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SCAS/SCASB/SCASW/SCASD -- Compare String Data

Opcode  Instruction  Clocks  Description

AE      SCAS m8      7       Compare bytes AL-ES:[DI], update (E)DI
AF      SCAS m16     7       Compare words AX-ES:[DI], update (E)DI
AF      SCAS m32     7       Compare dwords EAX-ES:[DI], update (E)DI
AE      SCASB        7       Compare bytes AL-ES:[DI], update (E)DI
AF      SCASW        7       Compare words AX-ES:[DI], update (E)DI
AF      SCASD        7       Compare dwords EAX-ES:[DI], update (E)DI

Operation

IF AddressSize = 16
THEN use DI for dest-index;
ELSE (* AddressSize = 32 *) use EDI for dest-index;
FI;
IF byte type of instruction
THEN
   AL - [dest-index]; (* Compare byte in AL and dest *)
   IF DF = 0 THEN IndDec := 1 ELSE IncDec := -1; FI;
ELSE
   IF OperandSize = 16
   THEN
      AX - [dest-index]; (* compare word in AL and dest *)
      IF DF = 0 THEN IncDec := 2 ELSE IncDec := -2; FI;
   ELSE (* OperandSize = 32 *)
      EAX - [dest-index];(* compare dword in EAX & dest *)
      IF DF = 0 THEN IncDec := 4 ELSE IncDec := -4; FI;
   FI;
FI;
dest-index := dest-index + IncDec

Description

SCAS subtracts the memory byte or word at the destination register from the AL, AX or EAX register. The result is discarded; only the flags are set. The operand must be addressable from the ES segment; no segment override is possible.

If the address-size attribute for this instruction is 16 bits, DI is used as the destination register; otherwise, the address-size attribute is 32 bits and EDI is used.

The address of the memory data being compared is determined solely by the contents of the destination register, not by the operand to SCAS. The operand validates ES segment addressability and determines the data type. Load the correct index value into DI or EDI before executing SCAS.

After the comparison is made, the destination register is automatically updated. If the direction flag is 0 (CLD was executed), the destination register is incremented; if the direction flag is 1 (STD was executed), it is decremented. The increments or decrements are by 1 if bytes are compared, by 2 if words are compared, or by 4 if doublewords are compared.

SCASB, SCASW, and SCASD are synonyms for the byte, word and doubleword SCAS instructions that don't require operands. They are simpler to code, but provide no type or segment checking.

SCAS can be preceded by the REPE or REPNE prefix for a block search of CX or ECX bytes or words. Refer to the REP instruction for further details.

Flags Affected

OF, SF, ZF, AF, PF, and CF as described in Appendix C

Protected Mode Exceptions

#GP(0) for an illegal memory operand effective address in the CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS segments; #SS(0) for an illegal address in the SS segment; #PF(fault-code) for a page fault

Real Address Mode Exceptions

Interrupt 13 if any part of the operand would lie outside of the effective address space from 0 to 0FFFFH

Virtual 8086 Mode Exceptions

Same exceptions as in Real Address Mode; #PF(fault-code) for a page fault

up: Chapter 17 -- 80386 Instruction Set
prev: SBB Integer Subtraction with Borrow
next: SETcc Byte Set on Condition