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STOS/STOSB/STOSW/STOSD -- Store String Data

Opcode  Instruction  Clocks   Description

AA      STOS m8      4        Store AL in byte ES:[(E)DI], update (E)DI
AB      STOS m16     4        Store AX in word ES:[(E)DI], update (E)DI
AB      STOS m32     4        Store EAX in dword ES:[(E)DI], update (E)DI
AA      STOSB        4        Store AL in byte ES:[(E)DI], update (E)DI
AB      STOSW        4        Store AX in word ES:[(E)DI], update (E)DI
AB      STOSD        4        Store EAX in dword ES:[(E)DI], update (E)DI

Operation

IF AddressSize = 16
THEN use ES:DI for DestReg
ELSE (* AddressSize = 32 *) use ES:EDI for DestReg;
FI;
IF byte type of instruction
THEN
   (ES:DestReg) := AL;
   IF DF = 0
   THEN DestReg := DestReg + 1;
   ELSE DestReg := DestReg - 1;
   FI;
ELSE IF OperandSize = 16
   THEN
      (ES:DestReg) := AX;
      IF DF = 0
      THEN DestReg := DestReg + 2;
      ELSE DestReg := DestReg - 2;
      FI;
   ELSE (* OperandSize = 32 *)
      (ES:DestReg) := EAX;
      IF DF = 0
      THEN DestReg := DestReg + 4;
      ELSE DestReg := DestReg - 4;
      FI;
   FI;
FI;

Description

STOS transfers the contents of all AL, AX, or EAX register to the memory byte or word given by the destination register relative to the ES segment. The destination register is DI for an address-size attribute of 16 bits or EDI for an address-size attribute of 32 bits.

The destination operand must be addressable from the ES register. A segment override is not possible.

The address of the destination is determined by the contents of the destination register, not by the explicit operand of STOS. This operand is used only to validate ES segment addressability and to determine the data type. Load the correct index value into the destination register before executing STOS.

After the transfer is made, DI is automatically updated. If the direction flag is 0 (CLD was executed), DI is incremented; if the direction flag is 1 (STD was executed), DI is decremented. DI is incremented or decremented by 1 if a byte is stored, by 2 if a word is stored, or by 4 if a doubleword is stored.

STOSB, STOSW, and STOSD are synonyms for the byte, word, and doubleword STOS instructions, that do not require an operand. They are simpler to use, but provide no type or segment checking.

STOS can be preceded by the REP prefix for a block fill of CX or ECX bytes, words, or doublewords. Refer to the REP instruction for further details.

Flags Affected

None

Protected Mode Exceptions

#GP(0) if the result is in a nonwritable segment; #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: STI Set Interrupt Flag
next: STR Store Task Register