Ok, that was fast! Thanks!

So here are my comments so far...

Yes, my list was incomplete, I did forget BASR, PC, SVC and BAKR. (Except that SVC doesn't load a linkage register.) But I do think it was complete enough.

I'm focusing on the forms of the instructions that actually call something, so I don't think such things are BASR R12,0 particularly matter here.

FWIW, I say bazz-em.


I hadn't thought of the word "linkage", but yes, I kinda like it. I'll probably start using some variation of that.

Or perhaps "linking instructions"?


Thanks,
Dave





At 2/10/2022 11:04 AM, 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
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