ba

Branch Absolute

ba target_addr

Unconditionally branches to an absolute address.

Encoding

Binary Layout

18

0:5

LI

6:29

1

30

LK

31

 

Format I-form

Opcode 0x48000002

Extension Base

Operands

• LI
  24-bit Signed Immediate (Address / 4)

Example

ba 0x1000

// Jump to address 0x1000.

Related

More in Base

Reference

View in PowerISA v3.1C Specification ↗ OPF Power ISA v3.1C

Description

Unconditionally branches to an absolute address formed by sign-extending the 24-bit immediate LI and shifting left by 2 bits. The Link Register is not modified unless LK=1. This instruction does not check any condition bits.

Operation

NIA ← (LI || 0b00)
if LK = 1 then LR ← CIA + 4

Programming Note

When LK=1, the address of the next sequential instruction is placed in LR, making this a subroutine call. Use blr to return.