Load and Store APIs

QEMU internally has multiple families of functions for performing loads and stores. This document attempts to enumerate them all and indicate when to use them. It does not provide detailed documentation of each API – for that you should look at the documentation comments in the relevant header files.

ld*_p and st*_p

These functions operate on a host pointer, and should be used when you already have a pointer into host memory (corresponding to guest ram or a local buffer). They deal with doing accesses with the desired endianness and with correctly handling potentially unaligned pointer values.

Function names follow the pattern:

load: ld{sign}{size}_{endian}_p(ptr)

store: st{size}_{endian}_p(ptr, val)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned
  • s : signed
size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
endian
  • he : host endian
  • be : big endian
  • le : little endian

The _{endian} infix is omitted for target-endian accesses.

The target endian accessors are only available to source files which are built per-target.

There are also functions which take the size as an argument:

load: ldn{endian}_p(ptr, sz)

which performs an unsigned load of sz bytes from ptr as an {endian} order value and returns it in a uint64_t.

store: stn{endian}_p(ptr, sz, val)

which stores val to ptr as an {endian} order value of size sz bytes.

Regexes for git grep
  • \<ld[us]\?[bwlq]\(_[hbl]e\)\?_p\>
  • \<st[bwlq]\(_[hbl]e\)\?_p\>
  • \<ldn_\([hbl]e\)?_p\>
  • \<stn_\([hbl]e\)?_p\>

cpu_{ld,st}*_mmu

These functions operate on a guest virtual address, plus a context known as a “mmu index” which controls how that virtual address is translated, plus a MemOp which contains alignment requirements among other things. The MemOp and mmu index are combined into a single argument of type MemOpIdx.

The meaning of the indexes are target specific, but specifying a particular index might be necessary if, for instance, the helper requires a “always as non-privileged” access rather than the default access for the current state of the guest CPU.

These functions may cause a guest CPU exception to be taken (e.g. for an alignment fault or MMU fault) which will result in guest CPU state being updated and control longjmp’ing out of the function call. They should therefore only be used in code that is implementing emulation of the guest CPU.

The retaddr parameter is used to control unwinding of the guest CPU state in case of a guest CPU exception. This is passed to cpu_restore_state(). Therefore the value should either be 0, to indicate that the guest CPU state is already synchronized, or the result of GETPC() from the top level HELPER(foo) function, which is a return address into the generated code [1].

[1]Note that GETPC() should be used with great care: calling it in other functions that are not the top level HELPER(foo) will cause unexpected behavior. Instead, the value of GETPC() should be read from the helper and passed if needed to the functions that the helper calls.

Function names follow the pattern:

load: cpu_ld{size}{end}_mmu(env, ptr, oi, retaddr)

store: cpu_st{size}{end}_mmu(env, ptr, val, oi, retaddr)

size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
end
  • (empty) : for target endian, or 8 bit sizes
  • _be : big endian
  • _le : little endian
Regexes for git grep:
  • \<cpu_ld[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_mmu\>
  • \<cpu_st[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_mmu\>

cpu_{ld,st}*_mmuidx_ra

These functions work like the cpu_{ld,st}_mmu functions except that the mmuidx parameter is not combined with a MemOp, and therefore there is no required alignment supplied or enforced.

Function names follow the pattern:

load: cpu_ld{sign}{size}{end}_mmuidx_ra(env, ptr, mmuidx, retaddr)

store: cpu_st{size}{end}_mmuidx_ra(env, ptr, val, mmuidx, retaddr)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned
  • s : signed
size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
end
  • (empty) : for target endian, or 8 bit sizes
  • _be : big endian
  • _le : little endian
Regexes for git grep:
  • \<cpu_ld[us]\?[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_mmuidx_ra\>
  • \<cpu_st[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_mmuidx_ra\>

cpu_{ld,st}*_data_ra

These functions work like the cpu_{ld,st}_mmuidx_ra functions except that the mmuidx parameter is taken from the current mode of the guest CPU, as determined by cpu_mmu_index(env, false).

These are generally the preferred way to do accesses by guest virtual address from helper functions, unless the access should be performed with a context other than the default, or alignment should be enforced for the access.

Function names follow the pattern:

load: cpu_ld{sign}{size}{end}_data_ra(env, ptr, ra)

store: cpu_st{size}{end}_data_ra(env, ptr, val, ra)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned
  • s : signed
size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
end
  • (empty) : for target endian, or 8 bit sizes
  • _be : big endian
  • _le : little endian
Regexes for git grep:
  • \<cpu_ld[us]\?[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_data_ra\>
  • \<cpu_st[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_data_ra\>

cpu_{ld,st}*_data

These functions work like the cpu_{ld,st}_data_ra functions except that the retaddr parameter is 0, and thus does not unwind guest CPU state.

This means they must only be used from helper functions where the translator has saved all necessary CPU state. These functions are the right choice for calls made from hooks like the CPU do_interrupt hook or when you know for certain that the translator had to save all the CPU state anyway.

Function names follow the pattern:

load: cpu_ld{sign}{size}{end}_data(env, ptr)

store: cpu_st{size}{end}_data(env, ptr, val)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned
  • s : signed
size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
end
  • (empty) : for target endian, or 8 bit sizes
  • _be : big endian
  • _le : little endian
Regexes for git grep
  • \<cpu_ld[us]\?[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_data\>
  • \<cpu_st[bwlq](_[bl]e)\?_data\+\>

cpu_ld*_code

These functions perform a read for instruction execution. The mmuidx parameter is taken from the current mode of the guest CPU, as determined by cpu_mmu_index(env, true). The retaddr parameter is 0, and thus does not unwind guest CPU state, because CPU state is always synchronized while translating instructions. Any guest CPU exception that is raised will indicate an instruction execution fault rather than a data read fault.

In general these functions should not be used directly during translation. There are wrapper functions that are to be used which also take care of plugins for tracing.

Function names follow the pattern:

load: cpu_ld{sign}{size}_code(env, ptr)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned
  • s : signed
size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
Regexes for git grep:
  • \<cpu_ld[us]\?[bwlq]_code\>

translator_ld*

These functions are a wrapper for cpu_ld*_code which also perform any actions required by any tracing plugins. They are only to be called during the translator callback translate_insn.

There is a set of functions ending in _swap which, if the parameter is true, returns the value in the endianness that is the reverse of the guest native endianness, as determined by TARGET_WORDS_BIGENDIAN.

Function names follow the pattern:

load: translator_ld{sign}{size}(env, ptr)

swap: translator_ld{sign}{size}_swap(env, ptr, swap)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned
  • s : signed
size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
Regexes for git grep
  • \<translator_ld[us]\?[bwlq]\(_swap\)\?\>

helper_*_{ld,st}*_mmu

These functions are intended primarily to be called by the code generated by the TCG backend. They may also be called by target CPU helper function code. Like the cpu_{ld,st}_mmuidx_ra functions they perform accesses by guest virtual address, with a given mmuidx.

These functions specify an opindex parameter which encodes (among other things) the mmu index to use for the access. This parameter should be created by calling make_memop_idx().

The retaddr parameter should be the result of GETPC() called directly from the top level HELPER(foo) function (or 0 if no guest CPU state unwinding is required).

TODO The names of these functions are a bit odd for historical reasons because they were originally expected to be called only from within generated code. We should rename them to bring them more in line with the other memory access functions. The explicit endianness is the only feature they have beyond *_mmuidx_ra.

load: helper_{endian}_ld{sign}{size}_mmu(env, addr, opindex, retaddr)

store: helper_{endian}_st{size}_mmu(env, addr, val, opindex, retaddr)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned
  • s : signed
size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
endian
  • le : little endian
  • be : big endian
  • ret : target endianness
Regexes for git grep
  • \<helper_\(le\|be\|ret\)_ld[us]\?[bwlq]_mmu\>
  • \<helper_\(le\|be\|ret\)_st[bwlq]_mmu\>

address_space_*

These functions are the primary ones to use when emulating CPU or device memory accesses. They take an AddressSpace, which is the way QEMU defines the view of memory that a device or CPU has. (They generally correspond to being the “master” end of a hardware bus or bus fabric.)

Each CPU has an AddressSpace. Some kinds of CPU have more than one AddressSpace (for instance Arm guest CPUs have an AddressSpace for the Secure world and one for NonSecure if they implement TrustZone). Devices which can do DMA-type operations should generally have an AddressSpace. There is also a “system address space” which typically has all the devices and memory that all CPUs can see. (Some older device models use the “system address space” rather than properly modelling that they have an AddressSpace of their own.)

Functions are provided for doing byte-buffer reads and writes, and also for doing one-data-item loads and stores.

In all cases the caller provides a MemTxAttrs to specify bus transaction attributes, and can check whether the memory transaction succeeded using a MemTxResult return code.

address_space_read(address_space, addr, attrs, buf, len)

address_space_write(address_space, addr, attrs, buf, len)

address_space_rw(address_space, addr, attrs, buf, len, is_write)

address_space_ld{sign}{size}_{endian}(address_space, addr, attrs, txresult)

address_space_st{size}_{endian}(address_space, addr, val, attrs, txresult)

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned

(No signed load operations are provided.)

size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
endian
  • le : little endian
  • be : big endian

The _{endian} suffix is omitted for byte accesses.

Regexes for git grep
  • \<address_space_\(read\|write\|rw\)\>
  • \<address_space_ldu\?[bwql]\(_[lb]e\)\?\>
  • \<address_space_st[bwql]\(_[lb]e\)\?\>

address_space_write_rom

This function performs a write by physical address like address_space_write, except that if the write is to a ROM then the ROM contents will be modified, even though a write by the guest CPU to the ROM would be ignored. This is used for non-guest writes like writes from the gdb debug stub or initial loading of ROM contents.

Note that portions of the write which attempt to write data to a device will be silently ignored – only real RAM and ROM will be written to.

Regexes for git grep
  • address_space_write_rom

{ld,st}*_phys

These are functions which are identical to address_space_{ld,st}*, except that they always pass MEMTXATTRS_UNSPECIFIED for the transaction attributes, and ignore whether the transaction succeeded or failed.

The fact that they ignore whether the transaction succeeded means they should not be used in new code, unless you know for certain that your code will only be used in a context where the CPU or device doing the access has no way to report such an error.

load: ld{sign}{size}_{endian}_phys

store: st{size}_{endian}_phys

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned

(No signed load operations are provided.)

size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
endian
  • le : little endian
  • be : big endian

The _{endian}_ infix is omitted for byte accesses.

Regexes for git grep
  • \<ldu\?[bwlq]\(_[bl]e\)\?_phys\>
  • \<st[bwlq]\(_[bl]e\)\?_phys\>

cpu_physical_memory_*

These are convenience functions which are identical to address_space_* but operate specifically on the system address space, always pass a MEMTXATTRS_UNSPECIFIED set of memory attributes and ignore whether the memory transaction succeeded or failed. For new code they are better avoided:

  • there is likely to be behaviour you need to model correctly for a failed read or write operation
  • a device should usually perform operations on its own AddressSpace rather than using the system address space

cpu_physical_memory_read

cpu_physical_memory_write

cpu_physical_memory_rw

Regexes for git grep
  • \<cpu_physical_memory_\(read\|write\|rw\)\>

cpu_memory_rw_debug

Access CPU memory by virtual address for debug purposes.

This function is intended for use by the GDB stub and similar code. It takes a virtual address, converts it to a physical address via an MMU lookup using the current settings of the specified CPU, and then performs the access (using address_space_rw for reads or cpu_physical_memory_write_rom for writes). This means that if the access is a write to a ROM then this function will modify the contents (whereas a normal guest CPU access would ignore the write attempt).

cpu_memory_rw_debug

dma_memory_*

These behave like address_space_*, except that they perform a DMA barrier operation first.

TODO: We should provide guidance on when you need the DMA barrier operation and when it’s OK to use address_space_*, and make sure our existing code is doing things correctly.

dma_memory_read

dma_memory_write

dma_memory_rw

Regexes for git grep
  • \<dma_memory_\(read\|write\|rw\)\>
  • \<ldu\?[bwlq]\(_[bl]e\)\?_dma\>
  • \<st[bwlq]\(_[bl]e\)\?_dma\>

pci_dma_* and {ld,st}*_pci_dma

These functions are specifically for PCI device models which need to perform accesses where the PCI device is a bus master. You pass them a PCIDevice * and they will do dma_memory_* operations on the correct address space for that device.

pci_dma_read

pci_dma_write

pci_dma_rw

load: ld{sign}{size}_{endian}_pci_dma

store: st{size}_{endian}_pci_dma

sign
  • (empty) : for 32 or 64 bit sizes
  • u : unsigned

(No signed load operations are provided.)

size
  • b : 8 bits
  • w : 16 bits
  • l : 32 bits
  • q : 64 bits
endian
  • le : little endian
  • be : big endian

The _{endian}_ infix is omitted for byte accesses.

Regexes for git grep
  • \<pci_dma_\(read\|write\|rw\)\>
  • \<ldu\?[bwlq]\(_[bl]e\)\?_pci_dma\>
  • \<st[bwlq]\(_[bl]e\)\?_pci_dma\>