GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) Internals: Constants

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### 13.7 Constant Expression Types

The simplest RTL expressions are those that represent constant values.

`(const_int i)`

  This type of expression represents the integer value i. i is customarily accessed with the macro `INTVAL` as in `INTVAL (exp)`, which is equivalent to `XWINT (exp, 0)`.

  Constants generated for modes with fewer bits than in `HOST_WIDE_INT` must be sign extended to full width (e.g., with `gen_int_mode`). For constants for modes with more bits than in `HOST_WIDE_INT` the implied high order bits of that constant are copies of the top bit. Note however that values are neither inherently signed nor inherently unsigned; where necessary, signedness is determined by the rtl operation instead.

  There is only one expression object for the integer value zero; it is the value of the variable `const0_rtx`. Likewise, the only expression for integer value one is found in `const1_rtx`, the only expression for integer value two is found in `const2_rtx`, and the only expression for integer value negative one is found in `constm1_rtx`. Any attempt to create an expression of code `const_int` and value zero, one, two or negative one will return `const0_rtx`, `const1_rtx`, `const2_rtx` or `constm1_rtx` as appropriate.

  Similarly, there is only one object for the integer whose value is `STORE_FLAG_VALUE`. It is found in `const_true_rtx`. If `STORE_FLAG_VALUE` is one, `const_true_rtx` and `const1_rtx` will point to the same object. If `STORE_FLAG_VALUE` is -1, `const_true_rtx` and `constm1_rtx` will point to the same object.

`(const_double:m i0 i1 …)`

  Represents either a floating-point constant of mode m or an integer constant too large to fit into `HOST_BITS_PER_WIDE_INT` bits but small enough to fit within twice that number of bits (GCC does not provide a mechanism to represent even larger constants). In the latter case, m will be `VOIDmode`. For integral values constants for modes with more bits than twice the number in `HOST_WIDE_INT` the implied high order bits of that constant are copies of the top bit of `CONST_DOUBLE_HIGH`. Note however that integral values are neither inherently signed nor inherently unsigned; where necessary, signedness is determined by the rtl operation instead.

  If m is `VOIDmode`, the bits of the value are stored in i0 and i1. i0 is customarily accessed with the macro `CONST_DOUBLE_LOW` and i1 with `CONST_DOUBLE_HIGH`.

  If the constant is floating point (regardless of its precision), then the number of integers used to store the value depends on the size of `REAL_VALUE_TYPE` (see Floating Point). The integers represent a floating point number, but not precisely in the target machine’s or host machine’s floating point format. To convert them to the precise bit pattern used by the target machine, use the macro `REAL_VALUE_TO_TARGET_DOUBLE` and friends (see Data Output).

`(const_fixed:m …)`

  Represents a fixed-point constant of mode m. The operand is a data structure of type `struct fixed_value` and is accessed with the macro `CONST_FIXED_VALUE`. The high part of data is accessed with `CONST_FIXED_VALUE_HIGH`; the low part is accessed with `CONST_FIXED_VALUE_LOW`.

`(const_vector:m [x0 x1 …])`

  Represents a vector constant. The square brackets stand for the vector containing the constant elements. x0, x1 and so on are the `const_int`, `const_double` or `const_fixed` elements.

  The number of units in a `const_vector` is obtained with the macro `CONST_VECTOR_NUNITS` as in `CONST_VECTOR_NUNITS (v)`.

  Individual elements in a vector constant are accessed with the macro `CONST_VECTOR_ELT` as in `CONST_VECTOR_ELT (v, n)` where v is the vector constant and n is the element desired.

`(const_string str)`

  Represents a constant string with value str. Currently this is used only for insn attributes (see Insn Attributes) since constant strings in C are placed in memory.

`(symbol_ref:mode symbol)`

  Represents the value of an assembler label for data. symbol is a string that describes the name of the assembler label. If it starts with a ‘`*`’, the label is the rest of symbol not including the ‘`*`’. Otherwise, the label is symbol, usually prefixed with ‘`_`’.

  The `symbol_ref` contains a mode, which is usually `Pmode`. Usually that is the only mode for which a symbol is directly valid.

`(label_ref:mode label)`

  Represents the value of an assembler label for code. It contains one operand, an expression, which must be a `code_label` or a `note` of type `NOTE_INSN_DELETED_LABEL` that appears in the instruction sequence to identify the place where the label should go.

  The reason for using a distinct expression type for code label references is so that jump optimization can distinguish them.

  The `label_ref` contains a mode, which is usually `Pmode`. Usually that is the only mode for which a label is directly valid.

`(const:m exp)`

  Represents a constant that is the result of an assembly-time arithmetic computation. The operand, exp, is an expression that contains only constants (`const_int`, `symbol_ref` and `label_ref` expressions) combined with `plus` and `minus`. However, not all combinations are valid, since the assembler cannot do arbitrary arithmetic on relocatable symbols.

  m should be `Pmode`.

`(high:m exp)`

  Represents the high-order bits of exp, usually a `symbol_ref`. The number of bits is machine-dependent and is normally the number of bits specified in an instruction that initializes the high order bits of a register. It is used with `lo_sum` to represent the typical two-instruction sequence used in RISC machines to reference a global memory location.

  m should be `Pmode`.

The macro `CONST0_RTX (mode)` refers to an expression with value 0 in mode mode. If mode mode is of mode class `MODE_INT`, it returns `const0_rtx`. If mode mode is of mode class `MODE_FLOAT`, it returns a `CONST_DOUBLE` expression in mode mode. Otherwise, it returns a `CONST_VECTOR` expression in mode mode. Similarly, the macro `CONST1_RTX (mode)` refers to an expression with value 1 in mode mode and similarly for `CONST2_RTX`. The `CONST1_RTX` and `CONST2_RTX` macros are undefined for vector modes.

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