1 @c Copyright (C) 1996-2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
2 @c This is part of the GAS manual.
3 @c For copying conditions, see the file as.texinfo.
8 @chapter ARM Dependent Features
12 @node Machine Dependencies
13 @chapter ARM Dependent Features
19 * ARM Options:: Options
21 * ARM Floating Point:: Floating Point
22 * ARM Directives:: ARM Machine Directives
23 * ARM Opcodes:: Opcodes
24 * ARM Mapping Symbols:: Mapping Symbols
25 * ARM Unwinding Tutorial:: Unwinding
30 @cindex ARM options (none)
31 @cindex options for ARM (none)
35 @cindex @code{-mcpu=} command-line option, ARM
36 @item -mcpu=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
37 This option specifies the target processor. The assembler will issue an
38 error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
39 will not execute on the target processor. The following processor names are
84 @code{fa526} (Faraday FA526 processor),
85 @code{fa626} (Faraday FA626 processor),
104 @code{fa606te} (Faraday FA606TE processor),
105 @code{fa616te} (Faraday FA616TE processor),
106 @code{fa626te} (Faraday FA626TE processor),
107 @code{fmp626} (Faraday FMP626 processor),
108 @code{fa726te} (Faraday FA726TE processor),
145 @code{cortex-r52plus},
154 @code{cortex-m0plus},
159 @code{marvell-whitney},
166 @code{i80200} (Intel XScale processor)
167 @code{iwmmxt} (Intel XScale processor with Wireless MMX technology coprocessor)
170 The special name @code{all} may be used to allow the
171 assembler to accept instructions valid for any ARM processor.
173 In addition to the basic instruction set, the assembler can be told to
174 accept various extension mnemonics that extend the processor using the
175 co-processor instruction space. For example, @code{-mcpu=cortex-a53+simd}
176 enables the Advanced SIMD extension.
178 Multiple extensions may be specified, separated by a @code{+}. The
179 extensions should be specified in ascending alphabetical order.
181 Some extensions may be restricted to particular architectures; this is
182 documented in the list of extensions below.
184 Extension mnemonics may also be removed from those the assembler accepts.
185 This is done be prepending @code{no} to the option that adds the extension.
186 Extensions that are removed should be listed after all extensions which have
187 been added, again in ascending alphabetical order.
190 The following extensions are currently supported:
191 @code{bf16} (BFloat16 extensions for v8.6-A architecture),
192 @code{i8mm} (Int8 Matrix Multiply extensions for v8.6-A architecture),
194 @code{crypto} (Cryptography Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp+simd}),
195 @code{dotprod} (Dot Product Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp+simd}),
196 @code{fp} (Floating Point Extensions for v8-A architecture),
197 @code{fp16} (FP16 Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp}),
198 @code{fp16fml} (FP16 Floating Point Multiplication Variant Extensions for v8.2-A architecture, implies @code{fp16}),
199 @code{idiv} (Integer Divide Extensions for v7-A and v7-R architectures),
203 @code{mp} (Multiprocessing Extensions for v7-A and v7-R
205 @code{os} (Operating System for v6M architecture),
206 @code{predres} (Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction for
207 v8-A architectures, added by default from v8.5-A),
208 @code{sb} (Speculation Barrier Instruction for v8-A architectures, added by
209 default from v8.5-A),
210 @code{sec} (Security Extensions for v6K and v7-A architectures),
211 @code{simd} (Advanced SIMD Extensions for v8-A architecture, implies @code{fp}),
212 @code{virt} (Virtualization Extensions for v7-A architecture, implies
214 @code{pan} (Privileged Access Never Extensions for v8-A architecture),
215 @code{ras} (Reliability, Availability and Serviceability extensions
216 for v8-A architecture),
217 @code{rdma} (ARMv8.1 Advanced SIMD extensions for v8-A architecture, implies
222 @cindex @code{-march=} command-line option, ARM
223 @item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
224 This option specifies the target architecture. The assembler will issue
225 an error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
226 will not execute on the target architecture. The following architecture
227 names are recognized:
265 @code{armv8.1-m.main},
280 If both @code{-mcpu} and
281 @code{-march} are specified, the assembler will use
282 the setting for @code{-mcpu}.
284 The architecture option can be extended with a set extension options. These
285 extensions are context sensitive, i.e. the same extension may mean different
286 things when used with different architectures. When used together with a
287 @code{-mfpu} option, the union of both feature enablement is taken.
288 See their availability and meaning below:
290 For @code{armv5te}, @code{armv5texp}, @code{armv5tej}, @code{armv6}, @code{armv6j}, @code{armv6k}, @code{armv6z}, @code{armv6kz}, @code{armv6zk}, @code{armv6t2}, @code{armv6kt2} and @code{armv6zt2}:
293 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv2 instructions.
294 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instrunctions.
300 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
301 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
307 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
308 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
309 @item @code{+vfpv3}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
310 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point
311 conversion instructions and 16 double-word registers.
312 @item @code{+vfpv3-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point conversion
313 instructions and 32 double-word registers.
314 @item @code{+vfpv4-d16}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
315 @item @code{+vfpv4}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
316 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFPv3 and NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word
318 @item @code{+neon}: Alias for @code{+simd}.
319 @item @code{+neon-vfpv3}: Alias for @code{+simd}.
320 @item @code{+neon-fp16}: Enables VFPv3, half precision floating-point conversion and
321 NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
322 @item @code{+neon-vfpv4}: Enables VFPv4 and NEONv1 with Fused-MAC instructions and 32
323 double-word registers.
324 @item @code{+mp}: Enables Multiprocessing Extensions.
325 @item @code{+sec}: Enables Security Extensions.
326 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU and NEON instructions.
327 @item @code{+nosimd}: Disables all NEON instructions.
333 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
334 @item @code{+vfpv4-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
335 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
336 @item @code{+vfpv3}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
337 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point
338 conversion instructions and 16 double-word registers.
339 @item @code{+vfpv3-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 with half precision floating-point conversion
340 instructions and 32 double-word registers.
341 @item @code{+vfpv4}: Enables VFPv4 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
342 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFPv4 and NEONv1 with Fused-MAC instructions and 32
343 double-word registers.
344 @item @code{+neon-vfpv4}: Alias for @code{+simd}.
345 @item @code{+neon}: Enables VFPv3 and NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word
347 @item @code{+neon-vfpv3}: Alias for @code{+neon}.
348 @item @code{+neon-fp16}: Enables VFPv3, half precision floating-point conversion and
349 NEONv1 instructions with 32 double-word registers.
350 double-word registers.
351 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU and NEON instructions.
352 @item @code{+nosimd}: Disables all NEON instructions.
358 @item @code{+fp.sp}: Enables single-precision only VFPv3 instructions with 16
359 double-word registers.
360 @item @code{+vfpv3xd}: Alias for @code{+fp.sp}.
361 @item @code{+fp}: Enables VFPv3 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
362 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
363 @item @code{+vfpv3xd-fp16}: Enables single-precision only VFPv3 and half
364 floating-point conversion instructions with 16 double-word registers.
365 @item @code{+vfpv3-d16-fp16}: Enables VFPv3 and half precision floating-point
366 conversion instructions with 16 double-word registers.
367 @item @code{+idiv}: Enables integer division instructions in ARM mode.
368 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
374 @item @code{+fp}: Enables single-precision only VFPv4 instructions with 16
375 double-word registers.
376 @item @code{+vfpvf4-sp-d16}: Alias for @code{+fp}.
377 @item @code{+fpv5}: Enables single-precision only VFPv5 instructions with 16
378 double-word registers.
379 @item @code{+fp.dp}: Enables VFPv5 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
380 @item @code{+fpv5-d16"}: Alias for @code{+fp.dp}.
381 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
384 For @code{armv8-m.main}:
387 @item @code{+dsp}: Enables DSP Extension.
388 @item @code{+fp}: Enables single-precision only VFPv5 instructions with 16
389 double-word registers.
390 @item @code{+fp.dp}: Enables VFPv5 instructions with 16 double-word registers.
391 @item @code{+cdecp0} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 0),
392 @item @code{+cdecp1} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 1),
393 @item @code{+cdecp2} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 2),
394 @item @code{+cdecp3} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 3),
395 @item @code{+cdecp4} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 4),
396 @item @code{+cdecp5} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 5),
397 @item @code{+cdecp6} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 6),
398 @item @code{+cdecp7} (CDE extensions for v8-m architecture with coprocessor 7),
399 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
400 @item @code{+nodsp}: Disables DSP Extension.
403 For @code{armv8.1-m.main}:
406 @item @code{+dsp}: Enables DSP Extension.
407 @item @code{+fp}: Enables single and half precision scalar Floating Point Extensions
408 for Armv8.1-M Mainline with 16 double-word registers.
409 @item @code{+fp.dp}: Enables double precision scalar Floating Point Extensions for
410 Armv8.1-M Mainline, implies @code{+fp}.
411 @item @code{+mve}: Enables integer only M-profile Vector Extension for
412 Armv8.1-M Mainline, implies @code{+dsp}.
413 @item @code{+mve.fp}: Enables Floating Point M-profile Vector Extension for
414 Armv8.1-M Mainline, implies @code{+mve} and @code{+fp}.
415 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU instructions.
416 @item @code{+nodsp}: Disables DSP Extension.
417 @item @code{+nomve}: Disables all M-profile Vector Extensions.
423 @item @code{+crc}: Enables CRC32 Extension.
424 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8-A.
425 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
426 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
427 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
429 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON and Cryptography Extensions.
430 @item @code{+nocrypto}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
433 For @code{armv8.1-a}:
436 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A.
437 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
438 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
439 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
441 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON and Cryptography Extensions.
442 @item @code{+nocrypto}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
445 For @code{armv8.2-a} and @code{armv8.3-a}:
448 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A.
449 @item @code{+fp16}: Enables FP16 Extension for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
450 @item @code{+fp16fml}: Enables FP16 Floating Point Multiplication Variant Extensions
451 for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+fp16}.
452 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
453 @item @code{+dotprod}: Enables Dot Product Extensions for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
454 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
455 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
457 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON, Cryptography and Dot Product Extensions.
458 @item @code{+nocrypto}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
461 For @code{armv8.4-a}:
464 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A and Dot Product Extensions for
466 @item @code{+fp16}: Enables FP16 Floating Point and Floating Point Multiplication
467 Variant Extensions for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
468 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
469 @item @code{+sb}: Enables Speculation Barrier Instruction for Armv8-A.
470 @item @code{+predres}: Enables Execution and Data Prediction Restriction Instruction
472 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON, Cryptography and Dot Product Extensions.
473 @item @code{+nocryptp}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
476 For @code{armv8.5-a}:
479 @item @code{+simd}: Enables VFP and NEON for Armv8.1-A and Dot Product Extensions for
481 @item @code{+fp16}: Enables FP16 Floating Point and Floating Point Multiplication
482 Variant Extensions for Armv8.2-A, implies @code{+simd}.
483 @item @code{+crypto}: Enables Cryptography Extensions for Armv8-A, implies @code{+simd}.
484 @item @code{+nofp}: Disables all FPU, NEON, Cryptography and Dot Product Extensions.
485 @item @code{+nocryptp}: Disables Cryptography Extensions.
488 @cindex @code{-mfpu=} command-line option, ARM
489 @item -mfpu=@var{floating-point-format}
491 This option specifies the floating point format to assemble for. The
492 assembler will issue an error message if an attempt is made to assemble
493 an instruction which will not execute on the target floating point unit.
494 The following format options are recognized:
514 @code{vfpv3-d16-fp16},
530 @code{neon-fp-armv8},
531 @code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8},
532 @code{neon-fp-armv8.1}
534 @code{crypto-neon-fp-armv8.1}.
536 In addition to determining which instructions are assembled, this option
537 also affects the way in which the @code{.double} assembler directive behaves
538 when assembling little-endian code.
540 The default is dependent on the processor selected. For Architecture 5 or
541 later, the default is to assemble for VFP instructions; for earlier
542 architectures the default is to assemble for FPA instructions.
544 @cindex @code{-mfp16-format=} command-line option
545 @item -mfp16-format=@var{format}
546 This option specifies the half-precision floating point format to use
547 when assembling floating point numbers emitted by the @code{.float16}
549 The following format options are recognized:
552 If @code{ieee} is specified then the IEEE 754-2008 half-precision floating
553 point format is used, if @code{alternative} is specified then the Arm
554 alternative half-precision format is used. If this option is set on the
555 command line then the format is fixed and cannot be changed with
556 the @code{float16_format} directive. If this value is not set then
557 the IEEE 754-2008 format is used until the format is explicitly set with
558 the @code{float16_format} directive.
560 @cindex @code{-mthumb} command-line option, ARM
562 This option specifies that the assembler should start assembling Thumb
563 instructions; that is, it should behave as though the file starts with a
564 @code{.code 16} directive.
566 @cindex @code{-mthumb-interwork} command-line option, ARM
567 @item -mthumb-interwork
568 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
569 be marked as supporting interworking. It also affects the behaviour
570 of the @code{ADR} and @code{ADRL} pseudo opcodes.
572 @cindex @code{-mimplicit-it} command-line option, ARM
573 @item -mimplicit-it=never
574 @itemx -mimplicit-it=always
575 @itemx -mimplicit-it=arm
576 @itemx -mimplicit-it=thumb
577 The @code{-mimplicit-it} option controls the behavior of the assembler when
578 conditional instructions are not enclosed in IT blocks.
579 There are four possible behaviors.
580 If @code{never} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
581 code and an error in Thumb-2 code.
582 If @code{always} is specified, such constructs are accepted in both
583 ARM and Thumb-2 code, where the IT instruction is added implicitly.
584 If @code{arm} is specified, such constructs are accepted in ARM code
585 and cause an error in Thumb-2 code.
586 If @code{thumb} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
587 code and are accepted in Thumb-2 code. If you omit this option, the
588 behavior is equivalent to @code{-mimplicit-it=arm}.
590 @cindex @code{-mapcs-26} command-line option, ARM
591 @cindex @code{-mapcs-32} command-line option, ARM
594 These options specify that the output generated by the assembler should
595 be marked as supporting the indicated version of the Arm Procedure.
598 @cindex @code{-matpcs} command-line option, ARM
600 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
601 be marked as supporting the Arm/Thumb Procedure Calling Standard. If
602 enabled this option will cause the assembler to create an empty
603 debugging section in the object file called .arm.atpcs. Debuggers can
604 use this to determine the ABI being used by.
606 @cindex @code{-mapcs-float} command-line option, ARM
608 This indicates the floating point variant of the APCS should be
609 used. In this variant floating point arguments are passed in FP
610 registers rather than integer registers.
612 @cindex @code{-mapcs-reentrant} command-line option, ARM
613 @item -mapcs-reentrant
614 This indicates that the reentrant variant of the APCS should be used.
615 This variant supports position independent code.
617 @cindex @code{-mfloat-abi=} command-line option, ARM
618 @item -mfloat-abi=@var{abi}
619 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should be
620 marked as using specified floating point ABI.
621 The following values are recognized:
627 @cindex @code{-eabi=} command-line option, ARM
628 @item -meabi=@var{ver}
629 This option specifies which EABI version the produced object files should
631 The following values are recognized:
637 @cindex @code{-EB} command-line option, ARM
639 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
640 be marked as being encoded for a big-endian processor.
642 Note: If a program is being built for a system with big-endian data
643 and little-endian instructions then it should be assembled with the
644 @option{-EB} option, (all of it, code and data) and then linked with
645 the @option{--be8} option. This will reverse the endianness of the
646 instructions back to little-endian, but leave the data as big-endian.
648 @cindex @code{-EL} command-line option, ARM
650 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
651 be marked as being encoded for a little-endian processor.
653 @cindex @code{-k} command-line option, ARM
654 @cindex PIC code generation for ARM
656 This option specifies that the output of the assembler should be marked
657 as position-independent code (PIC).
659 @cindex @code{--fix-v4bx} command-line option, ARM
661 Allow @code{BX} instructions in ARMv4 code. This is intended for use with
662 the linker option of the same name.
664 @cindex @code{-mwarn-deprecated} command-line option, ARM
665 @item -mwarn-deprecated
666 @itemx -mno-warn-deprecated
667 Enable or disable warnings about using deprecated options or
668 features. The default is to warn.
670 @cindex @code{-mccs} command-line option, ARM
672 Turns on CodeComposer Studio assembly syntax compatibility mode.
674 @cindex @code{-mwarn-syms} command-line option, ARM
676 @itemx -mno-warn-syms
677 Enable or disable warnings about symbols that match the names of ARM
678 instructions. The default is to warn.
686 * ARM-Instruction-Set:: Instruction Set
687 * ARM-Chars:: Special Characters
688 * ARM-Regs:: Register Names
689 * ARM-Relocations:: Relocations
690 * ARM-Neon-Alignment:: NEON Alignment Specifiers
693 @node ARM-Instruction-Set
694 @subsection Instruction Set Syntax
695 Two slightly different syntaxes are support for ARM and THUMB
696 instructions. The default, @code{divided}, uses the old style where
697 ARM and THUMB instructions had their own, separate syntaxes. The new,
698 @code{unified} syntax, which can be selected via the @code{.syntax}
699 directive, and has the following main features:
703 Immediate operands do not require a @code{#} prefix.
706 The @code{IT} instruction may appear, and if it does it is validated
707 against subsequent conditional affixes. In ARM mode it does not
708 generate machine code, in THUMB mode it does.
711 For ARM instructions the conditional affixes always appear at the end
712 of the instruction. For THUMB instructions conditional affixes can be
713 used, but only inside the scope of an @code{IT} instruction.
716 All of the instructions new to the V6T2 architecture (and later) are
717 available. (Only a few such instructions can be written in the
718 @code{divided} syntax).
721 The @code{.N} and @code{.W} suffixes are recognized and honored.
724 All instructions set the flags if and only if they have an @code{s}
729 @subsection Special Characters
731 @cindex line comment character, ARM
732 @cindex ARM line comment character
733 The presence of a @samp{@@} anywhere on a line indicates the start of
734 a comment that extends to the end of that line.
736 If a @samp{#} appears as the first character of a line then the whole
737 line is treated as a comment, but in this case the line could also be
738 a logical line number directive (@pxref{Comments}) or a preprocessor
739 control command (@pxref{Preprocessing}).
741 @cindex line separator, ARM
742 @cindex statement separator, ARM
743 @cindex ARM line separator
744 The @samp{;} character can be used instead of a newline to separate
747 @cindex immediate character, ARM
748 @cindex ARM immediate character
749 Either @samp{#} or @samp{$} can be used to indicate immediate operands.
751 @cindex identifiers, ARM
752 @cindex ARM identifiers
753 *TODO* Explain about /data modifier on symbols.
756 @subsection Register Names
758 @cindex ARM register names
759 @cindex register names, ARM
760 *TODO* Explain about ARM register naming, and the predefined names.
762 @node ARM-Relocations
763 @subsection ARM relocation generation
765 @cindex data relocations, ARM
766 @cindex ARM data relocations
767 Specific data relocations can be generated by putting the relocation name
768 in parentheses after the symbol name. For example:
774 This will generate an @samp{R_ARM_TARGET1} relocation against the symbol
776 The following relocations are supported:
792 For compatibility with older toolchains the assembler also accepts
793 @code{(PLT)} after branch targets. On legacy targets this will
794 generate the deprecated @samp{R_ARM_PLT32} relocation. On EABI
795 targets it will encode either the @samp{R_ARM_CALL} or
796 @samp{R_ARM_JUMP24} relocation, as appropriate.
798 @cindex MOVW and MOVT relocations, ARM
799 Relocations for @samp{MOVW} and @samp{MOVT} instructions can be generated
800 by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower16:} and @samp{#:upper16}
801 respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
804 MOVW r0, #:lower16:foo
805 MOVT r0, #:upper16:foo
808 Relocations @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G0_NC}, @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G1_NC},
809 @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G2_NC} and @samp{R_ARM_THM_ALU_ABS_G3_NC} can be
810 generated by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower0_7:#},
811 @samp{#:lower8_15:#}, @samp{#:upper0_7:#} and @samp{#:upper8_15:#}
812 respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
815 MOVS r0, #:upper8_15:#foo
817 ADDS r0, #:upper0_7:#foo
819 ADDS r0, #:lower8_15:#foo
821 ADDS r0, #:lower0_7:#foo
824 @node ARM-Neon-Alignment
825 @subsection NEON Alignment Specifiers
827 @cindex alignment for NEON instructions
828 Some NEON load/store instructions allow an optional address
830 The ARM documentation specifies that this is indicated by
831 @samp{@@ @var{align}}. However GAS already interprets
832 the @samp{@@} character as a "line comment" start,
833 so @samp{: @var{align}} is used instead. For example:
836 vld1.8 @{q0@}, [r0, :128]
839 @node ARM Floating Point
840 @section Floating Point
842 @cindex floating point, ARM (@sc{ieee})
843 @cindex ARM floating point (@sc{ieee})
844 The ARM family uses @sc{ieee} floating-point numbers.
847 @section ARM Machine Directives
849 @cindex machine directives, ARM
850 @cindex ARM machine directives
853 @c AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
856 @cindex @code{.2byte} directive, ARM
857 @cindex @code{.4byte} directive, ARM
858 @cindex @code{.8byte} directive, ARM
859 @item .2byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
860 @itemx .4byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
861 @itemx .8byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
862 These directives write 2, 4 or 8 byte values to the output section.
865 @cindex @code{.align} directive, ARM
866 @item .align @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]
867 This is the generic @var{.align} directive. For the ARM however if the
868 first argument is zero (ie no alignment is needed) the assembler will
869 behave as if the argument had been 2 (ie pad to the next four byte
870 boundary). This is for compatibility with ARM's own assembler.
872 @cindex @code{.arch} directive, ARM
873 @item .arch @var{name}
874 Select the target architecture. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
875 for the @option{-march} command-line option without the instruction set
878 Specifying @code{.arch} clears any previously selected architecture
881 @cindex @code{.arch_extension} directive, ARM
882 @item .arch_extension @var{name}
883 Add or remove an architecture extension to the target architecture. Valid
884 values for @var{name} are the same as those accepted as architectural
885 extensions by the @option{-mcpu} and @option{-march} command-line options.
887 @code{.arch_extension} may be used multiple times to add or remove extensions
888 incrementally to the architecture being compiled for.
890 @cindex @code{.arm} directive, ARM
892 This performs the same action as @var{.code 32}.
894 @c BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
895 @c CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
897 @cindex @code{.cantunwind} directive, ARM
899 Prevents unwinding through the current function. No personality routine
900 or exception table data is required or permitted.
902 @cindex @code{.code} directive, ARM
903 @item .code @code{[16|32]}
904 This directive selects the instruction set being generated. The value 16
905 selects Thumb, with the value 32 selecting ARM.
907 @cindex @code{.cpu} directive, ARM
908 @item .cpu @var{name}
909 Select the target processor. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
910 for the @option{-mcpu} command-line option without the instruction set
913 Specifying @code{.cpu} clears any previously selected architecture
916 @c DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
918 @cindex @code{.dn} and @code{.qn} directives, ARM
919 @item @var{name} .dn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
920 @itemx @var{name} .qn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
922 The @code{dn} and @code{qn} directives are used to create typed
923 and/or indexed register aliases for use in Advanced SIMD Extension
924 (Neon) instructions. The former should be used to create aliases
925 of double-precision registers, and the latter to create aliases of
926 quad-precision registers.
928 If these directives are used to create typed aliases, those aliases can
929 be used in Neon instructions instead of writing types after the mnemonic
930 or after each operand. For example:
939 This is equivalent to writing the following:
945 Aliases created using @code{dn} or @code{qn} can be destroyed using
948 @c EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
950 @cindex @code{.eabi_attribute} directive, ARM
951 @item .eabi_attribute @var{tag}, @var{value}
952 Set the EABI object attribute @var{tag} to @var{value}.
954 The @var{tag} is either an attribute number, or one of the following:
955 @code{Tag_CPU_raw_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_arch},
956 @code{Tag_CPU_arch_profile}, @code{Tag_ARM_ISA_use},
957 @code{Tag_THUMB_ISA_use}, @code{Tag_FP_arch}, @code{Tag_WMMX_arch},
958 @code{Tag_Advanced_SIMD_arch}, @code{Tag_MVE_arch}, @code{Tag_PCS_config},
959 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_R9_use}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RW_data},
960 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RO_data}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_GOT_use},
961 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_wchar_t}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_rounding},
962 @code{Tag_ABI_FP_denormal}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_exceptions},
963 @code{Tag_ABI_FP_user_exceptions}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_number_model},
964 @code{Tag_ABI_align_needed}, @code{Tag_ABI_align_preserved},
965 @code{Tag_ABI_enum_size}, @code{Tag_ABI_HardFP_use},
966 @code{Tag_ABI_VFP_args}, @code{Tag_ABI_WMMX_args},
967 @code{Tag_ABI_optimization_goals}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_optimization_goals},
968 @code{Tag_compatibility}, @code{Tag_CPU_unaligned_access},
969 @code{Tag_FP_HP_extension}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_16bit_format},
970 @code{Tag_MPextension_use}, @code{Tag_DIV_use},
971 @code{Tag_nodefaults}, @code{Tag_also_compatible_with},
972 @code{Tag_conformance}, @code{Tag_T2EE_use},
973 @code{Tag_Virtualization_use}
975 The @var{value} is either a @code{number}, @code{"string"}, or
976 @code{number, "string"} depending on the tag.
978 Note - the following legacy values are also accepted by @var{tag}:
979 @code{Tag_VFP_arch}, @code{Tag_ABI_align8_needed},
980 @code{Tag_ABI_align8_preserved}, @code{Tag_VFP_HP_extension},
982 @cindex @code{.even} directive, ARM
984 This directive aligns to an even-numbered address.
986 @cindex @code{.extend} directive, ARM
987 @cindex @code{.ldouble} directive, ARM
988 @item .extend @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
989 @itemx .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
990 These directives write 12byte long double floating-point values to the
991 output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
994 @c FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
996 @cindex @code{.float16} directive, ARM
997 @item .float16 @var{value [,...,value_n]}
998 Place the half precision floating point representation of one or more
999 floating-point values into the current section. The exact format of the
1000 encoding is specified by @code{.float16_format}. If the format has not
1001 been explicitly set yet (either via the @code{.float16_format} directive or
1002 the command line option) then the IEEE 754-2008 format is used.
1004 @cindex @code{.float16_format} directive, ARM
1005 @item .float16_format @var{format}
1006 Set the format to use when encoding float16 values emitted by
1007 the @code{.float16} directive.
1008 Once the format has been set it cannot be changed.
1009 @code{format} should be one of the following: @code{ieee} (encode in
1010 the IEEE 754-2008 half precision format) or @code{alternative} (encode in
1011 the Arm alternative half precision format).
1014 @cindex @code{.fnend} directive, ARM
1016 Marks the end of a function with an unwind table entry. The unwind index
1017 table entry is created when this directive is processed.
1019 If no personality routine has been specified then standard personality
1020 routine 0 or 1 will be used, depending on the number of unwind opcodes
1023 @anchor{arm_fnstart}
1024 @cindex @code{.fnstart} directive, ARM
1026 Marks the start of a function with an unwind table entry.
1028 @cindex @code{.force_thumb} directive, ARM
1030 This directive forces the selection of Thumb instructions, even if the
1031 target processor does not support those instructions
1033 @cindex @code{.fpu} directive, ARM
1034 @item .fpu @var{name}
1035 Select the floating-point unit to assemble for. Valid values for @var{name}
1036 are the same as for the @option{-mfpu} command-line option.
1038 @c GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
1039 @c HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
1041 @cindex @code{.handlerdata} directive, ARM
1043 Marks the end of the current function, and the start of the exception table
1044 entry for that function. Anything between this directive and the
1045 @code{.fnend} directive will be added to the exception table entry.
1047 Must be preceded by a @code{.personality} or @code{.personalityindex}
1050 @c IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
1052 @cindex @code{.inst} directive, ARM
1053 @item .inst @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1054 @itemx .inst.n @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1055 @itemx .inst.w @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
1056 Generates the instruction corresponding to the numerical value @var{opcode}.
1057 @code{.inst.n} and @code{.inst.w} allow the Thumb instruction size to be
1058 specified explicitly, overriding the normal encoding rules.
1060 @c JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
1061 @c KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
1062 @c LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
1064 @item .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
1067 @cindex @code{.ltorg} directive, ARM
1069 This directive causes the current contents of the literal pool to be
1070 dumped into the current section (which is assumed to be the .text
1071 section) at the current location (aligned to a word boundary).
1072 @code{GAS} maintains a separate literal pool for each section and each
1073 sub-section. The @code{.ltorg} directive will only affect the literal
1074 pool of the current section and sub-section. At the end of assembly
1075 all remaining, un-empty literal pools will automatically be dumped.
1077 Note - older versions of @code{GAS} would dump the current literal
1078 pool any time a section change occurred. This is no longer done, since
1079 it prevents accurate control of the placement of literal pools.
1081 @c MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1083 @cindex @code{.movsp} directive, ARM
1084 @item .movsp @var{reg} [, #@var{offset}]
1085 Tell the unwinder that @var{reg} contains an offset from the current
1086 stack pointer. If @var{offset} is not specified then it is assumed to be
1089 @c NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
1090 @c OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
1092 @cindex @code{.object_arch} directive, ARM
1093 @item .object_arch @var{name}
1094 Override the architecture recorded in the EABI object attribute section.
1095 Valid values for @var{name} are the same as for the @code{.arch} directive.
1096 Typically this is useful when code uses runtime detection of CPU features.
1098 @c PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
1100 @cindex @code{.packed} directive, ARM
1101 @item .packed @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
1102 This directive writes 12-byte packed floating-point values to the
1103 output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
1106 @anchor{arm_pacspval}
1107 @cindex @code{.pacspval} directive, ARM
1109 Generate unwinder annotations to use effective vsp as modifier in PAC
1113 @cindex @code{.pad} directive, ARM
1114 @item .pad #@var{count}
1115 Generate unwinder annotations for a stack adjustment of @var{count} bytes.
1116 A positive value indicates the function prologue allocated stack space by
1117 decrementing the stack pointer.
1119 @cindex @code{.personality} directive, ARM
1120 @item .personality @var{name}
1121 Sets the personality routine for the current function to @var{name}.
1123 @cindex @code{.personalityindex} directive, ARM
1124 @item .personalityindex @var{index}
1125 Sets the personality routine for the current function to the EABI standard
1126 routine number @var{index}
1128 @cindex @code{.pool} directive, ARM
1130 This is a synonym for .ltorg.
1132 @c QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
1133 @c RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
1135 @cindex @code{.req} directive, ARM
1136 @item @var{name} .req @var{register name}
1137 This creates an alias for @var{register name} called @var{name}. For
1144 @c SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
1147 @cindex @code{.save} directive, ARM
1148 @item .save @var{reglist}
1149 Generate unwinder annotations to restore the registers in @var{reglist}.
1150 The format of @var{reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
1154 @exdent @emph{core registers}
1155 .save @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
1156 stmfd sp!, @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
1157 @exdent @emph{FPA registers}
1160 @exdent @emph{VFP registers}
1161 .save @{d8, d9, d10@}
1162 fstmdx sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
1163 @exdent @emph{iWMMXt registers}
1164 .save @{wr10, wr11@}
1165 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
1166 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
1169 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
1171 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
1175 @cindex @code{.setfp} directive, ARM
1176 @item .setfp @var{fpreg}, @var{spreg} [, #@var{offset}]
1177 Make all unwinder annotations relative to a frame pointer. Without this
1178 the unwinder will use offsets from the stack pointer.
1180 The syntax of this directive is the same as the @code{add} or @code{mov}
1181 instruction used to set the frame pointer. @var{spreg} must be either
1182 @code{sp} or mentioned in a previous @code{.movsp} directive.
1192 @cindex @code{.secrel32} directive, ARM
1193 @item .secrel32 @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
1194 This directive emits relocations that evaluate to the section-relative
1195 offset of each expression's symbol. This directive is only supported
1198 @cindex @code{.syntax} directive, ARM
1199 @item .syntax [@code{unified} | @code{divided}]
1200 This directive sets the Instruction Set Syntax as described in the
1201 @ref{ARM-Instruction-Set} section.
1203 @c TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
1205 @cindex @code{.thumb} directive, ARM
1207 This performs the same action as @var{.code 16}.
1209 @cindex @code{.thumb_func} directive, ARM
1211 This directive specifies that the following symbol is the name of a
1212 Thumb encoded function. This information is necessary in order to allow
1213 the assembler and linker to generate correct code for interworking
1214 between Arm and Thumb instructions and should be used even if
1215 interworking is not going to be performed. The presence of this
1216 directive also implies @code{.thumb}
1218 This directive is not necessary when generating EABI objects. On these
1219 targets the encoding is implicit when generating Thumb code.
1221 @cindex @code{.thumb_set} directive, ARM
1223 This performs the equivalent of a @code{.set} directive in that it
1224 creates a symbol which is an alias for another symbol (possibly not yet
1225 defined). This directive also has the added property in that it marks
1226 the aliased symbol as being a thumb function entry point, in the same
1227 way that the @code{.thumb_func} directive does.
1229 @cindex @code{.tlsdescseq} directive, ARM
1230 @item .tlsdescseq @var{tls-variable}
1231 This directive is used to annotate parts of an inlined TLS descriptor
1232 trampoline. Normally the trampoline is provided by the linker, and
1233 this directive is not needed.
1235 @c UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
1237 @cindex @code{.unreq} directive, ARM
1238 @item .unreq @var{alias-name}
1239 This undefines a register alias which was previously defined using the
1240 @code{req}, @code{dn} or @code{qn} directives. For example:
1247 An error occurs if the name is undefined. Note - this pseudo op can
1248 be used to delete builtin in register name aliases (eg 'r0'). This
1249 should only be done if it is really necessary.
1251 @cindex @code{.unwind_raw} directive, ARM
1252 @item .unwind_raw @var{offset}, @var{byte1}, @dots{}
1253 Insert one of more arbitrary unwind opcode bytes, which are known to adjust
1254 the stack pointer by @var{offset} bytes.
1256 For example @code{.unwind_raw 4, 0xb1, 0x01} is equivalent to
1259 @c VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
1261 @cindex @code{.vsave} directive, ARM
1262 @item .vsave @var{vfp-reglist}
1263 Generate unwinder annotations to restore the VFP registers in @var{vfp-reglist}
1264 using FLDMD. Also works for VFPv3 registers
1265 that are to be restored using VLDM.
1266 The format of @var{vfp-reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
1270 @exdent @emph{VFP registers}
1271 .vsave @{d8, d9, d10@}
1272 fstmdd sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
1273 @exdent @emph{VFPv3 registers}
1274 .vsave @{d15, d16, d17@}
1275 vstm sp!, @{d15, d16, d17@}
1278 Since FLDMX and FSTMX are now deprecated, this directive should be
1279 used in favour of @code{.save} for saving VFP registers for ARMv6 and above.
1281 @c WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
1282 @c XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
1283 @c YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
1284 @c ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
1292 @cindex opcodes for ARM
1293 @code{@value{AS}} implements all the standard ARM opcodes. It also
1294 implements several pseudo opcodes, including several synthetic load
1299 @cindex @code{NOP} pseudo op, ARM
1305 This pseudo op will always evaluate to a legal ARM instruction that does
1306 nothing. Currently it will evaluate to MOV r0, r0.
1308 @cindex @code{LDR reg,=<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1311 ldr <register> , = <expression>
1314 If expression evaluates to a numeric constant then a MOV or MVN
1315 instruction will be used in place of the LDR instruction, if the
1316 constant can be generated by either of these instructions. Otherwise
1317 the constant will be placed into the nearest literal pool (if it not
1318 already there) and a PC relative LDR instruction will be generated.
1320 @cindex @code{ADR reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1323 adr <register> <label>
1326 This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
1327 register. The instruction will evaluate to a PC relative ADD or SUB
1328 instruction depending upon where the label is located. If the label is
1329 out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file (and section) as
1330 the ADR instruction, then an error will be generated. This instruction
1331 will not make use of the literal pool.
1333 If @var{label} is a thumb function symbol, and thumb interworking has
1334 been enabled via the @option{-mthumb-interwork} option then the bottom
1335 bit of the value stored into @var{register} will be set. This allows
1336 the following sequence to work as expected:
1339 adr r0, thumb_function
1343 @cindex @code{ADRL reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
1346 adrl <register> <label>
1349 This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
1350 register. The instruction will evaluate to one or two PC relative ADD
1351 or SUB instructions depending upon where the label is located. If a
1352 second instruction is not needed a NOP instruction will be generated in
1353 its place, so that this instruction is always 8 bytes long.
1355 If the label is out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file
1356 (and section) as the ADRL instruction, then an error will be generated.
1357 This instruction will not make use of the literal pool.
1359 If @var{label} is a thumb function symbol, and thumb interworking has
1360 been enabled via the @option{-mthumb-interwork} option then the bottom
1361 bit of the value stored into @var{register} will be set.
1365 For information on the ARM or Thumb instruction sets, see @cite{ARM
1366 Software Development Toolkit Reference Manual}, Advanced RISC Machines
1369 @node ARM Mapping Symbols
1370 @section Mapping Symbols
1372 The ARM ELF specification requires that special symbols be inserted
1373 into object files to mark certain features:
1379 At the start of a region of code containing ARM instructions.
1383 At the start of a region of code containing THUMB instructions.
1387 At the start of a region of data.
1391 The assembler will automatically insert these symbols for you - there
1392 is no need to code them yourself. Support for tagging symbols ($b,
1393 $f, $p and $m) which is also mentioned in the current ARM ELF
1394 specification is not implemented. This is because they have been
1395 dropped from the new EABI and so tools cannot rely upon their
1398 @node ARM Unwinding Tutorial
1401 The ABI for the ARM Architecture specifies a standard format for
1402 exception unwind information. This information is used when an
1403 exception is thrown to determine where control should be transferred.
1404 In particular, the unwind information is used to determine which
1405 function called the function that threw the exception, and which
1406 function called that one, and so forth. This information is also used
1407 to restore the values of callee-saved registers in the function
1408 catching the exception.
1410 If you are writing functions in assembly code, and those functions
1411 call other functions that throw exceptions, you must use assembly
1412 pseudo ops to ensure that appropriate exception unwind information is
1413 generated. Otherwise, if one of the functions called by your assembly
1414 code throws an exception, the run-time library will be unable to
1415 unwind the stack through your assembly code and your program will not
1418 To illustrate the use of these pseudo ops, we will examine the code
1419 that G++ generates for the following C++ input:
1422 void callee (int *);
1433 This example does not show how to throw or catch an exception from
1434 assembly code. That is a much more complex operation and should
1435 always be done in a high-level language, such as C++, that directly
1436 supports exceptions.
1438 The code generated by one particular version of G++ when compiling the
1445 @ Function supports interworking.
1446 @ args = 0, pretend = 0, frame = 8
1447 @ frame_needed = 1, uses_anonymous_args = 0
1469 Of course, the sequence of instructions varies based on the options
1470 you pass to GCC and on the version of GCC in use. The exact
1471 instructions are not important since we are focusing on the pseudo ops
1472 that are used to generate unwind information.
1474 An important assumption made by the unwinder is that the stack frame
1475 does not change during the body of the function. In particular, since
1476 we assume that the assembly code does not itself throw an exception,
1477 the only point where an exception can be thrown is from a call, such
1478 as the @code{bl} instruction above. At each call site, the same saved
1479 registers (including @code{lr}, which indicates the return address)
1480 must be located in the same locations relative to the frame pointer.
1482 The @code{.fnstart} (@pxref{arm_fnstart,,.fnstart pseudo op}) pseudo
1483 op appears immediately before the first instruction of the function
1484 while the @code{.fnend} (@pxref{arm_fnend,,.fnend pseudo op}) pseudo
1485 op appears immediately after the last instruction of the function.
1486 These pseudo ops specify the range of the function.
1488 Only the order of the other pseudos ops (e.g., @code{.setfp} or
1489 @code{.pad}) matters; their exact locations are irrelevant. In the
1490 example above, the compiler emits the pseudo ops with particular
1491 instructions. That makes it easier to understand the code, but it is
1492 not required for correctness. It would work just as well to emit all
1493 of the pseudo ops other than @code{.fnend} in the same order, but
1494 immediately after @code{.fnstart}.
1496 The @code{.save} (@pxref{arm_save,,.save pseudo op}) pseudo op
1497 indicates registers that have been saved to the stack so that they can
1498 be restored before the function returns. The argument to the
1499 @code{.save} pseudo op is a list of registers to save. If a register
1500 is ``callee-saved'' (as specified by the ABI) and is modified by the
1501 function you are writing, then your code must save the value before it
1502 is modified and restore the original value before the function
1503 returns. If an exception is thrown, the run-time library restores the
1504 values of these registers from their locations on the stack before
1505 returning control to the exception handler. (Of course, if an
1506 exception is not thrown, the function that contains the @code{.save}
1507 pseudo op restores these registers in the function epilogue, as is
1508 done with the @code{ldmfd} instruction above.)
1510 You do not have to save callee-saved registers at the very beginning
1511 of the function and you do not need to use the @code{.save} pseudo op
1512 immediately following the point at which the registers are saved.
1513 However, if you modify a callee-saved register, you must save it on
1514 the stack before modifying it and before calling any functions which
1515 might throw an exception. And, you must use the @code{.save} pseudo
1516 op to indicate that you have done so.
1518 The @code{.pad} (@pxref{arm_pad,,.pad}) pseudo op indicates a
1519 modification of the stack pointer that does not save any registers.
1520 The argument is the number of bytes (in decimal) that are subtracted
1521 from the stack pointer. (On ARM CPUs, the stack grows downwards, so
1522 subtracting from the stack pointer increases the size of the stack.)
1524 The @code{.setfp} (@pxref{arm_setfp,,.setfp pseudo op}) pseudo op
1525 indicates the register that contains the frame pointer. The first
1526 argument is the register that is set, which is typically @code{fp}.
1527 The second argument indicates the register from which the frame
1528 pointer takes its value. The third argument, if present, is the value
1529 (in decimal) added to the register specified by the second argument to
1530 compute the value of the frame pointer. You should not modify the
1531 frame pointer in the body of the function.
1533 If you do not use a frame pointer, then you should not use the
1534 @code{.setfp} pseudo op. If you do not use a frame pointer, then you
1535 should avoid modifying the stack pointer outside of the function
1536 prologue. Otherwise, the run-time library will be unable to find
1537 saved registers when it is unwinding the stack.
1539 The pseudo ops described above are sufficient for writing assembly
1540 code that calls functions which may throw exceptions. If you need to
1541 know more about the object-file format used to represent unwind
1542 information, you may consult the @cite{Exception Handling ABI for the
1543 ARM Architecture} available from @uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.