments to the '``sdiv``' instruction must be
3421:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3422arguments must have identical types.
3423
3424Semantics:
3425""""""""""
3426
3427The value produced is the signed integer quotient of the two operands
3428rounded towards zero.
3429
3430Note that signed integer division and unsigned integer division are
3431distinct operations; for unsigned integer division, use '``udiv``'.
3432
3433Division by zero leads to undefined behavior. Overflow also leads to
3434undefined behavior; this is a rare case, but can occur, for example, by
3435doing a 32-bit division of -2147483648 by -1.
3436
3437If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``sdiv`` is
3438a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if the result would be rounded.
3439
3440Example:
3441""""""""
3442
3443.. code-block:: llvm
3444
3445 <result> = sdiv i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 / %var
3446
3447.. _i_fdiv:
3448
3449'``fdiv``' Instruction
3450^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3451
3452Syntax:
3453"""""""
3454
3455::
3456
3457 <result> = fdiv [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3458
3459Overview:
3460"""""""""
3461
3462The '``fdiv``' instruction returns the quotient of its two operands.
3463
3464Arguments:
3465""""""""""
3466
3467The two arguments to the '``fdiv``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3468point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3469Both arguments must have identical types.
3470
3471Semantics:
3472""""""""""
3473
3474The value produced is the floating point quotient of the two operands.
3475This instruction can also take any number of :ref:`fast-math
3476flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints to enable otherwise
3477unsafe floating point optimizations:
3478
3479Example:
3480""""""""
3481
3482.. code-block:: llvm
3483
3484 <result> = fdiv float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 / %var
3485
3486'``urem``' Instruction
3487^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3488
3489Syntax:
3490"""""""
3491
3492::
3493
3494 <result> = urem <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3495
3496Overview:
3497"""""""""
3498
3499The '``urem``' instruction returns the remainder from the unsigned
3500division of its two arguments.
3501
3502Arguments:
3503""""""""""
3504
3505The two arguments to the '``urem``' instruction must be
3506:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3507arguments must have identical types.
3508
3509Semantics:
3510""""""""""
3511
3512This instruction returns the unsigned integer *remainder* of a division.
3513This instruction always performs an unsigned division to get the
3514remainder.
3515
3516Note that unsigned integer remainder and signed integer remainder are
3517distinct operations; for signed integer remainder, use '``srem``'.
3518
3519Taking the remainder of a division by zero leads to undefined behavior.
3520
3521Example:
3522""""""""
3523
3524.. code-block:: llvm
3525
3526 <result> = urem i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 % %var
3527
3528'``srem``' Instruction
3529^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3530
3531Syntax:
3532"""""""
3533
3534::
3535
3536 <result> = srem <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3537
3538Overview:
3539"""""""""
3540
3541The '``srem``' instruction returns the remainder from the signed
3542division of its two operands. This instruction can also take
3543:ref:`vector <t_vector>` versions of the values in which case the elements
3544must be integers.
3545
3546Arguments:
3547""""""""""
3548
3549The two arguments to the '``srem``' instruction must be
3550:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3551arguments must have identical types.
3552
3553Semantics:
3554""""""""""
3555
3556This instruction returns the *remainder* of a division (where the result
3557is either zero or has the same sign as the dividend, ``op1``), not the
3558*modulo* operator (where the result is either zero or has the same sign
3559as the divisor, ``op2``) of a value. For more information about the
3560difference, see `The Math
3561Forum <http://mathforum.org/dr.math/problems/anne.4.28.99.html>`_. For a
3562table of how this is implemented in various languages, please see
3563`Wikipedia: modulo
3564operation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modulo_operation>`_.
3565
3566Note that signed integer remainder and unsigned integer remainder are
3567distinct operations; for unsigned integer remainder, use '``urem``'.
3568
3569Taking the remainder of a division by zero leads to undefined behavior.
3570Overflow also leads to undefined behavior; this is a rare case, but can
3571occur, for example, by taking the remainder of a 32-bit division of
3572-2147483648 by -1. (The remainder doesn't actually overflow, but this
3573rule lets srem be implemented using instructions that return both the
3574result of the division and the remainder.)
3575
3576Example:
3577""""""""
3578
3579.. code-block:: llvm
3580
3581 <result> = srem i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 % %var
3582
3583.. _i_frem:
3584
3585'``frem``' Instruction
3586^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3587
3588Syntax:
3589"""""""
3590
3591::
3592
3593 <result> = frem [fast-math flags]* <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3594
3595Overview:
3596"""""""""
3597
3598The '``frem``' instruction returns the remainder from the division of
3599its two operands.
3600
3601Arguments:
3602""""""""""
3603
3604The two arguments to the '``frem``' instruction must be :ref:`floating
3605point <t_floating>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point values.
3606Both arguments must have identical types.
3607
3608Semantics:
3609""""""""""
3610
3611This instruction returns the *remainder* of a division. The remainder
3612has the same sign as the dividend. This instruction can also take any
3613number of :ref:`fast-math flags <fastmath>`, which are optimization hints
3614to enable otherwise unsafe floating point optimizations:
3615
3616Example:
3617""""""""
3618
3619.. code-block:: llvm
3620
3621 <result> = frem float 4.0, %var ; yields {float}:result = 4.0 % %var
3622
3623.. _bitwiseops:
3624
3625Bitwise Binary Operations
3626-------------------------
3627
3628Bitwise binary operators are used to do various forms of bit-twiddling
3629in a program. They are generally very efficient instructions and can
3630commonly be strength reduced from other instructions. They require two
3631operands of the same type, execute an operation on them, and produce a
3632single value. The resulting value is the same type as its operands.
3633
3634'``shl``' Instruction
3635^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3636
3637Syntax:
3638"""""""
3639
3640::
3641
3642 <result> = shl <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3643 <result> = shl nuw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3644 <result> = shl nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3645 <result> = shl nuw nsw <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3646
3647Overview:
3648"""""""""
3649
3650The '``shl``' instruction returns the first operand shifted to the left
3651a specified number of bits.
3652
3653Arguments:
3654""""""""""
3655
3656Both arguments to the '``shl``' instruction must be the same
3657:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer type.
3658'``op2``' is treated as an unsigned value.
3659
3660Semantics:
3661""""""""""
3662
3663The value produced is ``op1`` \* 2\ :sup:`op2` mod 2\ :sup:`n`,
3664where ``n`` is the width of the result. If ``op2`` is (statically or
3665dynamically) negative or equal to or larger than the number of bits in
3666``op1``, the result is undefined. If the arguments are vectors, each
3667vector element of ``op1`` is shifted by the corresponding shift amount
3668in ``op2``.
3669
3670If the ``nuw`` keyword is present, then the shift produces a :ref:`poison
3671value <poisonvalues>` if it shifts out any non-zero bits. If the
3672``nsw`` keyword is present, then the shift produces a :ref:`poison
3673value <poisonvalues>` if it shifts out any bits that disagree with the
3674resultant sign bit. As such, NUW/NSW have the same semantics as they
3675would if the shift were expressed as a mul instruction with the same
3676nsw/nuw bits in (mul %op1, (shl 1, %op2)).
3677
3678Example:
3679""""""""
3680
3681.. code-block:: llvm
3682
3683 <result> = shl i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}: 4 << %var
3684 <result> = shl i32 4, 2 ; yields {i32}: 16
3685 <result> = shl i32 1, 10 ; yields {i32}: 1024
3686 <result> = shl i32 1, 32 ; undefined
3687 <result> = shl <2 x i32> < i32 1, i32 1>, < i32 1, i32 2> ; yields: result=<2 x i32> < i32 2, i32 4>
3688
3689'``lshr``' Instruction
3690^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3691
3692Syntax:
3693"""""""
3694
3695::
3696
3697 <result> = lshr <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3698 <result> = lshr exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3699
3700Overview:
3701"""""""""
3702
3703The '``lshr``' instruction (logical shift right) returns the first
3704operand shifted to the right a specified number of bits with zero fill.
3705
3706Arguments:
3707""""""""""
3708
3709Both arguments to the '``lshr``' instruction must be the same
3710:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer type.
3711'``op2``' is treated as an unsigned value.
3712
3713Semantics:
3714""""""""""
3715
3716This instruction always performs a logical shift right operation. The
3717most significant bits of the result will be filled with zero bits after
3718the shift. If ``op2`` is (statically or dynamically) equal to or larger
3719than the number of bits in ``op1``, the result is undefined. If the
3720arguments are vectors, each vector element of ``op1`` is shifted by the
3721corresponding shift amount in ``op2``.
3722
3723If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``lshr`` is
3724a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if any of the bits shifted out are
3725non-zero.
3726
3727Example:
3728""""""""
3729
3730.. code-block:: llvm
3731
3732 <result> = lshr i32 4, 1 ; yields {i32}:result = 2
3733 <result> = lshr i32 4, 2 ; yields {i32}:result = 1
3734 <result> = lshr i8 4, 3 ; yields {i8}:result = 0
3735 <result> = lshr i8 -2, 1 ; yields {i8}:result = 0x7FFFFFFF
3736 <result> = lshr i32 1, 32 ; undefined
3737 <result> = lshr <2 x i32> < i32 -2, i32 4>, < i32 1, i32 2> ; yields: result=<2 x i32> < i32 0x7FFFFFFF, i32 1>
3738
3739'``ashr``' Instruction
3740^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3741
3742Syntax:
3743"""""""
3744
3745::
3746
3747 <result> = ashr <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3748 <result> = ashr exact <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3749
3750Overview:
3751"""""""""
3752
3753The '``ashr``' instruction (arithmetic shift right) returns the first
3754operand shifted to the right a specified number of bits with sign
3755extension.
3756
3757Arguments:
3758""""""""""
3759
3760Both arguments to the '``ashr``' instruction must be the same
3761:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer type.
3762'``op2``' is treated as an unsigned value.
3763
3764Semantics:
3765""""""""""
3766
3767This instruction always performs an arithmetic shift right operation,
3768The most significant bits of the result will be filled with the sign bit
3769of ``op1``. If ``op2`` is (statically or dynamically) equal to or larger
3770than the number of bits in ``op1``, the result is undefined. If the
3771arguments are vectors, each vector element of ``op1`` is shifted by the
3772corresponding shift amount in ``op2``.
3773
3774If the ``exact`` keyword is present, the result value of the ``ashr`` is
3775a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if any of the bits shifted out are
3776non-zero.
3777
3778Example:
3779""""""""
3780
3781.. code-block:: llvm
3782
3783 <result> = ashr i32 4, 1 ; yields {i32}:result = 2
3784 <result> = ashr i32 4, 2 ; yields {i32}:result = 1
3785 <result> = ashr i8 4, 3 ; yields {i8}:result = 0
3786 <result> = ashr i8 -2, 1 ; yields {i8}:result = -1
3787 <result> = ashr i32 1, 32 ; undefined
3788 <result> = ashr <2 x i32> < i32 -2, i32 4>, < i32 1, i32 3> ; yields: result=<2 x i32> < i32 -1, i32 0>
3789
3790'``and``' Instruction
3791^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3792
3793Syntax:
3794"""""""
3795
3796::
3797
3798 <result> = and <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3799
3800Overview:
3801"""""""""
3802
3803The '``and``' instruction returns the bitwise logical and of its two
3804operands.
3805
3806Arguments:
3807""""""""""
3808
3809The two arguments to the '``and``' instruction must be
3810:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3811arguments must have identical types.
3812
3813Semantics:
3814""""""""""
3815
3816The truth table used for the '``and``' instruction is:
3817
3818+-----+-----+-----+
3819| In0 | In1 | Out |
3820+-----+-----+-----+
3821| 0 | 0 | 0 |
3822+-----+-----+-----+
3823| 0 | 1 | 0 |
3824+-----+-----+-----+
3825| 1 | 0 | 0 |
3826+-----+-----+-----+
3827| 1 | 1 | 1 |
3828+-----+-----+-----+
3829
3830Example:
3831""""""""
3832
3833.. code-block:: llvm
3834
3835 <result> = and i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 & %var
3836 <result> = and i32 15, 40 ; yields {i32}:result = 8
3837 <result> = and i32 4, 8 ; yields {i32}:result = 0
3838
3839'``or``' Instruction
3840^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3841
3842Syntax:
3843"""""""
3844
3845::
3846
3847 <result> = or <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3848
3849Overview:
3850"""""""""
3851
3852The '``or``' instruction returns the bitwise logical inclusive or of its
3853two operands.
3854
3855Arguments:
3856""""""""""
3857
3858The two arguments to the '``or``' instruction must be
3859:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3860arguments must have identical types.
3861
3862Semantics:
3863""""""""""
3864
3865The truth table used for the '``or``' instruction is:
3866
3867+-----+-----+-----+
3868| In0 | In1 | Out |
3869+-----+-----+-----+
3870| 0 | 0 | 0 |
3871+-----+-----+-----+
3872| 0 | 1 | 1 |
3873+-----+-----+-----+
3874| 1 | 0 | 1 |
3875+-----+-----+-----+
3876| 1 | 1 | 1 |
3877+-----+-----+-----+
3878
3879Example:
3880""""""""
3881
3882::
3883
3884 <result> = or i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 | %var
3885 <result> = or i32 15, 40 ; yields {i32}:result = 47
3886 <result> = or i32 4, 8 ; yields {i32}:result = 12
3887
3888'``xor``' Instruction
3889^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3890
3891Syntax:
3892"""""""
3893
3894::
3895
3896 <result> = xor <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {ty}:result
3897
3898Overview:
3899"""""""""
3900
3901The '``xor``' instruction returns the bitwise logical exclusive or of
3902its two operands. The ``xor`` is used to implement the "one's
3903complement" operation, which is the "~" operator in C.
3904
3905Arguments:
3906""""""""""
3907
3908The two arguments to the '``xor``' instruction must be
3909:ref:`integer <t_integer>` or :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of integer values. Both
3910arguments must have identical types.
3911
3912Semantics:
3913""""""""""
3914
3915The truth table used for the '``xor``' instruction is:
3916
3917+-----+-----+-----+
3918| In0 | In1 | Out |
3919+-----+-----+-----+
3920| 0 | 0 | 0 |
3921+-----+-----+-----+
3922| 0 | 1 | 1 |
3923+-----+-----+-----+
3924| 1 | 0 | 1 |
3925+-----+-----+-----+
3926| 1 | 1 | 0 |
3927+-----+-----+-----+
3928
3929Example:
3930""""""""
3931
3932.. code-block:: llvm
3933
3934 <result> = xor i32 4, %var ; yields {i32}:result = 4 ^ %var
3935 <result> = xor i32 15, 40 ; yields {i32}:result = 39
3936 <result> = xor i32 4, 8 ; yields {i32}:result = 12
3937 <result> = xor i32 %V, -1 ; yields {i32}:result = ~%V
3938
3939Vector Operations
3940-----------------
3941
3942LLVM supports several instructions to represent vector operations in a
3943target-independent manner. These instructions cover the element-access
3944and vector-specific operations needed to process vectors effectively.
3945While LLVM does directly support these vector operations, many
3946sophisticated algorithms will want to use target-specific intrinsics to
3947take full advantage of a specific target.
3948
3949.. _i_extractelement:
3950
3951'``extractelement``' Instruction
3952^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3953
3954Syntax:
3955"""""""
3956
3957::
3958
3959 <result> = extractelement <n x <ty>> <val>, i32 <idx> ; yields <ty>
3960
3961Overview:
3962"""""""""
3963
3964The '``extractelement``' instruction extracts a single scalar element
3965from a vector at a specified index.
3966
3967Arguments:
3968""""""""""
3969
3970The first operand of an '``extractelement``' instruction is a value of
3971:ref:`vector <t_vector>` type. The second operand is an index indicating
3972the position from which to extract the element. The index may be a
3973variable.
3974
3975Semantics:
3976""""""""""
3977
3978The result is a scalar of the same type as the element type of ``val``.
3979Its value is the value at position ``idx`` of ``val``. If ``idx``
3980exceeds the length of ``val``, the results are undefined.
3981
3982Example:
3983""""""""
3984
3985.. code-block:: llvm
3986
3987 <result> = extractelement <4 x i32> %vec, i32 0 ; yields i32
3988
3989.. _i_insertelement:
3990
3991'``insertelement``' Instruction
3992^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3993
3994Syntax:
3995"""""""
3996
3997::
3998
3999 <result> = insertelement <n x <ty>> <val>, <ty> <elt>, i32 <idx> ; yields <n x <ty>>
4000
4001Overview:
4002"""""""""
4003
4004The '``insertelement``' instruction inserts a scalar element into a
4005vector at a specified index.
4006
4007Arguments:
4008""""""""""
4009
4010The first operand of an '``insertelement``' instruction is a value of
4011:ref:`vector <t_vector>` type. The second operand is a scalar value whose
4012type must equal the element type of the first operand. The third operand
4013is an index indicating the position at which to insert the value. The
4014index may be a variable.
4015
4016Semantics:
4017""""""""""
4018
4019The result is a vector of the same type as ``val``. Its element values
4020are those of ``val`` except at position ``idx``, where it gets the value
4021``elt``. If ``idx`` exceeds the length of ``val``, the results are
4022undefined.
4023
4024Example:
4025""""""""
4026
4027.. code-block:: llvm
4028
4029 <result> = insertelement <4 x i32> %vec, i32 1, i32 0 ; yields <4 x i32>
4030
4031.. _i_shufflevector:
4032
4033'``shufflevector``' Instruction
4034^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4035
4036Syntax:
4037"""""""
4038
4039::
4040
4041 <result> = shufflevector <n x <ty>> <v1>, <n x <ty>> <v2>, <m x i32> <mask> ; yields <m x <ty>>
4042
4043Overview:
4044"""""""""
4045
4046The '``shufflevector``' instruction constructs a permutation of elements
4047from two input vectors, returning a vector with the same element type as
4048the input and length that is the same as the shuffle mask.
4049
4050Arguments:
4051""""""""""
4052
4053The first two operands of a '``shufflevector``' instruction are vectors
4054with the same type. The third argument is a shuffle mask whose element
4055type is always 'i32'. The result of the instruction is a vector whose
4056length is the same as the shuffle mask and whose element type is the
4057same as the element type of the first two operands.
4058
4059The shuffle mask operand is required to be a constant vector with either
4060constant integer or undef values.
4061
4062Semantics:
4063""""""""""
4064
4065The elements of the two input vectors are numbered from left to right
4066across both of the vectors. The shuffle mask operand specifies, for each
4067element of the result vector, which element of the two input vectors the
4068result element gets. The element selector may be undef (meaning "don't
4069care") and the second operand may be undef if performing a shuffle from
4070only one vector.
4071
4072Example:
4073""""""""
4074
4075.. code-block:: llvm
4076
4077 <result> = shufflevector <4 x i32> %v1, <4 x i32> %v2,
4078 <4 x i32> <i32 0, i32 4, i32 1, i32 5> ; yields <4 x i32>
4079 <result> = shufflevector <4 x i32> %v1, <4 x i32> undef,
4080 <4 x i32> <i32 0, i32 1, i32 2, i32 3> ; yields <4 x i32> - Identity shuffle.
4081 <result> = shufflevector <8 x i32> %v1, <8 x i32> undef,
4082 <4 x i32> <i32 0, i32 1, i32 2, i32 3> ; yields <4 x i32>
4083 <result> = shufflevector <4 x i32> %v1, <4 x i32> %v2,
4084 <8 x i32> <i32 0, i32 1, i32 2, i32 3, i32 4, i32 5, i32 6, i32 7 > ; yields <8 x i32>
4085
4086Aggregate Operations
4087--------------------
4088
4089LLVM supports several instructions for working with
4090:ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` values.
4091
4092.. _i_extractvalue:
4093
4094'``extractvalue``' Instruction
4095^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4096
4097Syntax:
4098"""""""
4099
4100::
4101
4102 <result> = extractvalue <aggregate type> <val>, <idx>{, <idx>}*
4103
4104Overview:
4105"""""""""
4106
4107The '``extractvalue``' instruction extracts the value of a member field
4108from an :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` value.
4109
4110Arguments:
4111""""""""""
4112
4113The first operand of an '``extractvalue``' instruction is a value of
4114:ref:`struct <t_struct>` or :ref:`array <t_array>` type. The operands are
4115constant indices to specify which value to extract in a similar manner
4116as indices in a '``getelementptr``' instruction.
4117
4118The major differences to ``getelementptr`` indexing are:
4119
4120- Since the value being indexed is not a pointer, the first index is
4121 omitted and assumed to be zero.
4122- At least one index must be specified.
4123- Not only struct indices but also array indices must be in bounds.
4124
4125Semantics:
4126""""""""""
4127
4128The result is the value at the position in the aggregate specified by
4129the index operands.
4130
4131Example:
4132""""""""
4133
4134.. code-block:: llvm
4135
4136 <result> = extractvalue {i32, float} %agg, 0 ; yields i32
4137
4138.. _i_insertvalue:
4139
4140'``insertvalue``' Instruction
4141^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4142
4143Syntax:
4144"""""""
4145
4146::
4147
4148 <result> = insertvalue <aggregate type> <val>, <ty> <elt>, <idx>{, <idx>}* ; yields <aggregate type>
4149
4150Overview:
4151"""""""""
4152
4153The '``insertvalue``' instruction inserts a value into a member field in
4154an :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` value.
4155
4156Arguments:
4157""""""""""
4158
4159The first operand of an '``insertvalue``' instruction is a value of
4160:ref:`struct <t_struct>` or :ref:`array <t_array>` type. The second operand is
4161a first-class value to insert. The following operands are constant
4162indices indicating the position at which to insert the value in a
4163similar manner as indices in a '``extractvalue``' instruction. The value
4164to insert must have the same type as the value identified by the
4165indices.
4166
4167Semantics:
4168""""""""""
4169
4170The result is an aggregate of the same type as ``val``. Its value is
4171that of ``val`` except that the value at the position specified by the
4172indices is that of ``elt``.
4173
4174Example:
4175""""""""
4176
4177.. code-block:: llvm
4178
4179 %agg1 = insertvalue {i32, float} undef, i32 1, 0 ; yields {i32 1, float undef}
4180 %agg2 = insertvalue {i32, float} %agg1, float %val, 1 ; yields {i32 1, float %val}
4181 %agg3 = insertvalue {i32, {float}} %agg1, float %val, 1, 0 ; yields {i32 1, float %val}
4182
4183.. _memoryops:
4184
4185Memory Access and Addressing Operations
4186---------------------------------------
4187
4188A key design point of an SSA-based representation is how it represents
4189memory. In LLVM, no memory locations are in SSA form, which makes things
4190very simple. This section describes how to read, write, and allocate
4191memory in LLVM.
4192
4193.. _i_alloca:
4194
4195'``alloca``' Instruction
4196^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4197
4198Syntax:
4199"""""""
4200
4201::
4202
4203 <result> = alloca <type>[, <ty> <NumElements>][, align <alignment>] ; yields {type*}:result
4204
4205Overview:
4206"""""""""
4207
4208The '``alloca``' instruction allocates memory on the stack frame of the
4209currently executing function, to be automatically released when this
4210function returns to its caller. The object is always allocated in the
4211generic address space (address space zero).
4212
4213Arguments:
4214""""""""""
4215
4216The '``alloca``' instruction allocates ``sizeof(<type>)*NumElements``
4217bytes of memory on the runtime stack, returning a pointer of the
4218appropriate type to the program. If "NumElements" is specified, it is
4219the number of elements allocated, otherwise "NumElements" is defaulted
4220to be one. If a constant alignment is specified, the value result of the
4221allocation is guaranteed to be aligned to at least that boundary. If not
4222specified, or if zero, the target can choose to align the allocation on
4223any convenient boundary compatible with the type.
4224
4225'``type``' may be any sized type.
4226
4227Semantics:
4228""""""""""
4229
4230Memory is allocated; a pointer is returned. The operation is undefined
4231if there is insufficient stack space for the allocation. '``alloca``'d
4232memory is automatically released when the function returns. The
4233'``alloca``' instruction is commonly used to represent automatic
4234variables that must have an address available. When the function returns
4235(either with the ``ret`` or ``resume`` instructions), the memory is
4236reclaimed. Allocating zero bytes is legal, but the result is undefined.
4237The order in which memory is allocated (ie., which way the stack grows)
4238is not specified.
4239
4240Example:
4241""""""""
4242
4243.. code-block:: llvm
4244
4245 %ptr = alloca i32 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4246 %ptr = alloca i32, i32 4 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4247 %ptr = alloca i32, i32 4, align 1024 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4248 %ptr = alloca i32, align 1024 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4249
4250.. _i_load:
4251
4252'``load``' Instruction
4253^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4254
4255Syntax:
4256"""""""
4257
4258::
4259
4260 <result> = load [volatile] <ty>* <pointer>[, align <alignment>][, !nontemporal !<index>][, !invariant.load !<index>]
4261 <result> = load atomic [volatile] <ty>* <pointer> [singlethread] <ordering>, align <alignment>
4262 !<index> = !{ i32 1 }
4263
4264Overview:
4265"""""""""
4266
4267The '``load``' instruction is used to read from memory.
4268
4269Arguments:
4270""""""""""
4271
4272The argument to the '``load``' instruction specifies the memory address
4273from which to load. The pointer must point to a :ref:`first
4274class <t_firstclass>` type. If the ``load`` is marked as ``volatile``,
4275then the optimizer is not allowed to modify the number or order of
4276execution of this ``load`` with other :ref:`volatile
4277operations <volatile>`.
4278
4279If the ``load`` is marked as ``atomic``, it takes an extra
4280:ref:`ordering <ordering>` and optional ``singlethread`` argument. The
4281``release`` and ``acq_rel`` orderings are not valid on ``load``
4282instructions. Atomic loads produce :ref:`defined <memmodel>` results
4283when they may see multiple atomic stores. The type of the pointee must
4284be an integer type whose bit width is a power of two greater than or
4285equal to eight and less than or equal to a target-specific size limit.
4286``align`` must be explicitly specified on atomic loads, and the load has
4287undefined behavior if the alignment is not set to a value which is at
4288least the size in bytes of the pointee. ``!nontemporal`` does not have
4289any defined semantics for atomic loads.
4290
4291The optional constant ``align`` argument specifies the alignment of the
4292operation (that is, the alignment of the memory address). A value of 0
4293or an omitted ``align`` argument means that the operation has the abi
4294alignment for the target. It is the responsibility of the code emitter
4295to ensure that the alignment information is correct. Overestimating the
4296alignment results in undefined behavior. Underestimating the alignment
4297may produce less efficient code. An alignment of 1 is always safe.
4298
4299The optional ``!nontemporal`` metadata must reference a single
4300metatadata name <index> corresponding to a metadata node with one
4301``i32`` entry of value 1. The existence of the ``!nontemporal``
4302metatadata on the instruction tells the optimizer and code generator
4303that this load is not expected to be reused in the cache. The code
4304generator may select special instructions to save cache bandwidth, such
4305as the ``MOVNT`` instruction on x86.
4306
4307The optional ``!invariant.load`` metadata must reference a single
4308metatadata name <index> corresponding to a metadata node with no
4309entries. The existence of the ``!invariant.load`` metatadata on the
4310instruction tells the optimizer and code generator that this load
4311address points to memory which does not change value during program
4312execution. The optimizer may then move this load around, for example, by
4313hoisting it out of loops using loop invariant code motion.
4314
4315Semantics:
4316""""""""""
4317
4318The location of memory pointed to is loaded. If the value being loaded
4319is of scalar type then the number of bytes read does not exceed the
4320minimum number of bytes needed to hold all bits of the type. For
4321example, loading an ``i24`` reads at most three bytes. When loading a
4322value of a type like ``i20`` with a size that is not an integral number
4323of bytes, the result is undefined if the value was not originally
4324written using a store of the same type.
4325
4326Examples:
4327"""""""""
4328
4329.. code-block:: llvm
4330
4331 %ptr = alloca i32 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4332 store i32 3, i32* %ptr ; yields {void}
4333 %val = load i32* %ptr ; yields {i32}:val = i32 3
4334
4335.. _i_store:
4336
4337'``store``' Instruction
4338^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4339
4340Syntax:
4341"""""""
4342
4343::
4344
4345 store [volatile] <ty> <value>, <ty>* <pointer>[, align <alignment>][, !nontemporal !<index>] ; yields {void}
4346 store atomic [volatile] <ty> <value>, <ty>* <pointer> [singlethread] <ordering>, align <alignment> ; yields {void}
4347
4348Overview:
4349"""""""""
4350
4351The '``store``' instruction is used to write to memory.
4352
4353Arguments:
4354""""""""""
4355
4356There are two arguments to the '``store``' instruction: a value to store
4357and an address at which to store it. The type of the '``<pointer>``'
4358operand must be a pointer to the :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type of
4359the '``<value>``' operand. If the ``store`` is marked as ``volatile``,
4360then the optimizer is not allowed to modify the number or order of
4361execution of this ``store`` with other :ref:`volatile
4362operations <volatile>`.
4363
4364If the ``store`` is marked as ``atomic``, it takes an extra
4365:ref:`ordering <ordering>` and optional ``singlethread`` argument. The
4366``acquire`` and ``acq_rel`` orderings aren't valid on ``store``
4367instructions. Atomic loads produce :ref:`defined <memmodel>` results
4368when they may see multiple atomic stores. The type of the pointee must
4369be an integer type whose bit width is a power of two greater than or
4370equal to eight and less than or equal to a target-specific size limit.
4371``align`` must be explicitly specified on atomic stores, and the store
4372has undefined behavior if the alignment is not set to a value which is
4373at least the size in bytes of the pointee. ``!nontemporal`` does not
4374have any defined semantics for atomic stores.
4375
4376The optional constant "align" argument specifies the alignment of the
4377operation (that is, the alignment of the memory address). A value of 0
4378or an omitted "align" argument means that the operation has the abi
4379alignment for the target. It is the responsibility of the code emitter
4380to ensure that the alignment information is correct. Overestimating the
4381alignment results in an undefined behavior. Underestimating the
4382alignment may produce less efficient code. An alignment of 1 is always
4383safe.
4384
4385The optional !nontemporal metadata must reference a single metatadata
4386name <index> corresponding to a metadata node with one i32 entry of
4387value 1. The existence of the !nontemporal metatadata on the instruction
4388tells the optimizer and code generator that this load is not expected to
4389be reused in the cache. The code generator may select special
4390instructions to save cache bandwidth, such as the MOVNT instruction on
4391x86.
4392
4393Semantics:
4394""""""""""
4395
4396The contents of memory are updated to contain '``<value>``' at the
4397location specified by the '``<pointer>``' operand. If '``<value>``' is
4398of scalar type then the number of bytes written does not exceed the
4399minimum number of bytes needed to hold all bits of the type. For
4400example, storing an ``i24`` writes at most three bytes. When writing a
4401value of a type like ``i20`` with a size that is not an integral number
4402of bytes, it is unspecified what happens to the extra bits that do not
4403belong to the type, but they will typically be overwritten.
4404
4405Example:
4406""""""""
4407
4408.. code-block:: llvm
4409
4410 %ptr = alloca i32 ; yields {i32*}:ptr
4411 store i32 3, i32* %ptr ; yields {void}
4412 %val = load i32* %ptr ; yields {i32}:val = i32 3
4413
4414.. _i_fence:
4415
4416'``fence``' Instruction
4417^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4418
4419Syntax:
4420"""""""
4421
4422::
4423
4424 fence [singlethread] <ordering> ; yields {void}
4425
4426Overview:
4427"""""""""
4428
4429The '``fence``' instruction is used to introduce happens-before edges
4430between operations.
4431
4432Arguments:
4433""""""""""
4434
4435'``fence``' instructions take an :ref:`ordering <ordering>` argument which
4436defines what *synchronizes-with* edges they add. They can only be given
4437``acquire``, ``release``, ``acq_rel``, and ``seq_cst`` orderings.
4438
4439Semantics:
4440""""""""""
4441
4442A fence A which has (at least) ``release`` ordering semantics
4443*synchronizes with* a fence B with (at least) ``acquire`` ordering
4444semantics if and only if there exist atomic operations X and Y, both
4445operating on some atomic object M, such that A is sequenced before X, X
4446modifies M (either directly or through some side effect of a sequence
4447headed by X), Y is sequenced before B, and Y observes M. This provides a
4448*happens-before* dependency between A and B. Rather than an explicit
4449``fence``, one (but not both) of the atomic operations X or Y might
4450provide a ``release`` or ``acquire`` (resp.) ordering constraint and
4451still *synchronize-with* the explicit ``fence`` and establish the
4452*happens-before* edge.
4453
4454A ``fence`` which has ``seq_cst`` ordering, in addition to having both
4455``acquire`` and ``release`` semantics specified above, participates in
4456the global program order of other ``seq_cst`` operations and/or fences.
4457
4458The optional ":ref:`singlethread <singlethread>`" argument specifies
4459that the fence only synchronizes with other fences in the same thread.
4460(This is useful for interacting with signal handlers.)
4461
4462Example:
4463""""""""
4464
4465.. code-block:: llvm
4466
4467 fence acquire ; yields {void}
4468 fence singlethread seq_cst ; yields {void}
4469
4470.. _i_cmpxchg:
4471
4472'``cmpxchg``' Instruction
4473^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4474
4475Syntax:
4476"""""""
4477
4478::
4479
4480 cmpxchg [volatile] <ty>* <pointer>, <ty> <cmp>, <ty> <new> [singlethread] <ordering> ; yields {ty}
4481
4482Overview:
4483"""""""""
4484
4485The '``cmpxchg``' instruction is used to atomically modify memory. It
4486loads a value in memory and compares it to a given value. If they are
4487equal, it stores a new value into the memory.
4488
4489Arguments:
4490""""""""""
4491
4492There are three arguments to the '``cmpxchg``' instruction: an address
4493to operate on, a value to compare to the value currently be at that
4494address, and a new value to place at that address if the compared values
4495are equal. The type of '<cmp>' must be an integer type whose bit width
4496is a power of two greater than or equal to eight and less than or equal
4497to a target-specific size limit. '<cmp>' and '<new>' must have the same
4498type, and the type of '<pointer>' must be a pointer to that type. If the
4499``cmpxchg`` is marked as ``volatile``, then the optimizer is not allowed
4500to modify the number or order of execution of this ``cmpxchg`` with
4501other :ref:`volatile operations <volatile>`.
4502
4503The :ref:`ordering <ordering>` argument specifies how this ``cmpxchg``
4504synchronizes with other atomic operations.
4505
4506The optional "``singlethread``" argument declares that the ``cmpxchg``
4507is only atomic with respect to code (usually signal handlers) running in
4508the same thread as the ``cmpxchg``. Otherwise the cmpxchg is atomic with
4509respect to all other code in the system.
4510
4511The pointer passed into cmpxchg must have alignment greater than or
4512equal to the size in memory of the operand.
4513
4514Semantics:
4515""""""""""
4516
4517The contents of memory at the location specified by the '``<pointer>``'
4518operand is read and compared to '``<cmp>``'; if the read value is the
4519equal, '``<new>``' is written. The original value at the location is
4520returned.
4521
4522A successful ``cmpxchg`` is a read-modify-write instruction for the purpose
4523of identifying release sequences. A failed ``cmpxchg`` is equivalent to an
4524atomic load with an ordering parameter determined by dropping any
4525``release`` part of the ``cmpxchg``'s ordering.
4526
4527Example:
4528""""""""
4529
4530.. code-block:: llvm
4531
4532 entry:
4533 %orig = atomic load i32* %ptr unordered ; yields {i32}
4534 br label %loop
4535
4536 loop:
4537 %cmp = phi i32 [ %orig, %entry ], [%old, %loop]
4538 %squared = mul i32 %cmp, %cmp
4539 %old = cmpxchg i32* %ptr, i32 %cmp, i32 %squared ; yields {i32}
4540 %success = icmp eq i32 %cmp, %old
4541 br i1 %success, label %done, label %loop
4542
4543 done:
4544 ...
4545
4546.. _i_atomicrmw:
4547
4548'``atomicrmw``' Instruction
4549^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4550
4551Syntax:
4552"""""""
4553
4554::
4555
4556 atomicrmw [volatile] <operation> <ty>* <pointer>, <ty> <value> [singlethread] <ordering> ; yields {ty}
4557
4558Overview:
4559"""""""""
4560
4561The '``atomicrmw``' instruction is used to atomically modify memory.
4562
4563Arguments:
4564""""""""""
4565
4566There are three arguments to the '``atomicrmw``' instruction: an
4567operation to apply, an address whose value to modify, an argument to the
4568operation. The operation must be one of the following keywords:
4569
4570- xchg
4571- add
4572- sub
4573- and
4574- nand
4575- or
4576- xor
4577- max
4578- min
4579- umax
4580- umin
4581
4582The type of '<value>' must be an integer type whose bit width is a power
4583of two greater than or equal to eight and less than or equal to a
4584target-specific size limit. The type of the '``<pointer>``' operand must
4585be a pointer to that type. If the ``atomicrmw`` is marked as
4586``volatile``, then the optimizer is not allowed to modify the number or
4587order of execution of this ``atomicrmw`` with other :ref:`volatile
4588operations <volatile>`.
4589
4590Semantics:
4591""""""""""
4592
4593The contents of memory at the location specified by the '``<pointer>``'
4594operand are atomically read, modified, and written back. The original
4595value at the location is returned. The modification is specified by the
4596operation argument:
4597
4598- xchg: ``*ptr = val``
4599- add: ``*ptr = *ptr + val``
4600- sub: ``*ptr = *ptr - val``
4601- and: ``*ptr = *ptr & val``
4602- nand: ``*ptr = ~(*ptr & val)``
4603- or: ``*ptr = *ptr | val``
4604- xor: ``*ptr = *ptr ^ val``
4605- max: ``*ptr = *ptr > val ? *ptr : val`` (using a signed comparison)
4606- min: ``*ptr = *ptr < val ? *ptr : val`` (using a signed comparison)
4607- umax: ``*ptr = *ptr > val ? *ptr : val`` (using an unsigned
4608 comparison)
4609- umin: ``*ptr = *ptr < val ? *ptr : val`` (using an unsigned
4610 comparison)
4611
4612Example:
4613""""""""
4614
4615.. code-block:: llvm
4616
4617 %old = atomicrmw add i32* %ptr, i32 1 acquire ; yields {i32}
4618
4619.. _i_getelementptr:
4620
4621'``getelementptr``' Instruction
4622^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4623
4624Syntax:
4625"""""""
4626
4627::
4628
4629 <result> = getelementptr <pty>* <ptrval>{, <ty> <idx>}*
4630 <result> = getelementptr inbounds <pty>* <ptrval>{, <ty> <idx>}*
4631 <result> = getelementptr <ptr vector> ptrval, <vector index type> idx
4632
4633Overview:
4634"""""""""
4635
4636The '``getelementptr``' instruction is used to get the address of a
4637subelement of an :ref:`aggregate <t_aggregate>` data structure. It performs
4638address calculation only and does not access memory.
4639
4640Arguments:
4641""""""""""
4642
4643The first argument is always a pointer or a vector of pointers, and
4644forms the basis of the calculation. The remaining arguments are indices
4645that indicate which of the elements of the aggregate object are indexed.
4646The interpretation of each index is dependent on the type being indexed
4647into. The first index always indexes the pointer value given as the
4648first argument, the second index indexes a value of the type pointed to
4649(not necessarily the value directly pointed to, since the first index
4650can be non-zero), etc. The first type indexed into must be a pointer
4651value, subsequent types can be arrays, vectors, and structs. Note that
4652subsequent types being indexed into can never be pointers, since that
4653would require loading the pointer before continuing calculation.
4654
4655The type of each index argument depends on the type it is indexing into.
4656When indexing into a (optionally packed) structure, only ``i32`` integer
4657**constants** are allowed (when using a vector of indices they must all
4658be the **same** ``i32`` integer constant). When indexing into an array,
4659pointer or vector, integers of any width are allowed, and they are not
4660required to be constant. These integers are treated as signed values
4661where relevant.
4662
4663For example, let's consider a C code fragment and how it gets compiled
4664to LLVM:
4665
4666.. code-block:: c
4667
4668 struct RT {
4669 char A;
4670 int B[10][20];
4671 char C;
4672 };
4673 struct ST {
4674 int X;
4675 double Y;
4676 struct RT Z;
4677 };
4678
4679 int *foo(struct ST *s) {
4680 return &s[1].Z.B[5][13];
4681 }
4682
4683The LLVM code generated by Clang is:
4684
4685.. code-block:: llvm
4686
4687 %struct.RT = type { i8, [10 x [20 x i32]], i8 }
4688 %struct.ST = type { i32, double, %struct.RT }
4689
4690 define i32* @foo(%struct.ST* %s) nounwind uwtable readnone optsize ssp {
4691 entry:
4692 %arrayidx = getelementptr inbounds %struct.ST* %s, i64 1, i32 2, i32 1, i64 5, i64 13
4693 ret i32* %arrayidx
4694 }
4695
4696Semantics:
4697""""""""""
4698
4699In the example above, the first index is indexing into the
4700'``%struct.ST*``' type, which is a pointer, yielding a '``%struct.ST``'
4701= '``{ i32, double, %struct.RT }``' type, a structure. The second index
4702indexes into the third element of the structure, yielding a
4703'``%struct.RT``' = '``{ i8 , [10 x [20 x i32]], i8 }``' type, another
4704structure. The third index indexes into the second element of the
4705structure, yielding a '``[10 x [20 x i32]]``' type, an array. The two
4706dimensions of the array are subscripted into, yielding an '``i32``'
4707type. The '``getelementptr``' instruction returns a pointer to this
4708element, thus computing a value of '``i32*``' type.
4709
4710Note that it is perfectly legal to index partially through a structure,
4711returning a pointer to an inner element. Because of this, the LLVM code
4712for the given testcase is equivalent to:
4713
4714.. code-block:: llvm
4715
4716 define i32* @foo(%struct.ST* %s) {
4717 %t1 = getelementptr %struct.ST* %s, i32 1 ; yields %struct.ST*:%t1
4718 %t2 = getelementptr %struct.ST* %t1, i32 0, i32 2 ; yields %struct.RT*:%t2
4719 %t3 = getelementptr %struct.RT* %t2, i32 0, i32 1 ; yields [10 x [20 x i32]]*:%t3
4720 %t4 = getelementptr [10 x [20 x i32]]* %t3, i32 0, i32 5 ; yields [20 x i32]*:%t4
4721 %t5 = getelementptr [20 x i32]* %t4, i32 0, i32 13 ; yields i32*:%t5
4722 ret i32* %t5
4723 }
4724
4725If the ``inbounds`` keyword is present, the result value of the
4726``getelementptr`` is a :ref:`poison value <poisonvalues>` if the base
4727pointer is not an *in bounds* address of an allocated object, or if any
4728of the addresses that would be formed by successive addition of the
4729offsets implied by the indices to the base address with infinitely
4730precise signed arithmetic are not an *in bounds* address of that
4731allocated object. The *in bounds* addresses for an allocated object are
4732all the addresses that point into the object, plus the address one byte
4733past the end. In cases where the base is a vector of pointers the
4734``inbounds`` keyword applies to each of the computations element-wise.
4735
4736If the ``inbounds`` keyword is not present, the offsets are added to the
4737base address with silently-wrapping two's complement arithmetic. If the
4738offsets have a different width from the pointer, they are sign-extended
4739or truncated to the width of the pointer. The result value of the
4740``getelementptr`` may be outside the object pointed to by the base
4741pointer. The result value may not necessarily be used to access memory
4742though, even if it happens to point into allocated storage. See the
4743:ref:`Pointer Aliasing Rules <pointeraliasing>` section for more
4744information.
4745
4746The getelementptr instruction is often confusing. For some more insight
4747into how it works, see :doc:`the getelementptr FAQ <GetElementPtr>`.
4748
4749Example:
4750""""""""
4751
4752.. code-block:: llvm
4753
4754 ; yields [12 x i8]*:aptr
4755 %aptr = getelementptr {i32, [12 x i8]}* %saptr, i64 0, i32 1
4756 ; yields i8*:vptr
4757 %vptr = getelementptr {i32, <2 x i8>}* %svptr, i64 0, i32 1, i32 1
4758 ; yields i8*:eptr
4759 %eptr = getelementptr [12 x i8]* %aptr, i64 0, i32 1
4760 ; yields i32*:iptr
4761 %iptr = getelementptr [10 x i32]* @arr, i16 0, i16 0
4762
4763In cases where the pointer argument is a vector of pointers, each index
4764must be a vector with the same number of elements. For example:
4765
4766.. code-block:: llvm
4767
4768 %A = getelementptr <4 x i8*> %ptrs, <4 x i64> %offsets,
4769
4770Conversion Operations
4771---------------------
4772
4773The instructions in this category are the conversion instructions
4774(casting) which all take a single operand and a type. They perform
4775various bit conversions on the operand.
4776
4777'``trunc .. to``' Instruction
4778^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4779
4780Syntax:
4781"""""""
4782
4783::
4784
4785 <result> = trunc <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
4786
4787Overview:
4788"""""""""
4789
4790The '``trunc``' instruction truncates its operand to the type ``ty2``.
4791
4792Arguments:
4793""""""""""
4794
4795The '``trunc``' instruction takes a value to trunc, and a type to trunc
4796it to. Both types must be of :ref:`integer <t_integer>` types, or vectors
4797of the same number of integers. The bit size of the ``value`` must be
4798larger than the bit size of the destination type, ``ty2``. Equal sized
4799types are not allowed.
4800
4801Semantics:
4802""""""""""
4803
4804The '``trunc``' instruction truncates the high order bits in ``value``
4805and converts the remaining bits to ``ty2``. Since the source size must
4806be larger than the destination size, ``trunc`` cannot be a *no-op cast*.
4807It will always truncate bits.
4808
4809Example:
4810""""""""
4811
4812.. code-block:: llvm
4813
4814 %X = trunc i32 257 to i8 ; yields i8:1
4815 %Y = trunc i32 123 to i1 ; yields i1:true
4816 %Z = trunc i32 122 to i1 ; yields i1:false
4817 %W = trunc <2 x i16> <i16 8, i16 7> to <2 x i8> ; yields <i8 8, i8 7>
4818
4819'``zext .. to``' Instruction
4820^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4821
4822Syntax:
4823"""""""
4824
4825::
4826
4827 <result> = zext <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
4828
4829Overview:
4830"""""""""
4831
4832The '``zext``' instruction zero extends its operand to type ``ty2``.
4833
4834Arguments:
4835""""""""""
4836
4837The '``zext``' instruction takes a value to cast, and a type to cast it
4838to. Both types must be of :ref:`integer <t_integer>` types, or vectors of
4839the same number of integers. The bit size of the ``value`` must be
4840smaller than the bit size of the destination type, ``ty2``.
4841
4842Semantics:
4843""""""""""
4844
4845The ``zext`` fills the high order bits of the ``value`` with zero bits
4846until it reaches the size of the destination type, ``ty2``.
4847
4848When zero extending from i1, the result will always be either 0 or 1.
4849
4850Example:
4851""""""""
4852
4853.. code-block:: llvm
4854
4855 %X = zext i32 257 to i64 ; yields i64:257
4856 %Y = zext i1 true to i32 ; yields i32:1
4857 %Z = zext <2 x i16> <i16 8, i16 7> to <2 x i32> ; yields <i32 8, i32 7>
4858
4859'``sext .. to``' Instruction
4860^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4861
4862Syntax:
4863"""""""
4864
4865::
4866
4867 <result> = sext <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
4868
4869Overview:
4870"""""""""
4871
4872The '``sext``' sign extends ``value`` to the type ``ty2``.
4873
4874Arguments:
4875""""""""""
4876
4877The '``sext``' instruction takes a value to cast, and a type to cast it
4878to. Both types must be of :ref:`integer <t_integer>` types, or vectors of
4879the same number of integers. The bit size of the ``value`` must be
4880smaller than the bit size of the destination type, ``ty2``.
4881
4882Semantics:
4883""""""""""
4884
4885The '``sext``' instruction performs a sign extension by copying the sign
4886bit (highest order bit) of the ``value`` until it reaches the bit size
4887of the type ``ty2``.
4888
4889When sign extending from i1, the extension always results in -1 or 0.
4890
4891Example:
4892""""""""
4893
4894.. code-block:: llvm
4895
4896 %X = sext i8 -1 to i16 ; yields i16 :65535
4897 %Y = sext i1 true to i32 ; yields i32:-1
4898 %Z = sext <2 x i16> <i16 8, i16 7> to <2 x i32> ; yields <i32 8, i32 7>
4899
4900'``fptrunc .. to``' Instruction
4901^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4902
4903Syntax:
4904"""""""
4905
4906::
4907
4908 <result> = fptrunc <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
4909
4910Overview:
4911"""""""""
4912
4913The '``fptrunc``' instruction truncates ``value`` to type ``ty2``.
4914
4915Arguments:
4916""""""""""
4917
4918The '``fptrunc``' instruction takes a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`
4919value to cast and a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to cast it to.
4920The size of ``value`` must be larger than the size of ``ty2``. This
4921implies that ``fptrunc`` cannot be used to make a *no-op cast*.
4922
4923Semantics:
4924""""""""""
4925
4926The '``fptrunc``' instruction truncates a ``value`` from a larger
4927:ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to a smaller :ref:`floating
4928point <t_floating>` type. If the value cannot fit within the
4929destination type, ``ty2``, then the results are undefined.
4930
4931Example:
4932""""""""
4933
4934.. code-block:: llvm
4935
4936 %X = fptrunc double 123.0 to float ; yields float:123.0
4937 %Y = fptrunc double 1.0E+300 to float ; yields undefined
4938
4939'``fpext .. to``' Instruction
4940^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4941
4942Syntax:
4943"""""""
4944
4945::
4946
4947 <result> = fpext <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
4948
4949Overview:
4950"""""""""
4951
4952The '``fpext``' extends a floating point ``value`` to a larger floating
4953point value.
4954
4955Arguments:
4956""""""""""
4957
4958The '``fpext``' instruction takes a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`
4959``value`` to cast, and a :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to cast it
4960to. The source type must be smaller than the destination type.
4961
4962Semantics:
4963""""""""""
4964
4965The '``fpext``' instruction extends the ``value`` from a smaller
4966:ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type to a larger :ref:`floating
4967point <t_floating>` type. The ``fpext`` cannot be used to make a
4968*no-op cast* because it always changes bits. Use ``bitcast`` to make a
4969*no-op cast* for a floating point cast.
4970
4971Example:
4972""""""""
4973
4974.. code-block:: llvm
4975
4976 %X = fpext float 3.125 to double ; yields double:3.125000e+00
4977 %Y = fpext double %X to fp128 ; yields fp128:0xL00000000000000004000900000000000
4978
4979'``fptoui .. to``' Instruction
4980^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4981
4982Syntax:
4983"""""""
4984
4985::
4986
4987 <result> = fptoui <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
4988
4989Overview:
4990"""""""""
4991
4992The '``fptoui``' converts a floating point ``value`` to its unsigned
4993integer equivalent of type ``ty2``.
4994
4995Arguments:
4996""""""""""
4997
4998The '``fptoui``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
4999scalar or vector :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` value, and a type to
5000cast it to ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` type. If
5001``ty`` is a vector floating point type, ``ty2`` must be a vector integer
5002type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5003
5004Semantics:
5005""""""""""
5006
5007The '``fptoui``' instruction converts its :ref:`floating
5008point <t_floating>` operand into the nearest (rounding towards zero)
5009unsigned integer value. If the value cannot fit in ``ty2``, the results
5010are undefined.
5011
5012Example:
5013""""""""
5014
5015.. code-block:: llvm
5016
5017 %X = fptoui double 123.0 to i32 ; yields i32:123
5018 %Y = fptoui float 1.0E+300 to i1 ; yields undefined:1
5019 %Z = fptoui float 1.04E+17 to i8 ; yields undefined:1
5020
5021'``fptosi .. to``' Instruction
5022^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5023
5024Syntax:
5025"""""""
5026
5027::
5028
5029 <result> = fptosi <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5030
5031Overview:
5032"""""""""
5033
5034The '``fptosi``' instruction converts :ref:`floating point <t_floating>`
5035``value`` to type ``ty2``.
5036
5037Arguments:
5038""""""""""
5039
5040The '``fptosi``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5041scalar or vector :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` value, and a type to
5042cast it to ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` type. If
5043``ty`` is a vector floating point type, ``ty2`` must be a vector integer
5044type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5045
5046Semantics:
5047""""""""""
5048
5049The '``fptosi``' instruction converts its :ref:`floating
5050point <t_floating>` operand into the nearest (rounding towards zero)
5051signed integer value. If the value cannot fit in ``ty2``, the results
5052are undefined.
5053
5054Example:
5055""""""""
5056
5057.. code-block:: llvm
5058
5059 %X = fptosi double -123.0 to i32 ; yields i32:-123
5060 %Y = fptosi float 1.0E-247 to i1 ; yields undefined:1
5061 %Z = fptosi float 1.04E+17 to i8 ; yields undefined:1
5062
5063'``uitofp .. to``' Instruction
5064^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5065
5066Syntax:
5067"""""""
5068
5069::
5070
5071 <result> = uitofp <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5072
5073Overview:
5074"""""""""
5075
5076The '``uitofp``' instruction regards ``value`` as an unsigned integer
5077and converts that value to the ``ty2`` type.
5078
5079Arguments:
5080""""""""""
5081
5082The '``uitofp``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5083scalar or vector :ref:`integer <t_integer>` value, and a type to cast it to
5084``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type. If
5085``ty`` is a vector integer type, ``ty2`` must be a vector floating point
5086type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5087
5088Semantics:
5089""""""""""
5090
5091The '``uitofp``' instruction interprets its operand as an unsigned
5092integer quantity and converts it to the corresponding floating point
5093value. If the value cannot fit in the floating point value, the results
5094are undefined.
5095
5096Example:
5097""""""""
5098
5099.. code-block:: llvm
5100
5101 %X = uitofp i32 257 to float ; yields float:257.0
5102 %Y = uitofp i8 -1 to double ; yields double:255.0
5103
5104'``sitofp .. to``' Instruction
5105^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5106
5107Syntax:
5108"""""""
5109
5110::
5111
5112 <result> = sitofp <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5113
5114Overview:
5115"""""""""
5116
5117The '``sitofp``' instruction regards ``value`` as a signed integer and
5118converts that value to the ``ty2`` type.
5119
5120Arguments:
5121""""""""""
5122
5123The '``sitofp``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5124scalar or vector :ref:`integer <t_integer>` value, and a type to cast it to
5125``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`floating point <t_floating>` type. If
5126``ty`` is a vector integer type, ``ty2`` must be a vector floating point
5127type with the same number of elements as ``ty``
5128
5129Semantics:
5130""""""""""
5131
5132The '``sitofp``' instruction interprets its operand as a signed integer
5133quantity and converts it to the corresponding floating point value. If
5134the value cannot fit in the floating point value, the results are
5135undefined.
5136
5137Example:
5138""""""""
5139
5140.. code-block:: llvm
5141
5142 %X = sitofp i32 257 to float ; yields float:257.0
5143 %Y = sitofp i8 -1 to double ; yields double:-1.0
5144
5145.. _i_ptrtoint:
5146
5147'``ptrtoint .. to``' Instruction
5148^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5149
5150Syntax:
5151"""""""
5152
5153::
5154
5155 <result> = ptrtoint <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5156
5157Overview:
5158"""""""""
5159
5160The '``ptrtoint``' instruction converts the pointer or a vector of
5161pointers ``value`` to the integer (or vector of integers) type ``ty2``.
5162
5163Arguments:
5164""""""""""
5165
5166The '``ptrtoint``' instruction takes a ``value`` to cast, which must be
5167a a value of type :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` or a vector of pointers, and a
5168type to cast it to ``ty2``, which must be an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or
5169a vector of integers type.
5170
5171Semantics:
5172""""""""""
5173
5174The '``ptrtoint``' instruction converts ``value`` to integer type
5175``ty2`` by interpreting the pointer value as an integer and either
5176truncating or zero extending that value to the size of the integer type.
5177If ``value`` is smaller than ``ty2`` then a zero extension is done. If
5178``value`` is larger than ``ty2`` then a truncation is done. If they are
5179the same size, then nothing is done (*no-op cast*) other than a type
5180change.
5181
5182Example:
5183""""""""
5184
5185.. code-block:: llvm
5186
5187 %X = ptrtoint i32* %P to i8 ; yields truncation on 32-bit architecture
5188 %Y = ptrtoint i32* %P to i64 ; yields zero extension on 32-bit architecture
5189 %Z = ptrtoint <4 x i32*> %P to <4 x i64>; yields vector zero extension for a vector of addresses on 32-bit architecture
5190
5191.. _i_inttoptr:
5192
5193'``inttoptr .. to``' Instruction
5194^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5195
5196Syntax:
5197"""""""
5198
5199::
5200
5201 <result> = inttoptr <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5202
5203Overview:
5204"""""""""
5205
5206The '``inttoptr``' instruction converts an integer ``value`` to a
5207pointer type, ``ty2``.
5208
5209Arguments:
5210""""""""""
5211
5212The '``inttoptr``' instruction takes an :ref:`integer <t_integer>` value to
5213cast, and a type to cast it to, which must be a :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>`
5214type.
5215
5216Semantics:
5217""""""""""
5218
5219The '``inttoptr``' instruction converts ``value`` to type ``ty2`` by
5220applying either a zero extension or a truncation depending on the size
5221of the integer ``value``. If ``value`` is larger than the size of a
5222pointer then a truncation is done. If ``value`` is smaller than the size
5223of a pointer then a zero extension is done. If they are the same size,
5224nothing is done (*no-op cast*).
5225
5226Example:
5227""""""""
5228
5229.. code-block:: llvm
5230
5231 %X = inttoptr i32 255 to i32* ; yields zero extension on 64-bit architecture
5232 %Y = inttoptr i32 255 to i32* ; yields no-op on 32-bit architecture
5233 %Z = inttoptr i64 0 to i32* ; yields truncation on 32-bit architecture
5234 %Z = inttoptr <4 x i32> %G to <4 x i8*>; yields truncation of vector G to four pointers
5235
5236.. _i_bitcast:
5237
5238'``bitcast .. to``' Instruction
5239^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5240
5241Syntax:
5242"""""""
5243
5244::
5245
5246 <result> = bitcast <ty> <value> to <ty2> ; yields ty2
5247
5248Overview:
5249"""""""""
5250
5251The '``bitcast``' instruction converts ``value`` to type ``ty2`` without
5252changing any bits.
5253
5254Arguments:
5255""""""""""
5256
5257The '``bitcast``' instruction takes a value to cast, which must be a
5258non-aggregate first class value, and a type to cast it to, which must
5259also be a non-aggregate :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type. The bit
5260sizes of ``value`` and the destination type, ``ty2``, must be identical.
5261If the source type is a pointer, the destination type must also be a
5262pointer. This instruction supports bitwise conversion of vectors to
5263integers and to vectors of other types (as long as they have the same
5264size).
5265
5266Semantics:
5267""""""""""
5268
5269The '``bitcast``' instruction converts ``value`` to type ``ty2``. It is
5270always a *no-op cast* because no bits change with this conversion. The
5271conversion is done as if the ``value`` had been stored to memory and
5272read back as type ``ty2``. Pointer (or vector of pointers) types may
5273only be converted to other pointer (or vector of pointers) types with
5274this instruction. To convert pointers to other types, use the
5275:ref:`inttoptr <i_inttoptr>` or :ref:`ptrtoint <i_ptrtoint>` instructions
5276first.
5277
5278Example:
5279""""""""
5280
5281.. code-block:: llvm
5282
5283 %X = bitcast i8 255 to i8 ; yields i8 :-1
5284 %Y = bitcast i32* %x to sint* ; yields sint*:%x
5285 %Z = bitcast <2 x int> %V to i64; ; yields i64: %V
5286 %Z = bitcast <2 x i32*> %V to <2 x i64*> ; yields <2 x i64*>
5287
5288.. _otherops:
5289
5290Other Operations
5291----------------
5292
5293The instructions in this category are the "miscellaneous" instructions,
5294which defy better classification.
5295
5296.. _i_icmp:
5297
5298'``icmp``' Instruction
5299^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5300
5301Syntax:
5302"""""""
5303
5304::
5305
5306 <result> = icmp <cond> <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {i1} or {<N x i1>}:result
5307
5308Overview:
5309"""""""""
5310
5311The '``icmp``' instruction returns a boolean value or a vector of
5312boolean values based on comparison of its two integer, integer vector,
5313pointer, or pointer vector operands.
5314
5315Arguments:
5316""""""""""
5317
5318The '``icmp``' instruction takes three operands. The first operand is
5319the condition code indicating the kind of comparison to perform. It is
5320not a value, just a keyword. The possible condition code are:
5321
5322#. ``eq``: equal
5323#. ``ne``: not equal
5324#. ``ugt``: unsigned greater than
5325#. ``uge``: unsigned greater or equal
5326#. ``ult``: unsigned less than
5327#. ``ule``: unsigned less or equal
5328#. ``sgt``: signed greater than
5329#. ``sge``: signed greater or equal
5330#. ``slt``: signed less than
5331#. ``sle``: signed less or equal
5332
5333The remaining two arguments must be :ref:`integer <t_integer>` or
5334:ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` or integer :ref:`vector <t_vector>` typed. They
5335must also be identical types.
5336
5337Semantics:
5338""""""""""
5339
5340The '``icmp``' compares ``op1`` and ``op2`` according to the condition
5341code given as ``cond``. The comparison performed always yields either an
5342:ref:`i1 <t_integer>` or vector of ``i1`` result, as follows:
5343
5344#. ``eq``: yields ``true`` if the operands are equal, ``false``
5345 otherwise. No sign interpretation is necessary or performed.
5346#. ``ne``: yields ``true`` if the operands are unequal, ``false``
5347 otherwise. No sign interpretation is necessary or performed.
5348#. ``ugt``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5349 ``true`` if ``op1`` is greater than ``op2``.
5350#. ``uge``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5351 ``true`` if ``op1`` is greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5352#. ``ult``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5353 ``true`` if ``op1`` is less than ``op2``.
5354#. ``ule``: interprets the operands as unsigned values and yields
5355 ``true`` if ``op1`` is less than or equal to ``op2``.
5356#. ``sgt``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5357 if ``op1`` is greater than ``op2``.
5358#. ``sge``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5359 if ``op1`` is greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5360#. ``slt``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5361 if ``op1`` is less than ``op2``.
5362#. ``sle``: interprets the operands as signed values and yields ``true``
5363 if ``op1`` is less than or equal to ``op2``.
5364
5365If the operands are :ref:`pointer <t_pointer>` typed, the pointer values
5366are compared as if they were integers.
5367
5368If the operands are integer vectors, then they are compared element by
5369element. The result is an ``i1`` vector with the same number of elements
5370as the values being compared. Otherwise, the result is an ``i1``.
5371
5372Example:
5373""""""""
5374
5375.. code-block:: llvm
5376
5377 <result> = icmp eq i32 4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5378 <result> = icmp ne float* %X, %X ; yields: result=false
5379 <result> = icmp ult i16 4, 5 ; yields: result=true
5380 <result> = icmp sgt i16 4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5381 <result> = icmp ule i16 -4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5382 <result> = icmp sge i16 4, 5 ; yields: result=false
5383
5384Note that the code generator does not yet support vector types with the
5385``icmp`` instruction.
5386
5387.. _i_fcmp:
5388
5389'``fcmp``' Instruction
5390^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5391
5392Syntax:
5393"""""""
5394
5395::
5396
5397 <result> = fcmp <cond> <ty> <op1>, <op2> ; yields {i1} or {<N x i1>}:result
5398
5399Overview:
5400"""""""""
5401
5402The '``fcmp``' instruction returns a boolean value or vector of boolean
5403values based on comparison of its operands.
5404
5405If the operands are floating point scalars, then the result type is a
5406boolean (:ref:`i1 <t_integer>`).
5407
5408If the operands are floating point vectors, then the result type is a
5409vector of boolean with the same number of elements as the operands being
5410compared.
5411
5412Arguments:
5413""""""""""
5414
5415The '``fcmp``' instruction takes three operands. The first operand is
5416the condition code indicating the kind of comparison to perform. It is
5417not a value, just a keyword. The possible condition code are:
5418
5419#. ``false``: no comparison, always returns false
5420#. ``oeq``: ordered and equal
5421#. ``ogt``: ordered and greater than
5422#. ``oge``: ordered and greater than or equal
5423#. ``olt``: ordered and less than
5424#. ``ole``: ordered and less than or equal
5425#. ``one``: ordered and not equal
5426#. ``ord``: ordered (no nans)
5427#. ``ueq``: unordered or equal
5428#. ``ugt``: unordered or greater than
5429#. ``uge``: unordered or greater than or equal
5430#. ``ult``: unordered or less than
5431#. ``ule``: unordered or less than or equal
5432#. ``une``: unordered or not equal
5433#. ``uno``: unordered (either nans)
5434#. ``true``: no comparison, always returns true
5435
5436*Ordered* means that neither operand is a QNAN while *unordered* means
5437that either operand may be a QNAN.
5438
5439Each of ``val1`` and ``val2`` arguments must be either a :ref:`floating
5440point <t_floating>` type or a :ref:`vector <t_vector>` of floating point
5441type. They must have identical types.
5442
5443Semantics:
5444""""""""""
5445
5446The '``fcmp``' instruction compares ``op1`` and ``op2`` according to the
5447condition code given as ``cond``. If the operands are vectors, then the
5448vectors are compared element by element. Each comparison performed
5449always yields an :ref:`i1 <t_integer>` result, as follows:
5450
5451#. ``false``: always yields ``false``, regardless of operands.
5452#. ``oeq``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5453 is equal to ``op2``.
5454#. ``ogt``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5455 is greater than ``op2``.
5456#. ``oge``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5457 is greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5458#. ``olt``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5459 is less than ``op2``.
5460#. ``ole``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5461 is less than or equal to ``op2``.
5462#. ``one``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN and ``op1``
5463 is not equal to ``op2``.
5464#. ``ord``: yields ``true`` if both operands are not a QNAN.
5465#. ``ueq``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5466 equal to ``op2``.
5467#. ``ugt``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5468 greater than ``op2``.
5469#. ``uge``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5470 greater than or equal to ``op2``.
5471#. ``ult``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5472 less than ``op2``.
5473#. ``ule``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5474 less than or equal to ``op2``.
5475#. ``une``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN or ``op1`` is
5476 not equal to ``op2``.
5477#. ``uno``: yields ``true`` if either operand is a QNAN.
5478#. ``true``: always yields ``true``, regardless of operands.
5479
5480Example:
5481""""""""
5482
5483.. code-block:: llvm
5484
5485 <result> = fcmp oeq float 4.0, 5.0 ; yields: result=false
5486 <result> = fcmp one float 4.0, 5.0 ; yields: result=true
5487 <result> = fcmp olt float 4.0, 5.0 ; yields: result=true
5488 <result> = fcmp ueq double 1.0, 2.0 ; yields: result=false
5489
5490Note that the code generator does not yet support vector types with the
5491``fcmp`` instruction.
5492
5493.. _i_phi:
5494
5495'``phi``' Instruction
5496^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5497
5498Syntax:
5499"""""""
5500
5501::
5502
5503 <result> = phi <ty> [ <val0>, <label0>], ...
5504
5505Overview:
5506"""""""""
5507
5508The '``phi``' instruction is used to implement the φ node in the SSA
5509graph representing the function.
5510
5511Arguments:
5512""""""""""
5513
5514The type of the incoming values is specified with the first type field.
5515After this, the '``phi``' instruction takes a list of pairs as
5516arguments, with one pair for each predecessor basic block of the current
5517block. Only values of :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type may be used as
5518the value arguments to the PHI node. Only labels may be used as the
5519label arguments.
5520
5521There must be no non-phi instructions between the start of a basic block
5522and the PHI instructions: i.e. PHI instructions must be first in a basic
5523block.
5524
5525For the purposes of the SSA form, the use of each incoming value is
5526deemed to occur on the edge from the corresponding predecessor block to
5527the current block (but after any definition of an '``invoke``'
5528instruction's return value on the same edge).
5529
5530Semantics:
5531""""""""""
5532
5533At runtime, the '``phi``' instruction logically takes on the value
5534specified by the pair corresponding to the predecessor basic block that
5535executed just prior to the current block.
5536
5537Example:
5538""""""""
5539
5540.. code-block:: llvm
5541
5542 Loop: ; Infinite loop that counts from 0 on up...
5543 %indvar = phi i32 [ 0, %LoopHeader ], [ %nextindvar, %Loop ]
5544 %nextindvar = add i32 %indvar, 1
5545 br label %Loop
5546
5547.. _i_select:
5548
5549'``select``' Instruction
5550^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5551
5552Syntax:
5553"""""""
5554
5555::
5556
5557 <result> = select selty <cond>, <ty> <val1>, <ty> <val2> ; yields ty
5558
5559 selty is either i1 or {<N x i1>}
5560
5561Overview:
5562"""""""""
5563
5564The '``select``' instruction is used to choose one value based on a
5565condition, without branching.
5566
5567Arguments:
5568""""""""""
5569
5570The '``select``' instruction requires an 'i1' value or a vector of 'i1'
5571values indicating the condition, and two values of the same :ref:`first
5572class <t_firstclass>` type. If the val1/val2 are vectors and the
5573condition is a scalar, then entire vectors are selected, not individual
5574elements.
5575
5576Semantics:
5577""""""""""
5578
5579If the condition is an i1 and it evaluates to 1, the instruction returns
5580the first value argument; otherwise, it returns the second value
5581argument.
5582
5583If the condition is a vector of i1, then the value arguments must be
5584vectors of the same size, and the selection is done element by element.
5585
5586Example:
5587""""""""
5588
5589.. code-block:: llvm
5590
5591 %X = select i1 true, i8 17, i8 42 ; yields i8:17
5592
5593.. _i_call:
5594
5595'``call``' Instruction
5596^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5597
5598Syntax:
5599"""""""
5600
5601::
5602
5603 <result> = [tail] call [cconv] [ret attrs] <ty> [<fnty>*] <fnptrval>(<function args>) [fn attrs]
5604
5605Overview:
5606"""""""""
5607
5608The '``call``' instruction represents a simple function call.
5609
5610Arguments:
5611""""""""""
5612
5613This instruction requires several arguments:
5614
5615#. The optional "tail" marker indicates that the callee function does
5616 not access any allocas or varargs in the caller. Note that calls may
5617 be marked "tail" even if they do not occur before a
5618 :ref:`ret <i_ret>` instruction. If the "tail" marker is present, the
5619 function call is eligible for tail call optimization, but `might not
5620 in fact be optimized into a jump <CodeGenerator.html#tailcallopt>`_.
5621 The code generator may optimize calls marked "tail" with either 1)
5622 automatic `sibling call
5623 optimization <CodeGenerator.html#sibcallopt>`_ when the caller and
5624 callee have matching signatures, or 2) forced tail call optimization
5625 when the following extra requirements are met:
5626
5627 - Caller and callee both have the calling convention ``fastcc``.
5628 - The call is in tail position (ret immediately follows call and ret
5629 uses value of call or is void).
5630 - Option ``-tailcallopt`` is enabled, or
5631 ``llvm::GuaranteedTailCallOpt`` is ``true``.
5632 - `Platform specific constraints are
5633 met. <CodeGenerator.html#tailcallopt>`_
5634
5635#. The optional "cconv" marker indicates which :ref:`calling
5636 convention <callingconv>` the call should use. If none is
5637 specified, the call defaults to using C calling conventions. The
5638 calling convention of the call must match the calling convention of
5639 the target function, or else the behavior is undefined.
5640#. The optional :ref:`Parameter Attributes <paramattrs>` list for return
5641 values. Only '``zeroext``', '``signext``', and '``inreg``' attributes
5642 are valid here.
5643#. '``ty``': the type of the call instruction itself which is also the
5644 type of the return value. Functions that return no value are marked
5645 ``void``.
5646#. '``fnty``': shall be the signature of the pointer to function value
5647 being invoked. The argument types must match the types implied by
5648 this signature. This type can be omitted if the function is not
5649 varargs and if the function type does not return a pointer to a
5650 function.
5651#. '``fnptrval``': An LLVM value containing a pointer to a function to
5652 be invoked. In most cases, this is a direct function invocation, but
5653 indirect ``call``'s are just as possible, calling an arbitrary pointer
5654 to function value.
5655#. '``function args``': argument list whose types match the function
5656 signature argument types and parameter attributes. All arguments must
5657 be of :ref:`first class <t_firstclass>` type. If the function signature
5658 indicates the function accepts a variable number of arguments, the
5659 extra arguments can be specified.
5660#. The optional :ref:`function attributes <fnattrs>` list. Only
5661 '``noreturn``', '``nounwind``', '``readonly``' and '``readnone``'
5662 attributes are valid here.
5663
5664Semantics:
5665""""""""""
5666
5667The '``call``' instruction is used to cause control flow to transfer to
5668a specified function, with its incoming arguments bound to the specified
5669values. Upon a '``ret``' instruction in the called function, control
5670flow continues with the instruction after the function call, and the
5671return value of the function is bound to the result argument.
5672
5673Example:
5674""""""""
5675
5676.. code-block:: llvm
5677
5678 %retval = call i32 @test(i32 %argc)
5679 call i32 (i8*, ...)* @printf(i8* %msg, i32 12, i8 42) ; yields i32
5680 %X = tail call i32 @foo() ; yields i32
5681 %Y = tail call fastcc i32 @foo() ; yields i32
5682 call void %foo(i8 97 signext)
5683
5684 %struct.A = type { i32, i8 }
5685 %r = call %struct.A @foo() ; yields { 32, i8 }
5686 %gr = extractvalue %struct.A %r, 0 ; yields i32
5687 %gr1 = extractvalue %struct.A %r, 1 ; yields i8
5688 %Z = call void @foo() noreturn ; indicates that %foo never returns normally
5689 %ZZ = call zeroext i32 @bar() ; Return value is %zero extended
5690
5691llvm treats calls to some functions with names and arguments that match
5692the standard C99 library as being the C99 library functions, and may
5693perform optimizations or generate code for them under that assumption.
5694This is something we'd like to change in the future to provide better
5695support for freestanding environments and non-C-based languages.
5696
5697.. _i_va_arg:
5698
5699'``va_arg``' Instruction
5700^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5701
5702Syntax:
5703"""""""
5704
5705::
5706
5707 <resultval> = va_arg <va_list*> <arglist>, <argty>
5708
5709Overview:
5710"""""""""
5711
5712The '``va_arg``' instruction is used to access arguments passed through
5713the "variable argument" area of a function call. It is used to implement
5714the ``va_arg`` macro in C.
5715
5716Arguments:
5717""""""""""
5718
5719This instruction takes a ``va_list*`` value and the type of the
5720argument. It returns a value of the specified argument type and
5721increments the ``va_list`` to point to the next argument. The actual
5722type of ``va_list`` is target specific.
5723
5724Semantics:
5725""""""""""
5726
5727The '``va_arg``' instruction loads an argument of the specified type
5728from the specified ``va_list`` and causes the ``va_list`` to point to
5729the next argument. For more information, see the variable argument
5730handling :ref:`Intrinsic Functions <int_varargs>`.
5731
5732It is legal for this instruction to be called in a function which does
5733not take a variable number of arguments, for example, the ``vfprintf``
5734function.
5735
5736``va_arg`` is an LLVM instruction instead of an :ref:`intrinsic
5737function <intrinsics>` because it takes a type as an argument.
5738
5739Example:
5740""""""""
5741
5742See the :ref:`variable argument processing <int_varargs>` section.
5743
5744Note that the code generator does not yet fully support va\_arg on many
5745targets. Also, it does not currently support va\_arg with aggregate
5746types on any target.
5747
5748.. _i_landingpad:
5749
5750'``landingpad``' Instruction
5751^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5752
5753Syntax:
5754"""""""
5755
5756::
5757
5758 <resultval> = landingpad <resultty> personality <type> <pers_fn> <clause>+
5759 <resultval> = landingpad <resultty> personality <type> <pers_fn> cleanup <clause>*
5760
5761 <clause> := catch <type> <value>
5762 <clause> := filter <array constant type> <array constant>
5763
5764Overview:
5765"""""""""
5766
5767The '``landingpad``' instruction is used by `LLVM's exception handling
5768system <ExceptionHandling.html#overview>`_ to specify that a basic block
5769is a landing pad — one where the exception lands, and corresponds to the
5770code found in the ``catch`` portion of a ``try``/``catch`` sequence. It
5771defines values supplied by the personality function (``pers_fn``) upon
5772re-entry to the function. The ``resultval`` has the type ``resultty``.
5773
5774Arguments:
5775""""""""""
5776
5777This instruction takes a ``pers_fn`` value. This is the personality
5778function associated with the unwinding mechanism. The optional
5779``cleanup`` flag indicates that the landing pad block is a cleanup.
5780
5781A ``clause`` begins with the clause type — ``catch`` or ``filter`` — and
5782contains the global variable representing the "type" that may be caught
5783or filtered respectively. Unlike the ``catch`` clause, the ``filter``
5784clause takes an array constant as its argument. Use
5785"``[0 x i8**] undef``" for a filter which cannot throw. The
5786'``landingpad``' instruction must contain *at least* one ``clause`` or
5787the ``cleanup`` flag.
5788
5789Semantics:
5790""""""""""
5791
5792The '``landingpad``' instruction defines the values which are set by the
5793personality function (``pers_fn``) upon re-entry to the function, and
5794therefore the "result type" of the ``landingpad`` instruction. As with
5795calling conventions, how the personality function results are
5796represented in LLVM IR is target specific.
5797
5798The clauses are applied in order from top to bottom. If two
5799``landingpad`` instructions are merged together through inlining, the
5800clauses from the calling function are appended to the list of clauses.
5801When the call stack is being unwound due to an exception being thrown,
5802the exception is compared against each ``clause`` in turn. If it doesn't
5803match any of the clauses, and the ``cleanup`` flag is not set, then
5804unwinding continues further up the call stack.
5805
5806The ``landingpad`` instruction has several restrictions:
5807
5808- A landing pad block is a basic block which is the unwind destination
5809 of an '``invoke``' instruction.
5810- A landing pad block must have a '``landingpad``' instruction as its
5811 first non-PHI instruction.
5812- There can be only one '``landingpad``' instruction within the landing
5813 pad block.
5814- A basic block that is not a landing pad block may not include a
5815 '``landingpad``' instruction.
5816- All '``landingpad``' instructions in a function must have the same
5817 personality function.
5818
5819Example:
5820""""""""
5821
5822.. code-block:: llvm
5823
5824 ;; A landing pad which can catch an integer.
5825 %res = landingpad { i8*, i32 } personality i32 (...)* @__gxx_personality_v0
5826 catch i8** @_ZTIi
5827 ;; A landing pad that is a cleanup.
5828 %res = landingpad { i8*, i32 } personality i32 (...)* @__gxx_personality_v0
5829 cleanup
5830 ;; A landing pad which can catch an integer and can only throw a double.
5831 %res = landingpad { i8*, i32 } personality i32 (...)* @__gxx_personality_v0
5832 catch i8** @_ZTIi
5833 filter [1 x i8**] [@_ZTId]
5834
5835.. _intrinsics:
5836
5837Intrinsic Functions
5838===================
5839
5840LLVM supports the notion of an "intrinsic function". These functions
5841have well known names and semantics and are required to follow certain
5842restrictions. Overall, these intrinsics represent an extension mechanism
5843for the LLVM language that does not require changing all of the
5844transformations in LLVM when adding to the language (or the bitcode
5845reader/writer, the parser, etc...).
5846
5847Intrinsic function names must all start with an "``llvm.``" prefix. This
5848prefix is reserved in LLVM for intrinsic names; thus, function names may
5849not begin with this prefix. Intrinsic functions must always be external
5850functions: you cannot define the body of intrinsic functions. Intrinsic
5851functions may only be used in call or invoke instructions: it is illegal
5852to take the address of an intrinsic function. Additionally, because
5853intrinsic functions are part of the LLVM language, it is required if any
5854are added that they be documented here.
5855
5856Some intrinsic functions can be overloaded, i.e., the intrinsic
5857represents a family of functions that perform the same operation but on
5858different data types. Because LLVM can represent over 8 million
5859different integer types, overloading is used commonly to allow an
5860intrinsic function to operate on any integer type. One or more of the
5861argument types or the result type can be overloaded to accept any
5862integer type. Argument types may also be defined as exactly matching a
5863previous argument's type or the result type. This allows an intrinsic
5864function which accepts multiple arguments, but needs all of them to be
5865of the same type, to only be overloaded with respect to a single
5866argument or the result.
5867
5868Overloaded intrinsics will have the names of its overloaded argument
5869types encoded into its function name, each preceded by a period. Only
5870those types which are overloaded result in a name suffix. Arguments
5871whose type is matched against another type do not. For example, the
5872``llvm.ctpop`` function can take an integer of any width and returns an
5873integer of exactly the same integer width. This leads to a family of
5874functions such as ``i8 @llvm.ctpop.i8(i8 %val)`` and
5875``i29 @llvm.ctpop.i29(i29 %val)``. Only one type, the return type, is
5876overloaded, and only one type suffix is required. Because the argument's
5877type is matched against the return type, it does not require its own
5878name suffix.
5879
5880To learn how to add an intrinsic function, please see the `Extending
5881LLVM Guide <ExtendingLLVM.html>`_.
5882
5883.. _int_varargs:
5884
5885Variable Argument Handling Intrinsics
5886-------------------------------------
5887
5888Variable argument support is defined in LLVM with the
5889:ref:`va_arg <i_va_arg>` instruction and these three intrinsic
5890functions. These functions are related to the similarly named macros
5891defined in the ``<stdarg.h>`` header file.
5892
5893All of these functions operate on arguments that use a target-specific
5894value type "``va_list``". The LLVM assembly language reference manual
5895does not define what this type is, so all transformations should be
5896prepared to handle these functions regardless of the type used.
5897
5898This example shows how the :ref:`va_arg <i_va_arg>` instruction and the
5899variable argument handling intrinsic functions are used.
5900
5901.. code-block:: llvm
5902
5903 define i32 @test(i32 %X, ...) {
5904 ; Initialize variable argument processing
5905 %ap = alloca i8*
5906 %ap2 = bitcast i8** %ap to i8*
5907 call void @llvm.va_start(i8* %ap2)
5908
5909 ; Read a single integer argument
5910 %tmp = va_arg i8** %ap, i32
5911
5912 ; Demonstrate usage of llvm.va_copy and llvm.va_end
5913 %aq = alloca i8*
5914 %aq2 = bitcast i8** %aq to i8*
5915 call void @llvm.va_copy(i8* %aq2, i8* %ap2)
5916 call void @llvm.va_end(i8* %aq2)
5917
5918 ; Stop processing of arguments.
5919 call void @llvm.va_end(i8* %ap2)
5920 ret i32 %tmp
5921 }
5922
5923 declare void @llvm.va_start(i8*)
5924 declare void @llvm.va_copy(i8*, i8*)
5925 declare void @llvm.va_end(i8*)
5926
5927.. _int_va_start:
5928
5929'``llvm.va_start``' Intrinsic
5930^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5931
5932Syntax:
5933"""""""
5934
5935::
5936
5937 declare void %llvm.va_start(i8* <arglist>)
5938
5939Overview:
5940"""""""""
5941
5942The '``llvm.va_start``' intrinsic initializes ``*<arglist>`` for
5943subsequent use by ``va_arg``.
5944
5945Arguments:
5946""""""""""
5947
5948The argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` element to initialize.
5949
5950Semantics:
5951""""""""""
5952
5953The '``llvm.va_start``' intrinsic works just like the ``va_start`` macro
5954available in C. In a target-dependent way, it initializes the
5955``va_list`` element to which the argument points, so that the next call
5956to ``va_arg`` will produce the first variable argument passed to the
5957function. Unlike the C ``va_start`` macro, this intrinsic does not need
5958to know the last argument of the function as the compiler can figure
5959that out.
5960
5961'``llvm.va_end``' Intrinsic
5962^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5963
5964Syntax:
5965"""""""
5966
5967::
5968
5969 declare void @llvm.va_end(i8* <arglist>)
5970
5971Overview:
5972"""""""""
5973
5974The '``llvm.va_end``' intrinsic destroys ``*<arglist>``, which has been
5975initialized previously with ``llvm.va_start`` or ``llvm.va_copy``.
5976
5977Arguments:
5978""""""""""
5979
5980The argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` to destroy.
5981
5982Semantics:
5983""""""""""
5984
5985The '``llvm.va_end``' intrinsic works just like the ``va_end`` macro
5986available in C. In a target-dependent way, it destroys the ``va_list``
5987element to which the argument points. Calls to
5988:ref:`llvm.va_start <int_va_start>` and
5989:ref:`llvm.va_copy <int_va_copy>` must be matched exactly with calls to
5990``llvm.va_end``.
5991
5992.. _int_va_copy:
5993
5994'``llvm.va_copy``' Intrinsic
5995^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5996
5997Syntax:
5998"""""""
5999
6000::
6001
6002 declare void @llvm.va_copy(i8* <destarglist>, i8* <srcarglist>)
6003
6004Overview:
6005"""""""""
6006
6007The '``llvm.va_copy``' intrinsic copies the current argument position
6008from the source argument list to the destination argument list.
6009
6010Arguments:
6011""""""""""
6012
6013The first argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` element to initialize.
6014The second argument is a pointer to a ``va_list`` element to copy from.
6015
6016Semantics:
6017""""""""""
6018
6019The '``llvm.va_copy``' intrinsic works just like the ``va_copy`` macro
6020available in C. In a target-dependent way, it copies the source
6021``va_list`` element into the destination ``va_list`` element. This
6022intrinsic is necessary because the `` llvm.va_start`` intrinsic may be
6023arbitrarily complex and require, for example, memory allocation.
6024
6025Accurate Garbage Collection Intrinsics
6026--------------------------------------
6027
6028LLVM support for `Accurate Garbage Collection <GarbageCollection.html>`_
6029(GC) requires the implementation and generation of these intrinsics.
6030These intrinsics allow identification of :ref:`GC roots on the
6031stack <int_gcroot>`, as well as garbage collector implementations that
6032require :ref:`read <int_gcread>` and :ref:`write <int_gcwrite>` barriers.
6033Front-ends for type-safe garbage collected languages should generate
6034these intrinsics to make use of the LLVM garbage collectors. For more
6035details, see `Accurate Garbage Collection with
6036LLVM <GarbageCollection.html>`_.
6037
6038The garbage collection intrinsics only operate on objects in the generic
6039address space (address space zero).
6040
6041.. _int_gcroot:
6042
6043'``llvm.gcroot``' Intrinsic
6044^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6045
6046Syntax:
6047"""""""
6048
6049::
6050
6051 declare void @llvm.gcroot(i8** %ptrloc, i8* %metadata)
6052
6053Overview:
6054"""""""""
6055
6056The '``llvm.gcroot``' intrinsic declares the existence of a GC root to
6057the code generator, and allows some metadata to be associated with it.
6058
6059Arguments:
6060""""""""""
6061
6062The first argument specifies the address of a stack object that contains
6063the root pointer. The second pointer (which must be either a constant or
6064a global value address) contains the meta-data to be associated with the
6065root.
6066
6067Semantics:
6068""""""""""
6069
6070At runtime, a call to this intrinsic stores a null pointer into the
6071"ptrloc" location. At compile-time, the code generator generates
6072information to allow the runtime to find the pointer at GC safe points.
6073The '``llvm.gcroot``' intrinsic may only be used in a function which
6074:ref:`specifies a GC algorithm <gc>`.
6075
6076.. _int_gcread:
6077
6078'``llvm.gcread``' Intrinsic
6079^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6080
6081Syntax:
6082"""""""
6083
6084::
6085
6086 declare i8* @llvm.gcread(i8* %ObjPtr, i8** %Ptr)
6087
6088Overview:
6089"""""""""
6090
6091The '``llvm.gcread``' intrinsic identifies reads of references from heap
6092locations, allowing garbage collector implementations that require read
6093barriers.
6094
6095Arguments:
6096""""""""""
6097
6098The second argument is the address to read from, which should be an
6099address allocated from the garbage collector. The first object is a
6100pointer to the start of the referenced object, if needed by the language
6101runtime (otherwise null).
6102
6103Semantics:
6104""""""""""
6105
6106The '``llvm.gcread``' intrinsic has the same semantics as a load
6107instruction, but may be replaced with substantially more complex code by
6108the garbage collector runtime, as needed. The '``llvm.gcread``'
6109intrinsic may only be used in a function which :ref:`specifies a GC
6110algorithm <gc>`.
6111
6112.. _int_gcwrite:
6113
6114'``llvm.gcwrite``' Intrinsic
6115^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6116
6117Syntax:
6118"""""""
6119
6120::
6121
6122 declare void @llvm.gcwrite(i8* %P1, i8* %Obj, i8** %P2)
6123
6124Overview:
6125"""""""""
6126
6127The '``llvm.gcwrite``' intrinsic identifies writes of references to heap
6128locations, allowing garbage collector implementations that require write
6129barriers (such as generational or reference counting collectors).
6130
6131Arguments:
6132""""""""""
6133
6134The first argument is the reference to store, the second is the start of
6135the object to store it to, and the third is the address of the field of
6136Obj to store to. If the runtime does not require a pointer to the
6137object, Obj may be null.
6138
6139Semantics:
6140""""""""""
6141
6142The '``llvm.gcwrite``' intrinsic has the same semantics as a store
6143instruction, but may be replaced with substantially more complex code by
6144the garbage collector runtime, as needed. The '``llvm.gcwrite``'
6145intrinsic may only be used in a function which :ref:`specifies a GC
6146algorithm <gc>`.
6147
6148Code Generator Intrinsics
6149-------------------------
6150
6151These intrinsics are provided by LLVM to expose special features that
6152may only be implemented with code generator support.
6153
6154'``llvm.returnaddress``' Intrinsic
6155^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6156
6157Syntax:
6158"""""""
6159
6160::
6161
6162 declare i8 *@llvm.returnaddress(i32 <level>)
6163
6164Overview:
6165"""""""""
6166
6167The '``llvm.returnaddress``' intrinsic attempts to compute a
6168target-specific value indicating the return address of the current
6169function or one of its callers.
6170
6171Arguments:
6172""""""""""
6173
6174The argument to this intrinsic indicates which function to return the
6175address for. Zero indicates the calling function, one indicates its
6176caller, etc. The argument is **required** to be a constant integer
6177value.
6178
6179Semantics:
6180""""""""""
6181
6182The '``llvm.returnaddress``' intrinsic either returns a pointer
6183indicating the return address of the specified call frame, or zero if it
6184cannot be identified. The value returned by this intrinsic is likely to
6185be incorrect or 0 for arguments other than zero, so it should only be
6186used for debugging purposes.
6187
6188Note that calling this intrinsic does not prevent function inlining or
6189other aggressive transformations, so the value returned may not be that
6190of the obvious source-language caller.
6191
6192'``llvm.frameaddress``' Intrinsic
6193^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6194
6195Syntax:
6196"""""""
6197
6198::
6199
6200 declare i8* @llvm.frameaddress(i32 <level>)
6201
6202Overview:
6203"""""""""
6204
6205The '``llvm.frameaddress``' intrinsic attempts to return the
6206target-specific frame pointer value for the specified stack frame.
6207
6208Arguments:
6209""""""""""
6210
6211The argument to this intrinsic indicates which function to return the
6212frame pointer for. Zero indicates the calling function, one indicates
6213its caller, etc. The argument is **required** to be a constant integer
6214value.
6215
6216Semantics:
6217""""""""""
6218
6219The '``llvm.frameaddress``' intrinsic either returns a pointer
6220indicating the frame address of the specified call frame, or zero if it
6221cannot be identified. The value returned by this intrinsic is likely to
6222be incorrect or 0 for arguments other than zero, so it should only be
6223used for debugging purposes.
6224
6225Note that calling this intrinsic does not prevent function inlining or
6226other aggressive transformations, so the value returned may not be that
6227of the obvious source-language caller.
6228
6229.. _int_stacksave:
6230
6231'``llvm.stacksave``' Intrinsic
6232^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6233
6234Syntax:
6235"""""""
6236
6237::
6238
6239 declare i8* @llvm.stacksave()
6240
6241Overview:
6242"""""""""
6243
6244The '``llvm.stacksave``' intrinsic is used to remember the current state
6245of the function stack, for use with
6246:ref:`llvm.stackrestore <int_stackrestore>`. This is useful for
6247implementing language features like scoped automatic variable sized
6248arrays in C99.
6249
6250Semantics:
6251""""""""""
6252
6253This intrinsic returns a opaque pointer value that can be passed to
6254:ref:`llvm.stackrestore <int_stackrestore>`. When an
6255``llvm.stackrestore`` intrinsic is executed with a value saved from
6256``llvm.stacksave``, it effectively restores the state of the stack to
6257the state it was in when the ``llvm.stacksave`` intrinsic executed. In
6258practice, this pops any :ref:`alloca <i_alloca>` blocks from the stack that
6259were allocated after the ``llvm.stacksave`` was executed.
6260
6261.. _int_stackrestore:
6262
6263'``llvm.stackrestore``' Intrinsic
6264^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6265
6266Syntax:
6267"""""""
6268
6269::
6270
6271 declare void @llvm.stackrestore(i8* %ptr)
6272
6273Overview:
6274"""""""""
6275
6276The '``llvm.stackrestore``' intrinsic is used to restore the state of
6277the function stack to the state it was in when the corresponding
6278:ref:`llvm.stacksave <int_stacksave>` intrinsic executed. This is
6279useful for implementing language features like scoped automatic variable
6280sized arrays in C99.
6281
6282Semantics:
6283""""""""""
6284
6285See the description for :ref:`llvm.stacksave <int_stacksave>`.
6286
6287'``llvm.prefetch``' Intrinsic
6288^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6289
6290Syntax:
6291"""""""
6292
6293::
6294
6295 declare void @llvm.prefetch(i8* <address>, i32 <rw>, i32 <locality>, i32 <cache type>)
6296
6297Overview:
6298"""""""""
6299
6300The '``llvm.prefetch``' intrinsic is a hint to the code generator to
6301insert a prefetch instruction if supported; otherwise, it is a noop.
6302Prefetches have no effect on the behavior of the program but can change
6303its performance characteristics.
6304
6305Arguments:
6306""""""""""
6307
6308``address`` is the address to be prefetched, ``rw`` is the specifier
6309determining if the fetch should be for a read (0) or write (1), and
6310``locality`` is a temporal locality specifier ranging from (0) - no
6311locality, to (3) - extremely local keep in cache. The ``cache type``
6312specifies whether the prefetch is performed on the data (1) or
6313instruction (0) cache. The ``rw``, ``locality`` and ``cache type``
6314arguments must be constant integers.
6315
6316Semantics:
6317""""""""""
6318
6319This intrinsic does not modify the behavior of the program. In
6320particular, prefetches cannot trap and do not produce a value. On
6321targets that support this intrinsic, the prefetch can provide hints to
6322the processor cache for better performance.
6323
6324'``llvm.pcmarker``' Intrinsic
6325^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6326
6327Syntax:
6328"""""""
6329
6330::
6331
6332 declare void @llvm.pcmarker(i32 <id>)
6333
6334Overview:
6335"""""""""
6336
6337The '``llvm.pcmarker``' intrinsic is a method to export a Program
6338Counter (PC) in a region of code to simulators and other tools. The
6339method is target specific, but it is expected that the marker will use
6340exported symbols to transmit the PC of the marker. The marker makes no
6341guarantees that it will remain with any specific instruction after
6342optimizations. It is possible that the presence of a marker will inhibit
6343optimizations. The intended use is to be inserted after optimizations to
6344allow correlations of simulation runs.
6345
6346Arguments:
6347""""""""""
6348
6349``id`` is a numerical id identifying the marker.
6350
6351Semantics:
6352""""""""""
6353
6354This intrinsic does not modify the behavior of the program. Backends
6355that do not support this intrinsic may ignore it.
6356
6357'``llvm.readcyclecounter``' Intrinsic
6358^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6359
6360Syntax:
6361"""""""
6362
6363::
6364
6365 declare i64 @llvm.readcyclecounter()
6366
6367Overview:
6368"""""""""
6369
6370The '``llvm.readcyclecounter``' intrinsic provides access to the cycle
6371counter register (or similar low latency, high accuracy clocks) on those
6372targets that support it. On X86, it should map to RDTSC. On Alpha, it
6373should map to RPCC. As the backing counters overflow quickly (on the
6374order of 9 seconds on alpha), this should only be used for small
6375timings.
6376
6377Semantics:
6378""""""""""
6379
6380When directly supported, reading the cycle counter should not modify any
6381memory. Implementations are allowed to either return a application
6382specific value or a system wide value. On backends without support, this
6383is lowered to a constant 0.
6384
6385Standard C Library Intrinsics
6386-----------------------------
6387
6388LLVM provides intrinsics for a few important standard C library
6389functions. These intrinsics allow source-language front-ends to pass
6390information about the alignment of the pointer arguments to the code
6391generator, providing opportunity for more efficient code generation.
6392
6393.. _int_memcpy:
6394
6395'``llvm.memcpy``' Intrinsic
6396^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6397
6398Syntax:
6399"""""""
6400
6401This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.memcpy`` on any
6402integer bit width and for different address spaces. Not all targets
6403support all bit widths however.
6404
6405::
6406
6407 declare void @llvm.memcpy.p0i8.p0i8.i32(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6408 i32 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6409 declare void @llvm.memcpy.p0i8.p0i8.i64(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6410 i64 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6411
6412Overview:
6413"""""""""
6414
6415The '``llvm.memcpy.*``' intrinsics copy a block of memory from the
6416source location to the destination location.
6417
6418Note that, unlike the standard libc function, the ``llvm.memcpy.*``
6419intrinsics do not return a value, takes extra alignment/isvolatile
6420arguments and the pointers can be in specified address spaces.
6421
6422Arguments:
6423""""""""""
6424
6425The first argument is a pointer to the destination, the second is a
6426pointer to the source. The third argument is an integer argument
6427specifying the number of bytes to copy, the fourth argument is the
6428alignment of the source and destination locations, and the fifth is a
6429boolean indicating a volatile access.
6430
6431If the call to this intrinsic has an alignment value that is not 0 or 1,
6432then the caller guarantees that both the source and destination pointers
6433are aligned to that boundary.
6434
6435If the ``isvolatile`` parameter is ``true``, the ``llvm.memcpy`` call is
6436a :ref:`volatile operation <volatile>`. The detailed access behavior is not
6437very cleanly specified and it is unwise to depend on it.
6438
6439Semantics:
6440""""""""""
6441
6442The '``llvm.memcpy.*``' intrinsics copy a block of memory from the
6443source location to the destination location, which are not allowed to
6444overlap. It copies "len" bytes of memory over. If the argument is known
6445to be aligned to some boundary, this can be specified as the fourth
6446argument, otherwise it should be set to 0 or 1.
6447
6448'``llvm.memmove``' Intrinsic
6449^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6450
6451Syntax:
6452"""""""
6453
6454This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use llvm.memmove on any integer
6455bit width and for different address space. Not all targets support all
6456bit widths however.
6457
6458::
6459
6460 declare void @llvm.memmove.p0i8.p0i8.i32(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6461 i32 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6462 declare void @llvm.memmove.p0i8.p0i8.i64(i8* <dest>, i8* <src>,
6463 i64 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6464
6465Overview:
6466"""""""""
6467
6468The '``llvm.memmove.*``' intrinsics move a block of memory from the
6469source location to the destination location. It is similar to the
6470'``llvm.memcpy``' intrinsic but allows the two memory locations to
6471overlap.
6472
6473Note that, unlike the standard libc function, the ``llvm.memmove.*``
6474intrinsics do not return a value, takes extra alignment/isvolatile
6475arguments and the pointers can be in specified address spaces.
6476
6477Arguments:
6478""""""""""
6479
6480The first argument is a pointer to the destination, the second is a
6481pointer to the source. The third argument is an integer argument
6482specifying the number of bytes to copy, the fourth argument is the
6483alignment of the source and destination locations, and the fifth is a
6484boolean indicating a volatile access.
6485
6486If the call to this intrinsic has an alignment value that is not 0 or 1,
6487then the caller guarantees that the source and destination pointers are
6488aligned to that boundary.
6489
6490If the ``isvolatile`` parameter is ``true``, the ``llvm.memmove`` call
6491is a :ref:`volatile operation <volatile>`. The detailed access behavior is
6492not very cleanly specified and it is unwise to depend on it.
6493
6494Semantics:
6495""""""""""
6496
6497The '``llvm.memmove.*``' intrinsics copy a block of memory from the
6498source location to the destination location, which may overlap. It
6499copies "len" bytes of memory over. If the argument is known to be
6500aligned to some boundary, this can be specified as the fourth argument,
6501otherwise it should be set to 0 or 1.
6502
6503'``llvm.memset.*``' Intrinsics
6504^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6505
6506Syntax:
6507"""""""
6508
6509This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use llvm.memset on any integer
6510bit width and for different address spaces. However, not all targets
6511support all bit widths.
6512
6513::
6514
6515 declare void @llvm.memset.p0i8.i32(i8* <dest>, i8 <val>,
6516 i32 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6517 declare void @llvm.memset.p0i8.i64(i8* <dest>, i8 <val>,
6518 i64 <len>, i32 <align>, i1 <isvolatile>)
6519
6520Overview:
6521"""""""""
6522
6523The '``llvm.memset.*``' intrinsics fill a block of memory with a
6524particular byte value.
6525
6526Note that, unlike the standard libc function, the ``llvm.memset``
6527intrinsic does not return a value and takes extra alignment/volatile
6528arguments. Also, the destination can be in an arbitrary address space.
6529
6530Arguments:
6531""""""""""
6532
6533The first argument is a pointer to the destination to fill, the second
6534is the byte value with which to fill it, the third argument is an
6535integer argument specifying the number of bytes to fill, and the fourth
6536argument is the known alignment of the destination location.
6537
6538If the call to this intrinsic has an alignment value that is not 0 or 1,
6539then the caller guarantees that the destination pointer is aligned to
6540that boundary.
6541
6542If the ``isvolatile`` parameter is ``true``, the ``llvm.memset`` call is
6543a :ref:`volatile operation <volatile>`. The detailed access behavior is not
6544very cleanly specified and it is unwise to depend on it.
6545
6546Semantics:
6547""""""""""
6548
6549The '``llvm.memset.*``' intrinsics fill "len" bytes of memory starting
6550at the destination location. If the argument is known to be aligned to
6551some boundary, this can be specified as the fourth argument, otherwise
6552it should be set to 0 or 1.
6553
6554'``llvm.sqrt.*``' Intrinsic
6555^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6556
6557Syntax:
6558"""""""
6559
6560This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.sqrt`` on any
6561floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6562all types however.
6563
6564::
6565
6566 declare float @llvm.sqrt.f32(float %Val)
6567 declare double @llvm.sqrt.f64(double %Val)
6568 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.sqrt.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6569 declare fp128 @llvm.sqrt.f128(fp128 %Val)
6570 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.sqrt.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6571
6572Overview:
6573"""""""""
6574
6575The '``llvm.sqrt``' intrinsics return the sqrt of the specified operand,
6576returning the same value as the libm '``sqrt``' functions would. Unlike
6577``sqrt`` in libm, however, ``llvm.sqrt`` has undefined behavior for
6578negative numbers other than -0.0 (which allows for better optimization,
6579because there is no need to worry about errno being set).
6580``llvm.sqrt(-0.0)`` is defined to return -0.0 like IEEE sqrt.
6581
6582Arguments:
6583""""""""""
6584
6585The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6586type.
6587
6588Semantics:
6589""""""""""
6590
6591This function returns the sqrt of the specified operand if it is a
6592nonnegative floating point number.
6593
6594'``llvm.powi.*``' Intrinsic
6595^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6596
6597Syntax:
6598"""""""
6599
6600This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.powi`` on any
6601floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6602all types however.
6603
6604::
6605
6606 declare float @llvm.powi.f32(float %Val, i32 %power)
6607 declare double @llvm.powi.f64(double %Val, i32 %power)
6608 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.powi.f80(x86_fp80 %Val, i32 %power)
6609 declare fp128 @llvm.powi.f128(fp128 %Val, i32 %power)
6610 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.powi.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val, i32 %power)
6611
6612Overview:
6613"""""""""
6614
6615The '``llvm.powi.*``' intrinsics return the first operand raised to the
6616specified (positive or negative) power. The order of evaluation of
6617multiplications is not defined. When a vector of floating point type is
6618used, the second argument remains a scalar integer value.
6619
6620Arguments:
6621""""""""""
6622
6623The second argument is an integer power, and the first is a value to
6624raise to that power.
6625
6626Semantics:
6627""""""""""
6628
6629This function returns the first value raised to the second power with an
6630unspecified sequence of rounding operations.
6631
6632'``llvm.sin.*``' Intrinsic
6633^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6634
6635Syntax:
6636"""""""
6637
6638This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.sin`` on any
6639floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6640all types however.
6641
6642::
6643
6644 declare float @llvm.sin.f32(float %Val)
6645 declare double @llvm.sin.f64(double %Val)
6646 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.sin.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6647 declare fp128 @llvm.sin.f128(fp128 %Val)
6648 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.sin.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6649
6650Overview:
6651"""""""""
6652
6653The '``llvm.sin.*``' intrinsics return the sine of the operand.
6654
6655Arguments:
6656""""""""""
6657
6658The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6659type.
6660
6661Semantics:
6662""""""""""
6663
6664This function returns the sine of the specified operand, returning the
6665same values as the libm ``sin`` functions would, and handles error
6666conditions in the same way.
6667
6668'``llvm.cos.*``' Intrinsic
6669^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6670
6671Syntax:
6672"""""""
6673
6674This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.cos`` on any
6675floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6676all types however.
6677
6678::
6679
6680 declare float @llvm.cos.f32(float %Val)
6681 declare double @llvm.cos.f64(double %Val)
6682 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.cos.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6683 declare fp128 @llvm.cos.f128(fp128 %Val)
6684 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.cos.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6685
6686Overview:
6687"""""""""
6688
6689The '``llvm.cos.*``' intrinsics return the cosine of the operand.
6690
6691Arguments:
6692""""""""""
6693
6694The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6695type.
6696
6697Semantics:
6698""""""""""
6699
6700This function returns the cosine of the specified operand, returning the
6701same values as the libm ``cos`` functions would, and handles error
6702conditions in the same way.
6703
6704'``llvm.pow.*``' Intrinsic
6705^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6706
6707Syntax:
6708"""""""
6709
6710This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.pow`` on any
6711floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6712all types however.
6713
6714::
6715
6716 declare float @llvm.pow.f32(float %Val, float %Power)
6717 declare double @llvm.pow.f64(double %Val, double %Power)
6718 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.pow.f80(x86_fp80 %Val, x86_fp80 %Power)
6719 declare fp128 @llvm.pow.f128(fp128 %Val, fp128 %Power)
6720 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.pow.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val, ppc_fp128 Power)
6721
6722Overview:
6723"""""""""
6724
6725The '``llvm.pow.*``' intrinsics return the first operand raised to the
6726specified (positive or negative) power.
6727
6728Arguments:
6729""""""""""
6730
6731The second argument is a floating point power, and the first is a value
6732to raise to that power.
6733
6734Semantics:
6735""""""""""
6736
6737This function returns the first value raised to the second power,
6738returning the same values as the libm ``pow`` functions would, and
6739handles error conditions in the same way.
6740
6741'``llvm.exp.*``' Intrinsic
6742^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6743
6744Syntax:
6745"""""""
6746
6747This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.exp`` on any
6748floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6749all types however.
6750
6751::
6752
6753 declare float @llvm.exp.f32(float %Val)
6754 declare double @llvm.exp.f64(double %Val)
6755 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.exp.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6756 declare fp128 @llvm.exp.f128(fp128 %Val)
6757 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.exp.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6758
6759Overview:
6760"""""""""
6761
6762The '``llvm.exp.*``' intrinsics perform the exp function.
6763
6764Arguments:
6765""""""""""
6766
6767The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6768type.
6769
6770Semantics:
6771""""""""""
6772
6773This function returns the same values as the libm ``exp`` functions
6774would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
6775
6776'``llvm.exp2.*``' Intrinsic
6777^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6778
6779Syntax:
6780"""""""
6781
6782This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.exp2`` on any
6783floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6784all types however.
6785
6786::
6787
6788 declare float @llvm.exp2.f32(float %Val)
6789 declare double @llvm.exp2.f64(double %Val)
6790 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.exp2.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6791 declare fp128 @llvm.exp2.f128(fp128 %Val)
6792 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.exp2.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6793
6794Overview:
6795"""""""""
6796
6797The '``llvm.exp2.*``' intrinsics perform the exp2 function.
6798
6799Arguments:
6800""""""""""
6801
6802The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6803type.
6804
6805Semantics:
6806""""""""""
6807
6808This function returns the same values as the libm ``exp2`` functions
6809would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
6810
6811'``llvm.log.*``' Intrinsic
6812^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6813
6814Syntax:
6815"""""""
6816
6817This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.log`` on any
6818floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6819all types however.
6820
6821::
6822
6823 declare float @llvm.log.f32(float %Val)
6824 declare double @llvm.log.f64(double %Val)
6825 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.log.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6826 declare fp128 @llvm.log.f128(fp128 %Val)
6827 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.log.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6828
6829Overview:
6830"""""""""
6831
6832The '``llvm.log.*``' intrinsics perform the log function.
6833
6834Arguments:
6835""""""""""
6836
6837The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6838type.
6839
6840Semantics:
6841""""""""""
6842
6843This function returns the same values as the libm ``log`` functions
6844would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
6845
6846'``llvm.log10.*``' Intrinsic
6847^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6848
6849Syntax:
6850"""""""
6851
6852This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.log10`` on any
6853floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6854all types however.
6855
6856::
6857
6858 declare float @llvm.log10.f32(float %Val)
6859 declare double @llvm.log10.f64(double %Val)
6860 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.log10.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6861 declare fp128 @llvm.log10.f128(fp128 %Val)
6862 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.log10.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6863
6864Overview:
6865"""""""""
6866
6867The '``llvm.log10.*``' intrinsics perform the log10 function.
6868
6869Arguments:
6870""""""""""
6871
6872The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6873type.
6874
6875Semantics:
6876""""""""""
6877
6878This function returns the same values as the libm ``log10`` functions
6879would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
6880
6881'``llvm.log2.*``' Intrinsic
6882^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6883
6884Syntax:
6885"""""""
6886
6887This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.log2`` on any
6888floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6889all types however.
6890
6891::
6892
6893 declare float @llvm.log2.f32(float %Val)
6894 declare double @llvm.log2.f64(double %Val)
6895 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.log2.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6896 declare fp128 @llvm.log2.f128(fp128 %Val)
6897 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.log2.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6898
6899Overview:
6900"""""""""
6901
6902The '``llvm.log2.*``' intrinsics perform the log2 function.
6903
6904Arguments:
6905""""""""""
6906
6907The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6908type.
6909
6910Semantics:
6911""""""""""
6912
6913This function returns the same values as the libm ``log2`` functions
6914would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
6915
6916'``llvm.fma.*``' Intrinsic
6917^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6918
6919Syntax:
6920"""""""
6921
6922This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.fma`` on any
6923floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6924all types however.
6925
6926::
6927
6928 declare float @llvm.fma.f32(float %a, float %b, float %c)
6929 declare double @llvm.fma.f64(double %a, double %b, double %c)
6930 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.fma.f80(x86_fp80 %a, x86_fp80 %b, x86_fp80 %c)
6931 declare fp128 @llvm.fma.f128(fp128 %a, fp128 %b, fp128 %c)
6932 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.fma.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %a, ppc_fp128 %b, ppc_fp128 %c)
6933
6934Overview:
6935"""""""""
6936
6937The '``llvm.fma.*``' intrinsics perform the fused multiply-add
6938operation.
6939
6940Arguments:
6941""""""""""
6942
6943The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6944type.
6945
6946Semantics:
6947""""""""""
6948
6949This function returns the same values as the libm ``fma`` functions
6950would.
6951
6952'``llvm.fabs.*``' Intrinsic
6953^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6954
6955Syntax:
6956"""""""
6957
6958This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.fabs`` on any
6959floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6960all types however.
6961
6962::
6963
6964 declare float @llvm.fabs.f32(float %Val)
6965 declare double @llvm.fabs.f64(double %Val)
6966 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.fabs.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
6967 declare fp128 @llvm.fabs.f128(fp128 %Val)
6968 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.fabs.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
6969
6970Overview:
6971"""""""""
6972
6973The '``llvm.fabs.*``' intrinsics return the absolute value of the
6974operand.
6975
6976Arguments:
6977""""""""""
6978
6979The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
6980type.
6981
6982Semantics:
6983""""""""""
6984
6985This function returns the same values as the libm ``fabs`` functions
6986would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
6987
6988'``llvm.floor.*``' Intrinsic
6989^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6990
6991Syntax:
6992"""""""
6993
6994This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.floor`` on any
6995floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
6996all types however.
6997
6998::
6999
7000 declare float @llvm.floor.f32(float %Val)
7001 declare double @llvm.floor.f64(double %Val)
7002 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.floor.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7003 declare fp128 @llvm.floor.f128(fp128 %Val)
7004 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.floor.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7005
7006Overview:
7007"""""""""
7008
7009The '``llvm.floor.*``' intrinsics return the floor of the operand.
7010
7011Arguments:
7012""""""""""
7013
7014The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7015type.
7016
7017Semantics:
7018""""""""""
7019
7020This function returns the same values as the libm ``floor`` functions
7021would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7022
7023'``llvm.ceil.*``' Intrinsic
7024^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7025
7026Syntax:
7027"""""""
7028
7029This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.ceil`` on any
7030floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7031all types however.
7032
7033::
7034
7035 declare float @llvm.ceil.f32(float %Val)
7036 declare double @llvm.ceil.f64(double %Val)
7037 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.ceil.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7038 declare fp128 @llvm.ceil.f128(fp128 %Val)
7039 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.ceil.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7040
7041Overview:
7042"""""""""
7043
7044The '``llvm.ceil.*``' intrinsics return the ceiling of the operand.
7045
7046Arguments:
7047""""""""""
7048
7049The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7050type.
7051
7052Semantics:
7053""""""""""
7054
7055This function returns the same values as the libm ``ceil`` functions
7056would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7057
7058'``llvm.trunc.*``' Intrinsic
7059^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7060
7061Syntax:
7062"""""""
7063
7064This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.trunc`` on any
7065floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7066all types however.
7067
7068::
7069
7070 declare float @llvm.trunc.f32(float %Val)
7071 declare double @llvm.trunc.f64(double %Val)
7072 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.trunc.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7073 declare fp128 @llvm.trunc.f128(fp128 %Val)
7074 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.trunc.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7075
7076Overview:
7077"""""""""
7078
7079The '``llvm.trunc.*``' intrinsics returns the operand rounded to the
7080nearest integer not larger in magnitude than the operand.
7081
7082Arguments:
7083""""""""""
7084
7085The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7086type.
7087
7088Semantics:
7089""""""""""
7090
7091This function returns the same values as the libm ``trunc`` functions
7092would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7093
7094'``llvm.rint.*``' Intrinsic
7095^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7096
7097Syntax:
7098"""""""
7099
7100This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.rint`` on any
7101floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7102all types however.
7103
7104::
7105
7106 declare float @llvm.rint.f32(float %Val)
7107 declare double @llvm.rint.f64(double %Val)
7108 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.rint.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7109 declare fp128 @llvm.rint.f128(fp128 %Val)
7110 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.rint.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7111
7112Overview:
7113"""""""""
7114
7115The '``llvm.rint.*``' intrinsics returns the operand rounded to the
7116nearest integer. It may raise an inexact floating-point exception if the
7117operand isn't an integer.
7118
7119Arguments:
7120""""""""""
7121
7122The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7123type.
7124
7125Semantics:
7126""""""""""
7127
7128This function returns the same values as the libm ``rint`` functions
7129would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7130
7131'``llvm.nearbyint.*``' Intrinsic
7132^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7133
7134Syntax:
7135"""""""
7136
7137This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.nearbyint`` on any
7138floating point or vector of floating point type. Not all targets support
7139all types however.
7140
7141::
7142
7143 declare float @llvm.nearbyint.f32(float %Val)
7144 declare double @llvm.nearbyint.f64(double %Val)
7145 declare x86_fp80 @llvm.nearbyint.f80(x86_fp80 %Val)
7146 declare fp128 @llvm.nearbyint.f128(fp128 %Val)
7147 declare ppc_fp128 @llvm.nearbyint.ppcf128(ppc_fp128 %Val)
7148
7149Overview:
7150"""""""""
7151
7152The '``llvm.nearbyint.*``' intrinsics returns the operand rounded to the
7153nearest integer.
7154
7155Arguments:
7156""""""""""
7157
7158The argument and return value are floating point numbers of the same
7159type.
7160
7161Semantics:
7162""""""""""
7163
7164This function returns the same values as the libm ``nearbyint``
7165functions would, and handles error conditions in the same way.
7166
7167Bit Manipulation Intrinsics
7168---------------------------
7169
7170LLVM provides intrinsics for a few important bit manipulation
7171operations. These allow efficient code generation for some algorithms.
7172
7173'``llvm.bswap.*``' Intrinsics
7174^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7175
7176Syntax:
7177"""""""
7178
7179This is an overloaded intrinsic function. You can use bswap on any
7180integer type that is an even number of bytes (i.e. BitWidth % 16 == 0).
7181
7182::
7183
7184 declare i16 @llvm.bswap.i16(i16 <id>)
7185 declare i32 @llvm.bswap.i32(i32 <id>)
7186 declare i64 @llvm.bswap.i64(i64 <id>)
7187
7188Overview:
7189"""""""""
7190
7191The '``llvm.bswap``' family of intrinsics is used to byte swap integer
7192values with an even number of bytes (positive multiple of 16 bits).
7193These are useful for performing operations on data that is not in the
7194target's native byte order.
7195
7196Semantics:
7197""""""""""
7198
7199The ``llvm.bswap.i16`` intrinsic returns an i16 value that has the high
7200and low byte of the input i16 swapped. Similarly, the ``llvm.bswap.i32``
7201intrinsic returns an i32 value that has the four bytes of the input i32
7202swapped, so that if the input bytes are numbered 0, 1, 2, 3 then the
7203returned i32 will have its bytes in 3, 2, 1, 0 order. The
7204``llvm.bswap.i48``, ``llvm.bswap.i64`` and other intrinsics extend this
7205concept to additional even-byte lengths (6 bytes, 8 bytes and more,
7206respectively).
7207
7208'``llvm.ctpop.*``' Intrinsic
7209^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7210
7211Syntax:
7212"""""""
7213
7214This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use llvm.ctpop on any integer
7215bit width, or on any vector with integer elements. Not all targets
7216support all bit widths or vector types, however.
7217
7218::
7219
7220 declare i8 @llvm.ctpop.i8(i8 <src>)
7221 declare i16 @llvm.ctpop.i16(i16 <src>)
7222 declare i32 @llvm.ctpop.i32(i32 <src>)
7223 declare i64 @llvm.ctpop.i64(i64 <src>)
7224 declare i256 @llvm.ctpop.i256(i256 <src>)
7225 declare <2 x i32> @llvm.ctpop.v2i32(<2 x i32> <src>)
7226
7227Overview:
7228"""""""""
7229
7230The '``llvm.ctpop``' family of intrinsics counts the number of bits set
7231in a value.
7232
7233Arguments:
7234""""""""""
7235
7236The only argument is the value to be counted. The argument may be of any
7237integer type, or a vector with integer elements. The return type must
7238match the argument type.
7239
7240Semantics:
7241""""""""""
7242
7243The '``llvm.ctpop``' intrinsic counts the 1's in a variable, or within
7244each element of a vector.
7245
7246'``llvm.ctlz.*``' Intrinsic
7247^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7248
7249Syntax:
7250"""""""
7251
7252This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.ctlz`` on any
7253integer bit width, or any vector whose elements are integers. Not all
7254targets support all bit widths or vector types, however.
7255
7256::
7257
7258 declare i8 @llvm.ctlz.i8 (i8 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7259 declare i16 @llvm.ctlz.i16 (i16 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7260 declare i32 @llvm.ctlz.i32 (i32 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7261 declare i64 @llvm.ctlz.i64 (i64 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7262 declare i256 @llvm.ctlz.i256(i256 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7263 declase <2 x i32> @llvm.ctlz.v2i32(<2 x i32> <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7264
7265Overview:
7266"""""""""
7267
7268The '``llvm.ctlz``' family of intrinsic functions counts the number of
7269leading zeros in a variable.
7270
7271Arguments:
7272""""""""""
7273
7274The first argument is the value to be counted. This argument may be of
7275any integer type, or a vectory with integer element type. The return
7276type must match the first argument type.
7277
7278The second argument must be a constant and is a flag to indicate whether
7279the intrinsic should ensure that a zero as the first argument produces a
7280defined result. Historically some architectures did not provide a
7281defined result for zero values as efficiently, and many algorithms are
7282now predicated on avoiding zero-value inputs.
7283
7284Semantics:
7285""""""""""
7286
7287The '``llvm.ctlz``' intrinsic counts the leading (most significant)
7288zeros in a variable, or within each element of the vector. If
7289``src == 0`` then the result is the size in bits of the type of ``src``
7290if ``is_zero_undef == 0`` and ``undef`` otherwise. For example,
7291``llvm.ctlz(i32 2) = 30``.
7292
7293'``llvm.cttz.*``' Intrinsic
7294^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7295
7296Syntax:
7297"""""""
7298
7299This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.cttz`` on any
7300integer bit width, or any vector of integer elements. Not all targets
7301support all bit widths or vector types, however.
7302
7303::
7304
7305 declare i8 @llvm.cttz.i8 (i8 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7306 declare i16 @llvm.cttz.i16 (i16 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7307 declare i32 @llvm.cttz.i32 (i32 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7308 declare i64 @llvm.cttz.i64 (i64 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7309 declare i256 @llvm.cttz.i256(i256 <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7310 declase <2 x i32> @llvm.cttz.v2i32(<2 x i32> <src>, i1 <is_zero_undef>)
7311
7312Overview:
7313"""""""""
7314
7315The '``llvm.cttz``' family of intrinsic functions counts the number of
7316trailing zeros.
7317
7318Arguments:
7319""""""""""
7320
7321The first argument is the value to be counted. This argument may be of
7322any integer type, or a vectory with integer element type. The return
7323type must match the first argument type.
7324
7325The second argument must be a constant and is a flag to indicate whether
7326the intrinsic should ensure that a zero as the first argument produces a
7327defined result. Historically some architectures did not provide a
7328defined result for zero values as efficiently, and many algorithms are
7329now predicated on avoiding zero-value inputs.
7330
7331Semantics:
7332""""""""""
7333
7334The '``llvm.cttz``' intrinsic counts the trailing (least significant)
7335zeros in a variable, or within each element of a vector. If ``src == 0``
7336then the result is the size in bits of the type of ``src`` if
7337``is_zero_undef == 0`` and ``undef`` otherwise. For example,
7338``llvm.cttz(2) = 1``.
7339
7340Arithmetic with Overflow Intrinsics
7341-----------------------------------
7342
7343LLVM provides intrinsics for some arithmetic with overflow operations.
7344
7345'``llvm.sadd.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7346^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7347
7348Syntax:
7349"""""""
7350
7351This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.sadd.with.overflow``
7352on any integer bit width.
7353
7354::
7355
7356 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7357 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7358 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7359
7360Overview:
7361"""""""""
7362
7363The '``llvm.sadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7364a signed addition of the two arguments, and indicate whether an overflow
7365occurred during the signed summation.
7366
7367Arguments:
7368""""""""""
7369
7370The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7371may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7372bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7373``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo signed
7374addition.
7375
7376Semantics:
7377""""""""""
7378
7379The '``llvm.sadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7380a signed addition of the two variables. They return a structure — the
7381first element of which is the signed summation, and the second element
7382of which is a bit specifying if the signed summation resulted in an
7383overflow.
7384
7385Examples:
7386"""""""""
7387
7388.. code-block:: llvm
7389
7390 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.sadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7391 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7392 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7393 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
7394
7395'``llvm.uadd.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7396^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7397
7398Syntax:
7399"""""""
7400
7401This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.uadd.with.overflow``
7402on any integer bit width.
7403
7404::
7405
7406 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7407 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7408 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7409
7410Overview:
7411"""""""""
7412
7413The '``llvm.uadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7414an unsigned addition of the two arguments, and indicate whether a carry
7415occurred during the unsigned summation.
7416
7417Arguments:
7418""""""""""
7419
7420The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7421may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7422bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7423``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo unsigned
7424addition.
7425
7426Semantics:
7427""""""""""
7428
7429The '``llvm.uadd.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7430an unsigned addition of the two arguments. They return a structure — the
7431first element of which is the sum, and the second element of which is a
7432bit specifying if the unsigned summation resulted in a carry.
7433
7434Examples:
7435"""""""""
7436
7437.. code-block:: llvm
7438
7439 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.uadd.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7440 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7441 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7442 br i1 %obit, label %carry, label %normal
7443
7444'``llvm.ssub.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7445^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7446
7447Syntax:
7448"""""""
7449
7450This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.ssub.with.overflow``
7451on any integer bit width.
7452
7453::
7454
7455 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7456 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7457 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7458
7459Overview:
7460"""""""""
7461
7462The '``llvm.ssub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7463a signed subtraction of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
7464overflow occurred during the signed subtraction.
7465
7466Arguments:
7467""""""""""
7468
7469The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7470may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7471bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7472``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo signed
7473subtraction.
7474
7475Semantics:
7476""""""""""
7477
7478The '``llvm.ssub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7479a signed subtraction of the two arguments. They return a structure — the
7480first element of which is the subtraction, and the second element of
7481which is a bit specifying if the signed subtraction resulted in an
7482overflow.
7483
7484Examples:
7485"""""""""
7486
7487.. code-block:: llvm
7488
7489 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.ssub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7490 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7491 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7492 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
7493
7494'``llvm.usub.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7495^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7496
7497Syntax:
7498"""""""
7499
7500This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.usub.with.overflow``
7501on any integer bit width.
7502
7503::
7504
7505 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7506 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7507 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7508
7509Overview:
7510"""""""""
7511
7512The '``llvm.usub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7513an unsigned subtraction of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
7514overflow occurred during the unsigned subtraction.
7515
7516Arguments:
7517""""""""""
7518
7519The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7520may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7521bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7522``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo unsigned
7523subtraction.
7524
7525Semantics:
7526""""""""""
7527
7528The '``llvm.usub.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7529an unsigned subtraction of the two arguments. They return a structure —
7530the first element of which is the subtraction, and the second element of
7531which is a bit specifying if the unsigned subtraction resulted in an
7532overflow.
7533
7534Examples:
7535"""""""""
7536
7537.. code-block:: llvm
7538
7539 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.usub.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7540 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7541 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7542 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
7543
7544'``llvm.smul.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7545^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7546
7547Syntax:
7548"""""""
7549
7550This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.smul.with.overflow``
7551on any integer bit width.
7552
7553::
7554
7555 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7556 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7557 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7558
7559Overview:
7560"""""""""
7561
7562The '``llvm.smul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7563a signed multiplication of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
7564overflow occurred during the signed multiplication.
7565
7566Arguments:
7567""""""""""
7568
7569The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7570may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7571bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7572``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo signed
7573multiplication.
7574
7575Semantics:
7576""""""""""
7577
7578The '``llvm.smul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7579a signed multiplication of the two arguments. They return a structure —
7580the first element of which is the multiplication, and the second element
7581of which is a bit specifying if the signed multiplication resulted in an
7582overflow.
7583
7584Examples:
7585"""""""""
7586
7587.. code-block:: llvm
7588
7589 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.smul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7590 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7591 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7592 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
7593
7594'``llvm.umul.with.overflow.*``' Intrinsics
7595^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7596
7597Syntax:
7598"""""""
7599
7600This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use ``llvm.umul.with.overflow``
7601on any integer bit width.
7602
7603::
7604
7605 declare {i16, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i16(i16 %a, i16 %b)
7606 declare {i32, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7607 declare {i64, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i64(i64 %a, i64 %b)
7608
7609Overview:
7610"""""""""
7611
7612The '``llvm.umul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7613a unsigned multiplication of the two arguments, and indicate whether an
7614overflow occurred during the unsigned multiplication.
7615
7616Arguments:
7617""""""""""
7618
7619The arguments (%a and %b) and the first element of the result structure
7620may be of integer types of any bit width, but they must have the same
7621bit width. The second element of the result structure must be of type
7622``i1``. ``%a`` and ``%b`` are the two values that will undergo unsigned
7623multiplication.
7624
7625Semantics:
7626""""""""""
7627
7628The '``llvm.umul.with.overflow``' family of intrinsic functions perform
7629an unsigned multiplication of the two arguments. They return a structure
7630— the first element of which is the multiplication, and the second
7631element of which is a bit specifying if the unsigned multiplication
7632resulted in an overflow.
7633
7634Examples:
7635"""""""""
7636
7637.. code-block:: llvm
7638
7639 %res = call {i32, i1} @llvm.umul.with.overflow.i32(i32 %a, i32 %b)
7640 %sum = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 0
7641 %obit = extractvalue {i32, i1} %res, 1
7642 br i1 %obit, label %overflow, label %normal
7643
7644Specialised Arithmetic Intrinsics
7645---------------------------------
7646
7647'``llvm.fmuladd.*``' Intrinsic
7648^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7649
7650Syntax:
7651"""""""
7652
7653::
7654
7655 declare float @llvm.fmuladd.f32(float %a, float %b, float %c)
7656 declare double @llvm.fmuladd.f64(double %a, double %b, double %c)
7657
7658Overview:
7659"""""""""
7660
7661The '``llvm.fmuladd.*``' intrinsic functions represent multiply-add
7662expressions that can be fused if the code generator determines that the
7663fused expression would be legal and efficient.
7664
7665Arguments:
7666""""""""""
7667
7668The '``llvm.fmuladd.*``' intrinsics each take three arguments: two
7669multiplicands, a and b, and an addend c.
7670
7671Semantics:
7672""""""""""
7673
7674The expression:
7675
7676::
7677
7678 %0 = call float @llvm.fmuladd.f32(%a, %b, %c)
7679
7680is equivalent to the expression a \* b + c, except that rounding will
7681not be performed between the multiplication and addition steps if the
7682code generator fuses the operations. Fusion is not guaranteed, even if
7683the target platform supports it. If a fused multiply-add is required the
7684corresponding llvm.fma.\* intrinsic function should be used instead.
7685
7686Examples:
7687"""""""""
7688
7689.. code-block:: llvm
7690
7691 %r2 = call float @llvm.fmuladd.f32(float %a, float %b, float %c) ; yields {float}:r2 = (a * b) + c
7692
7693Half Precision Floating Point Intrinsics
7694----------------------------------------
7695
7696For most target platforms, half precision floating point is a
7697storage-only format. This means that it is a dense encoding (in memory)
7698but does not support computation in the format.
7699
7700This means that code must first load the half-precision floating point
7701value as an i16, then convert it to float with
7702:ref:`llvm.convert.from.fp16 <int_convert_from_fp16>`. Computation can
7703then be performed on the float value (including extending to double
7704etc). To store the value back to memory, it is first converted to float
7705if needed, then converted to i16 with
7706:ref:`llvm.convert.to.fp16 <int_convert_to_fp16>`, then storing as an
7707i16 value.
7708
7709.. _int_convert_to_fp16:
7710
7711'``llvm.convert.to.fp16``' Intrinsic
7712^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7713
7714Syntax:
7715"""""""
7716
7717::
7718
7719 declare i16 @llvm.convert.to.fp16(f32 %a)
7720
7721Overview:
7722"""""""""
7723
7724The '``llvm.convert.to.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a conversion
7725from single precision floating point format to half precision floating
7726point format.
7727
7728Arguments:
7729""""""""""
7730
7731The intrinsic function contains single argument - the value to be
7732converted.
7733
7734Semantics:
7735""""""""""
7736
7737The '``llvm.convert.to.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a conversion
7738from single precision floating point format to half precision floating
7739point format. The return value is an ``i16`` which contains the
7740converted number.
7741
7742Examples:
7743"""""""""
7744
7745.. code-block:: llvm
7746
7747 %res = call i16 @llvm.convert.to.fp16(f32 %a)
7748 store i16 %res, i16* @x, align 2
7749
7750.. _int_convert_from_fp16:
7751
7752'``llvm.convert.from.fp16``' Intrinsic
7753^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7754
7755Syntax:
7756"""""""
7757
7758::
7759
7760 declare f32 @llvm.convert.from.fp16(i16 %a)
7761
7762Overview:
7763"""""""""
7764
7765The '``llvm.convert.from.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a
7766conversion from half precision floating point format to single precision
7767floating point format.
7768
7769Arguments:
7770""""""""""
7771
7772The intrinsic function contains single argument - the value to be
7773converted.
7774
7775Semantics:
7776""""""""""
7777
7778The '``llvm.convert.from.fp16``' intrinsic function performs a
7779conversion from half single precision floating point format to single
7780precision floating point format. The input half-float value is
7781represented by an ``i16`` value.
7782
7783Examples:
7784"""""""""
7785
7786.. code-block:: llvm
7787
7788 %a = load i16* @x, align 2
7789 %res = call f32 @llvm.convert.from.fp16(i16 %a)
7790
7791Debugger Intrinsics
7792-------------------
7793
7794The LLVM debugger intrinsics (which all start with ``llvm.dbg.``
7795prefix), are described in the `LLVM Source Level
7796Debugging <SourceLevelDebugging.html#format_common_intrinsics>`_
7797document.
7798
7799Exception Handling Intrinsics
7800-----------------------------
7801
7802The LLVM exception handling intrinsics (which all start with
7803``llvm.eh.`` prefix), are described in the `LLVM Exception
7804Handling <ExceptionHandling.html#format_common_intrinsics>`_ document.
7805
7806.. _int_trampoline:
7807
7808Trampoline Intrinsics
7809---------------------
7810
7811These intrinsics make it possible to excise one parameter, marked with
7812the :ref:`nest <nest>` attribute, from a function. The result is a
7813callable function pointer lacking the nest parameter - the caller does
7814not need to provide a value for it. Instead, the value to use is stored
7815in advance in a "trampoline", a block of memory usually allocated on the
7816stack, which also contains code to splice the nest value into the
7817argument list. This is used to implement the GCC nested function address
7818extension.
7819
7820For example, if the function is ``i32 f(i8* nest %c, i32 %x, i32 %y)``
7821then the resulting function pointer has signature ``i32 (i32, i32)*``.
7822It can be created as follows:
7823
7824.. code-block:: llvm
7825
7826 %tramp = alloca [10 x i8], align 4 ; size and alignment only correct for X86
7827 %tramp1 = getelementptr [10 x i8]* %tramp, i32 0, i32 0
7828 call i8* @llvm.init.trampoline(i8* %tramp1, i8* bitcast (i32 (i8*, i32, i32)* @f to i8*), i8* %nval)
7829 %p = call i8* @llvm.adjust.trampoline(i8* %tramp1)
7830 %fp = bitcast i8* %p to i32 (i32, i32)*
7831
7832The call ``%val = call i32 %fp(i32 %x, i32 %y)`` is then equivalent to
7833``%val = call i32 %f(i8* %nval, i32 %x, i32 %y)``.
7834
7835.. _int_it:
7836
7837'``llvm.init.trampoline``' Intrinsic
7838^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7839
7840Syntax:
7841"""""""
7842
7843::
7844
7845 declare void @llvm.init.trampoline(i8* <tramp>, i8* <func>, i8* <nval>)
7846
7847Overview:
7848"""""""""
7849
7850This fills the memory pointed to by ``tramp`` with executable code,
7851turning it into a trampoline.
7852
7853Arguments:
7854""""""""""
7855
7856The ``llvm.init.trampoline`` intrinsic takes three arguments, all
7857pointers. The ``tramp`` argument must point to a sufficiently large and
7858sufficiently aligned block of memory; this memory is written to by the
7859intrinsic. Note that the size and the alignment are target-specific -
7860LLVM currently provides no portable way of determining them, so a
7861front-end that generates this intrinsic needs to have some
7862target-specific knowledge. The ``func`` argument must hold a function
7863bitcast to an ``i8*``.
7864
7865Semantics:
7866""""""""""
7867
7868The block of memory pointed to by ``tramp`` is filled with target
7869dependent code, turning it into a function. Then ``tramp`` needs to be
7870passed to :ref:`llvm.adjust.trampoline <int_at>` to get a pointer which can
7871be :ref:`bitcast (to a new function) and called <int_trampoline>`. The new
7872function's signature is the same as that of ``func`` with any arguments
7873marked with the ``nest`` attribute removed. At most one such ``nest``
7874argument is allowed, and it must be of pointer type. Calling the new
7875function is equivalent to calling ``func`` with the same argument list,
7876but with ``nval`` used for the missing ``nest`` argument. If, after
7877calling ``llvm.init.trampoline``, the memory pointed to by ``tramp`` is
7878modified, then the effect of any later call to the returned function
7879pointer is undefined.
7880
7881.. _int_at:
7882
7883'``llvm.adjust.trampoline``' Intrinsic
7884^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7885
7886Syntax:
7887"""""""
7888
7889::
7890
7891 declare i8* @llvm.adjust.trampoline(i8* <tramp>)
7892
7893Overview:
7894"""""""""
7895
7896This performs any required machine-specific adjustment to the address of
7897a trampoline (passed as ``tramp``).
7898
7899Arguments:
7900""""""""""
7901
7902``tramp`` must point to a block of memory which already has trampoline
7903code filled in by a previous call to
7904:ref:`llvm.init.trampoline <int_it>`.
7905
7906Semantics:
7907""""""""""
7908
7909On some architectures the address of the code to be executed needs to be
7910different to the address where the trampoline is actually stored. This
7911intrinsic returns the executable address corresponding to ``tramp``
7912after performing the required machine specific adjustments. The pointer
7913returned can then be :ref:`bitcast and executed <int_trampoline>`.
7914
7915Memory Use Markers
7916------------------
7917
7918This class of intrinsics exists to information about the lifetime of
7919memory objects and ranges where variables are immutable.
7920
7921'``llvm.lifetime.start``' Intrinsic
7922^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7923
7924Syntax:
7925"""""""
7926
7927::
7928
7929 declare void @llvm.lifetime.start(i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
7930
7931Overview:
7932"""""""""
7933
7934The '``llvm.lifetime.start``' intrinsic specifies the start of a memory
7935object's lifetime.
7936
7937Arguments:
7938""""""""""
7939
7940The first argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
7941object, or -1 if it is variable sized. The second argument is a pointer
7942to the object.
7943
7944Semantics:
7945""""""""""
7946
7947This intrinsic indicates that before this point in the code, the value
7948of the memory pointed to by ``ptr`` is dead. This means that it is known
7949to never be used and has an undefined value. A load from the pointer
7950that precedes this intrinsic can be replaced with ``'undef'``.
7951
7952'``llvm.lifetime.end``' Intrinsic
7953^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7954
7955Syntax:
7956"""""""
7957
7958::
7959
7960 declare void @llvm.lifetime.end(i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
7961
7962Overview:
7963"""""""""
7964
7965The '``llvm.lifetime.end``' intrinsic specifies the end of a memory
7966object's lifetime.
7967
7968Arguments:
7969""""""""""
7970
7971The first argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
7972object, or -1 if it is variable sized. The second argument is a pointer
7973to the object.
7974
7975Semantics:
7976""""""""""
7977
7978This intrinsic indicates that after this point in the code, the value of
7979the memory pointed to by ``ptr`` is dead. This means that it is known to
7980never be used and has an undefined value. Any stores into the memory
7981object following this intrinsic may be removed as dead.
7982
7983'``llvm.invariant.start``' Intrinsic
7984^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7985
7986Syntax:
7987"""""""
7988
7989::
7990
7991 declare {}* @llvm.invariant.start(i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
7992
7993Overview:
7994"""""""""
7995
7996The '``llvm.invariant.start``' intrinsic specifies that the contents of
7997a memory object will not change.
7998
7999Arguments:
8000""""""""""
8001
8002The first argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
8003object, or -1 if it is variable sized. The second argument is a pointer
8004to the object.
8005
8006Semantics:
8007""""""""""
8008
8009This intrinsic indicates that until an ``llvm.invariant.end`` that uses
8010the return value, the referenced memory location is constant and
8011unchanging.
8012
8013'``llvm.invariant.end``' Intrinsic
8014^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8015
8016Syntax:
8017"""""""
8018
8019::
8020
8021 declare void @llvm.invariant.end({}* <start>, i64 <size>, i8* nocapture <ptr>)
8022
8023Overview:
8024"""""""""
8025
8026The '``llvm.invariant.end``' intrinsic specifies that the contents of a
8027memory object are mutable.
8028
8029Arguments:
8030""""""""""
8031
8032The first argument is the matching ``llvm.invariant.start`` intrinsic.
8033The second argument is a constant integer representing the size of the
8034object, or -1 if it is variable sized and the third argument is a
8035pointer to the object.
8036
8037Semantics:
8038""""""""""
8039
8040This intrinsic indicates that the memory is mutable again.
8041
8042General Intrinsics
8043------------------
8044
8045This class of intrinsics is designed to be generic and has no specific
8046purpose.
8047
8048'``llvm.var.annotation``' Intrinsic
8049^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8050
8051Syntax:
8052"""""""
8053
8054::
8055
8056 declare void @llvm.var.annotation(i8* <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8057
8058Overview:
8059"""""""""
8060
8061The '``llvm.var.annotation``' intrinsic.
8062
8063Arguments:
8064""""""""""
8065
8066The first argument is a pointer to a value, the second is a pointer to a
8067global string, the third is a pointer to a global string which is the
8068source file name, and the last argument is the line number.
8069
8070Semantics:
8071""""""""""
8072
8073This intrinsic allows annotation of local variables with arbitrary
8074strings. This can be useful for special purpose optimizations that want
8075to look for these annotations. These have no other defined use; they are
8076ignored by code generation and optimization.
8077
8078'``llvm.annotation.*``' Intrinsic
8079^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8080
8081Syntax:
8082"""""""
8083
8084This is an overloaded intrinsic. You can use '``llvm.annotation``' on
8085any integer bit width.
8086
8087::
8088
8089 declare i8 @llvm.annotation.i8(i8 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8090 declare i16 @llvm.annotation.i16(i16 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8091 declare i32 @llvm.annotation.i32(i32 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8092 declare i64 @llvm.annotation.i64(i64 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8093 declare i256 @llvm.annotation.i256(i256 <val>, i8* <str>, i8* <str>, i32 <int>)
8094
8095Overview:
8096"""""""""
8097
8098The '``llvm.annotation``' intrinsic.
8099
8100Arguments:
8101""""""""""
8102
8103The first argument is an integer value (result of some expression), the
8104second is a pointer to a global string, the third is a pointer to a
8105global string which is the source file name, and the last argument is
8106the line number. It returns the value of the first argument.
8107
8108Semantics:
8109""""""""""
8110
8111This intrinsic allows annotations to be put on arbitrary expressions
8112with arbitrary strings. This can be useful for special purpose
8113optimizations that want to look for these annotations. These have no
8114other defined use; they are ignored by code generation and optimization.
8115
8116'``llvm.trap``' Intrinsic
8117^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8118
8119Syntax:
8120"""""""
8121
8122::
8123
8124 declare void @llvm.trap() noreturn nounwind
8125
8126Overview:
8127"""""""""
8128
8129The '``llvm.trap``' intrinsic.
8130
8131Arguments:
8132""""""""""
8133
8134None.
8135
8136Semantics:
8137""""""""""
8138
8139This intrinsic is lowered to the target dependent trap instruction. If
8140the target does not have a trap instruction, this intrinsic will be
8141lowered to a call of the ``abort()`` function.
8142
8143'``llvm.debugtrap``' Intrinsic
8144^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8145
8146Syntax:
8147"""""""
8148
8149::
8150
8151 declare void @llvm.debugtrap() nounwind
8152
8153Overview:
8154"""""""""
8155
8156The '``llvm.debugtrap``' intrinsic.
8157
8158Arguments:
8159""""""""""
8160
8161None.
8162
8163Semantics:
8164""""""""""
8165
8166This intrinsic is lowered to code which is intended to cause an
8167execution trap with the intention of requesting the attention of a
8168debugger.
8169
8170'``llvm.stackprotector``' Intrinsic
8171^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8172
8173Syntax:
8174"""""""
8175
8176::
8177
8178 declare void @llvm.stackprotector(i8* <guard>, i8** <slot>)
8179
8180Overview:
8181"""""""""
8182
8183The ``llvm.stackprotector`` intrinsic takes the ``guard`` and stores it
8184onto the stack at ``slot``. The stack slot is adjusted to ensure that it
8185is placed on the stack before local variables.
8186
8187Arguments:
8188""""""""""
8189
8190The ``llvm.stackprotector`` intrinsic requires two pointer arguments.
8191The first argument is the value loaded from the stack guard
8192``@__stack_chk_guard``. The second variable is an ``alloca`` that has
8193enough space to hold the value of the guard.
8194
8195Semantics:
8196""""""""""
8197
8198This intrinsic causes the prologue/epilogue inserter to force the
8199position of the ``AllocaInst`` stack slot to be before local variables
8200on the stack. This is to ensure that if a local variable on the stack is
8201overwritten, it will destroy the value of the guard. When the function
8202exits, the guard on the stack is checked against the original guard. If
8203they are different, then the program aborts by calling the
8204``__stack_chk_fail()`` function.
8205
8206'``llvm.objectsize``' Intrinsic
8207^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8208
8209Syntax:
8210"""""""
8211
8212::
8213
8214 declare i32 @llvm.objectsize.i32(i8* <object>, i1 <min>)
8215 declare i64 @llvm.objectsize.i64(i8* <object>, i1 <min>)
8216
8217Overview:
8218"""""""""
8219
8220The ``llvm.objectsize`` intrinsic is designed to provide information to
8221the optimizers to determine at compile time whether a) an operation
8222(like memcpy) will overflow a buffer that corresponds to an object, or
8223b) that a runtime check for overflow isn't necessary. An object in this
8224context means an allocation of a specific class, structure, array, or
8225other object.
8226
8227Arguments:
8228""""""""""
8229
8230The ``llvm.objectsize`` intrinsic takes two arguments. The first
8231argument is a pointer to or into the ``object``. The second argument is
8232a boolean and determines whether ``llvm.objectsize`` returns 0 (if true)
8233or -1 (if false) when the object size is unknown. The second argument
8234only accepts constants.
8235
8236Semantics:
8237""""""""""
8238
8239The ``llvm.objectsize`` intrinsic is lowered to a constant representing
8240the size of the object concerned. If the size cannot be determined at
8241compile time, ``llvm.objectsize`` returns ``i32/i64 -1 or 0`` (depending
8242on the ``min`` argument).
8243
8244'``llvm.expect``' Intrinsic
8245^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8246
8247Syntax:
8248"""""""
8249
8250::
8251
8252 declare i32 @llvm.expect.i32(i32 <val>, i32 <expected_val>)
8253 declare i64 @llvm.expect.i64(i64 <val>, i64 <expected_val>)
8254
8255Overview:
8256"""""""""
8257
8258The ``llvm.expect`` intrinsic provides information about expected (the
8259most probable) value of ``val``, which can be used by optimizers.
8260
8261Arguments:
8262""""""""""
8263
8264The ``llvm.expect`` intrinsic takes two arguments. The first argument is
8265a value. The second argument is an expected value, this needs to be a
8266constant value, variables are not allowed.
8267
8268Semantics:
8269""""""""""
8270
8271This intrinsic is lowered to the ``val``.
8272
8273'``llvm.donothing``' Intrinsic
8274^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8275
8276Syntax:
8277"""""""
8278
8279::
8280
8281 declare void @llvm.donothing() nounwind readnone
8282
8283Overview:
8284"""""""""
8285
8286The ``llvm.donothing`` intrinsic doesn't perform any operation. It's the
8287only intrinsic that can be called with an invoke instruction.
8288
8289Arguments:
8290""""""""""
8291
8292None.
8293
8294Semantics:
8295""""""""""
8296
8297This intrinsic does nothing, and it's removed by optimizers and ignored
8298by codegen.