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
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
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.
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Chapter 17 -- 80386 Instruction Set
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