I refer to them all as generic branch and link instructions, and include all other instructions that provide a return address for the routine being entered, whether it's through the instruction itself (like these) or hardware (like PC, SVC). I tend not to use "Call" because there's an IBM macro with that name.
On 2022-02-10 11:04 a.m., David Cole wrote:
In Assembler there are many machine instructions that are suitable for calling subroutines: - They go somewhere, - But they also set a register that can be used to return to the next following instruction. These instructions include: - BAL (Branch and link) - BALR (Branch and link register) - BAS (Branch and save) - JAS (jump and save) - BRAS (Branch relative and save) - BRASL (Branch relative and save long) - BASSM (Branch and save and set mode) My question is this... What is the collective name for these instructions? In a sentence such as "Then you branch and link to a subroutine...", I tend to say "branch and link", but I'm always unhappy about that... - Yes, "branch and link" is an accurate description of you're doing, - While "branch and save" is a bit opaque. - However, the phrase "branch and link" is ambiguous and invites unnecessary quibbling. So my question is... What would you say? TIA, David Cole [email protected] (personal) [email protected] (business) 540-456-6518 (cell)
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