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2024 Bitwise Operators

The document explains bitwise operations in computer programming, detailing how they operate on individual bits of binary numerals. It distinguishes between bitwise operators and instructions, providing examples of AND, OR, and XOR operations. Additionally, it discusses the usage of logical negation and 1's complement in both C and assembly language, highlighting common syntax errors related to scalar values.

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9 views2 pages

2024 Bitwise Operators

The document explains bitwise operations in computer programming, detailing how they operate on individual bits of binary numerals. It distinguishes between bitwise operators and instructions, providing examples of AND, OR, and XOR operations. Additionally, it discusses the usage of logical negation and 1's complement in both C and assembly language, highlighting common syntax errors related to scalar values.

Uploaded by

sararoza123321
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Bitwise operators and instructions

In computer programming, a bitwise operation operates on a bit string, a bit array or a


binary numeral at the level of its individual bits. It is a fast and simple action, basic to
the higher-level arithmetic operations and directly supported by the processor.

Pay attention to the difference between operators and instructions !!!

Mov ah, 01110111b << 3 ; AH :=10111000b

Vs.

Mov ah, 01110111b


Shl ah, 3

In the descriptions below x represents ONE BIT, 0 and 1 represent bit values and ~x represents
the complementary value of the value bit x. The descriptive sequences below exemplify the
mode of action of the AND, OR and XOR operations AT THE BIT LEVEL as the MECHANISM of
action, regardless of whether the respective operation is triggered at the source code level by
the respective OPERATOR or by the corresponding INSTRUCTION.

& - bitwise AND operator x AND 0 = 0 ; x AND x = x


AND – instruction x AND 1 = x ; x AND ~x = 0

Operation useful for FORCING the values of certain bits to 0 !!!!

| - bitwise OR operator x OR 0 = x ; x OR x = x
OR – instruction x OR 1 = 1 ; x OR ~x = 1

Operation useful for FORCING the values of certain bits to 1 !!!!

^ - bitwise EXCLUSIVE OR operator; x XOR 0 = x x XOR x = 0


XOR – instruction x XOR 1 = ~x x XOR ~x = 1

Operation useful for COMPLEMENTING the value of some bits !!!

XOR ax, ax ; AX=0 !!! = 00000000 0000000b


Operators ! and ~ usage

In C - !0 = 1 (0 = false, anything different from 0 = TRUE, but a predefined function will set
TRUE =1)

In ASM - !0 = same as in C, so ! - Logic Negation: !X = 0 when X ≠ 0, otherwise = 1

~ 1’s Complement: mov al, ~0 => mov AL, 0ffh (bitwise operator !)
(because a 0 in asm is a binary ZERO represented on 8, 16, 32 or 64 bits the logical BITWISE
negation – 1’s complement - will issue a binary 8 of 1’s, 16 of 1’s, 32 of 1’s or 64 of 1’s… )

a d?....
b d?...

Mov eax, ![a] - because [a] is not something computable/determinable at assembly time, this
instruction will issue a syntax error ! – (expression syntax error)

Mov eax, [!a] - ! can only be applied to SCALAR values !! (a = pointer data type ≠ scalar !)

Mov eax, !a - ! can only be applied to SCALAR values !!

Mov eax, !(a+7) - ! can only be applied to SCALAR values

Mov eax, !(b-a) – ok ! because a,b – pointers, but b-a = SCALAR !


Mov eax, ![a+7] - expression syntax error
Mov eax, !7 - EAX = 0
Mov eax, !0 – EAX = 1

Mov eax, ~7 ; 7 = 00000111b , so ~7 = 11111000b = f8h,


EAX=ff ff ff f8h

Mov eax, !ebx ; syntax error !

aa equ 2
mov ah, !aa ; AH=0

Mov AH, 17^(~17) ; AH = 11111111b = 0ffh = -1


Mov ax, value ^ ~value ax=11111111 11111111 = 0ffffh

value ^ ~value ax=0ffffh

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