mov

Move

MOV r/m, r

Copies data from source to destination.

Details

Copies data from the source register to the destination register or memory location. Operates on 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit operands (size determined by operand-size prefix and REX.W in 64-bit mode). No flags are affected; memory ordering is not guaranteed with respect to other threads without explicit synchronization.

Pseudocode Operation

dest ← src;

Example

MOV EAX, 5 ; Load 5 into EAX MOV [EBX], EAX ; Store EAX to memory at EBX

Encoding

Binary Layout
89
+0
 
Format Legacy
Opcode 89
Extension Base

Operands

  • dest
    Register or memory operand
  • src
    General-purpose register

Reference (Intel® SDM)

Instruction Forms

Opcode Instruction Op/En 64/32-bit Mode CPUID Description
88 /r MOV r/m8, r8 MR Valid Valid Move r8 to r/m8.
89 /r MOV r/m16, r16 MR Valid Valid Move r16 to r/m16.
89 /r MOV r/m32, r32 MR Valid Valid Move r32 to r/m32.
REX.W + 89 /r MOV r/m64, r64 MR Valid N.E. Move r64 to r/m64.
8A /r MOV r8, r/m8 RM Valid Valid Move r/m8 to r8.
8B /r MOV r16, r/m16 RM Valid Valid Move r/m16 to r16.
8B /r MOV r32, r/m32 RM Valid Valid Move r/m32 to r32.
REX.W + 8B /r MOV r64, r/m64 RM Valid N.E. Move r/m64 to r64.
8C /r MOV r/m16, Sreg2 MR Valid Valid Move segment register to r/m16.
8C /r MOV r16/r32/m16, Sreg2 MR Valid Valid Move zero extended 16-bit segment register to r16/r32/m16.
REX.W + 8C /r MOV r64/m16, Sreg2 MR Valid Valid Move zero extended 16-bit segment register to r64/m16.
8E /r MOV Sreg, r/m16 RM Valid Valid Move r/m16 to segment register.
REX.W + 8E /r MOV Sreg, r/m64 RM Valid Valid Move lower 16 bits of r/m64 to segment register.
A0 MOV AL, moffs83 FD Valid Valid Move byte at (seg:offset) to AL.
REX.W + A0 MOV AL, moffs83 FD Valid N.E. Move byte at (offset) to AL.
A1 MOV AX, moffs163 FD Valid Valid Move word at (seg:offset) to AX.
A1 MOV EAX, moffs323 FD Valid Valid Move doubleword at (seg:offset) to EAX.
REX.W + A1 MOV RAX, moffs643 FD Valid N.E. Move quadword at (offset) to RAX.
A2 MOV moffs8, AL TD Valid Valid Move AL to (seg:offset).
REX.W + A2 MOV moffs81, AL TD Valid N.E. Move AL to (offset).
A3 MOV moffs163, AX TD Valid Valid Move AX to (seg:offset).
A3 MOV moffs323, EAX TD Valid Valid Move EAX to (seg:offset).
REX.W + A3 MOV moffs643, RAX TD Valid N.E. Move RAX to (offset).
B0+ rb ib MOV r8, imm8 OI Valid Valid Move imm8 to r8.
B8+ rw iw MOV r16, imm16 OI Valid Valid Move imm16 to r16.
B8+ rd id MOV r32, imm32 OI Valid Valid Move imm32 to r32.
REX.W + B8+ rd io MOV r64, imm64 OI Valid N.E. Move imm64 to r64.
C6 /0 ib MOV r/m8, imm8 MI Valid Valid Move imm8 to r/m8.
C7 /0 iw MOV r/m16, imm16 MI Valid Valid Move imm16 to r/m16.
C7 /0 id MOV r/m32, imm32 MI Valid Valid Move imm32 to r/m32.
REX.W + C7 /0 id MOV r/m64, imm32 MI Valid N.E. Move imm32 sign extended to 64-bits to r/m64.

Description

Copies the second operand (source operand) to the first operand (destination operand). The source operand can be an immediate value, general-purpose register, segment register, or memory location; the destination register can be a general-purpose register, segment register, or memory location. Both operands must be the same size, which can be a byte, a word, a doubleword, or a quadword. The MOV instruction cannot be used to load the CS register. Attempting to do so results in an invalid opcode exception (#UD). To load the CS register, use the far JMP, CALL, or RET instruction. If the destination operand is a segment register (DS, ES, FS, GS, or SS), the source operand must be a valid segment selector. In protected mode, moving a segment selector into a segment register automatically causes the segment descriptor information associated with that segment selector to be loaded into the hidden (shadow) part of the segment register. While loading this information, the segment selector and segment descriptor information is validated (see the “Operation” algorithm below). The segment descriptor data is obtained from the GDT or LDT entry for the specified segment selector. A NULL segment selector (values 0000-0003) can be loaded into the DS, ES, FS, and GS registers without causing a protection exception. However, any subsequent attempt to reference a segment whose corresponding segment register is loaded with a NULL value causes a general protection exception (#GP) and no memory reference occurs. Loading the SS register with a MOV instruction suppresses or inhibits some debug exceptions and inhibits interrupts on the following instruction boundary. (The inhibition ends after delivery of an exception or the execution of the next instruction.) This behavior allows a stack pointer to be loaded into the ESP register with the next instruction (MOV ESP, stack-pointer value) before an event can be delivered. See Section 7.8.3, “Masking Exceptions and Interrupts When Switching Stacks,” in the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3A. Intel recommends that software use the LSS instruction to load the SS register and ESP together. When executing MOV Reg, Sreg, the processor copies the content of Sreg to the 16 least significant bits of the general-purpose register. The upper bits of the destination register are zero for most IA-32 processors (Pentium Pro processors and later) and all Intel 64 processors, with the exception that bits 31:16 are undefined for Intel Quark X1000 processors, Pentium, and earlier processors. In 64-bit mode, the instruction’s default operation size is 32 bits. Use of the REX.R prefix permits access to additional registers (R8-R15). Use of the REX.W prefix promotes operation to 64 bits. See the summary chart at the beginning of this section for encoding data and limits. Moves the contents of a control register (CR0, CR2, CR3, CR4, or CR8) to a general-purpose register or the contents of a general-purpose register to a control register. The operand size for these instructions is always 32 bits in non-64-bit modes, regardless of the operand-size attribute. On a 64-bit capable processor, an execution of MOV to CR outside of 64-bit mode zeros the upper 32 bits of the control register. (See “Control Registers” in Chapter 2 of the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3A, for a detailed description of the flags and fields in the control registers.) This instruction can be executed only when the current privilege level is 0. At the opcode level, the reg field within the ModR/M byte specifies which of the control registers is loaded or read. The 2 bits in the mod field are ignored. The r/m field specifies the general-purpose register loaded or read. Some of the bits in CR0, CR3, and CR4 are reserved and must be written with zeros. Attempting to set any reserved bits in CR0[31:0] is ignored. Attempting to set any reserved bits in CR0[63:32] results in a general-protection exception, #GP(0). When PCIDs are not enabled, bits 2:0 and bits 11:5 of CR3 are not used and attempts to set them are ignored. See the next paragraph for treatment of bits reserved in CR3. Attempting to set any reserved bits in CR4 results in #GP(0). On Pentium 4, Intel Xeon and P6 family processors, CR0.ET remains set after any load of CR0; attempts to clear this bit have no impact. Normally, MAXPHYADDR is the value enumerated in CPUID.80000008H:EAX[7:0]. However, if IA32_TME_ACTIVATE[0] = 1 (indicating that TME has been configured), MAXPHYADDR is reduced by the value of IA32_TME_ACTIVATE[39:36] when a logical processor is outside secure arbitration mode (SEAM; see Chapter 35 of the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3); the value is not reduced in SEAM. An attempt to set any reserved bit in CR3[63:MAXPHYADDR] results in #GP(0). In certain cases, these instructions have the side effect of invalidating entries in the TLBs and the paging-structure caches. See Section 5.10.4.1, “Operations that Invalidate TLBs and Paging-Structure Caches,” in the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3A, for details. The following side effects are implementation-specific for the Pentium 4, Intel Xeon, and P6 processor family: when modifying PE or PG in register CR0, or PSE or PAE in register CR4, all TLB entries are flushed, including global entries. Software should not depend on this functionality in all Intel 64 or IA-32 processors. In 64-bit mode, the instruction’s default operation size is 64 bits. The REX.R prefix must be used to access CR8. Use of REX.B permits access to additional registers (R8-R15). Use of the REX.W prefix or 66H prefix is ignored. Use of the REX.R prefix to specify a register other than CR8 causes an invalid-opcode exception. See the summary chart at the beginning of this section for encoding data and limits. MOV—Move to/from Control Registers Vol. 2B 4-32 If CR4.PCIDE = 1, bit 63 of the source operand to MOV to CR3 determines whether the instruction invalidates entries in the TLBs and the paging-structure caches (see Section 5.10.4.1, “Operations that Invalidate TLBs and Paging-Structure Caches,” in the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3A). The instruction does not modify bit 63 of CR3, which is reserved and always 0. See “Changes to Instruction Behavior in VMX Non-Root Operation” in Chapter 27 of the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3C, for more information about the behavior of this instruction in VMX non-root operation. Moves the contents of a debug register (DR0, DR1, DR2, DR3, DR4, DR5, DR6, or DR7) to a general-purpose register or vice versa. The operand size for these instructions is always 32 bits in non-64-bit modes, regardless of the operand-size attribute. (See Section 20.2, “Debug Registers”, of the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3A, for a detailed description of the flags and fields in the debug registers.) The instructions must be executed at privilege level 0 or in real-address mode. When the debug extension (DE) flag in register CR4 is clear, these instructions operate on debug registers in a manner that is compatible with Intel386 and Intel486 processors. In this mode, references to DR4 and DR5 refer to DR6 and DR7, respectively. When the DE flag in CR4 is set, attempts to reference DR4 and DR5 result in an undefined opcode (#UD) exception. (The CR4 register was added to the IA-32 Architecture beginning with the Pentium processor.) At the opcode level, the reg field within the ModR/M byte specifies which of the debug registers is loaded or read. The two bits in the mod field are ignored. The r/m field specifies the general-purpose register loaded or read. In 64-bit mode, the instruction’s default operation size is 64 bits. Use of the REX.B prefix permits access to additional registers (R8–R15). Use of the REX.W or 66H prefix is ignored. Use of the REX.R prefix causes an invalidopcode exception. See the summary chart at the beginning of this section for encoding data and limits.

Operation

DEST := SRC;
Loading a segment register while in protected mode results in special checks and actions, as described in the following listing. These
checks are performed on the segment selector and the segment descriptor to which it points.
IF SS is loaded
THEN
IF segment selector is NULL
THEN #GP(0); FI;
IF segment selector index is outside descriptor table limits
OR segment selector's RPL ≠ CPL



MOV—Move                                                                                                                                         Vol. 2B 4-29
OR segment is not a writable data segment
OR DPL ≠ CPL
THEN #GP(selector); FI;
IF segment not marked present
THEN #SS(selector);
ELSE
SS := segment selector;
SS := segment descriptor; FI;
FI;
IF DS, ES, FS, or GS is loaded with non-NULL selector
THEN
IF segment selector index is outside descriptor table limits
OR segment is not a data or readable code segment
OR ((segment is a data or nonconforming code segment) AND ((RPL > DPL) or (CPL > DPL)))
THEN #GP(selector); FI;
IF segment not marked present
THEN #NP(selector);
ELSE
SegmentRegister := segment selector;
SegmentRegister := segment descriptor; FI;
FI;
IF DS, ES, FS, or GS is loaded with NULL selector
THEN
SegmentRegister := segment selector;
SegmentRegister := segment descriptor;
FI;

DEST := SRC;

IF ((DE = 1) and (SRC or DEST = DR4 or DR5))
THEN
#UD;
ELSE
DEST := SRC;
FI;

Flags Affected

None. The OF, SF, ZF, AF, PF, and CF flags are undefined. The OF, SF, ZF, AF, PF, and CF flags are undefined. MOV—Move to/from Debug Registers Vol. 2B 4-35

Exceptions

Protected Mode Exceptions

#GP(0) If attempt is made to load SS register with NULL segment selector. If the destination operand is in a non-writable segment. If a memory operand effective address is outside the CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS segment limit. If the DS, ES, FS, or GS register contains a NULL segment selector. #GP(selector) If segment selector index is outside descriptor table limits. If the SS register is being loaded and the segment selector's RPL and the segment descriptor’s DPL are not equal to the CPL. If the SS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is a non-writable data segment. If the DS, ES, FS, or GS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is not a data or readable code segment. If the DS, ES, FS, or GS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is a data or nonconforming code segment, and either the RPL or the CPL is greater than the DPL. #SS(0) If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit. #SS(selector) If the SS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is marked not present. #NP If the DS, ES, FS, or GS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is marked not present. #PF(fault-code) If a page fault occurs. #AC(0) If alignment checking is enabled and an unaligned memory reference is made while the current privilege level is 3. MOV—Move Vol. 2B 4-30 #UD If attempt is made to load the CS register. If the LOCK prefix is used. #GP(0) If the current privilege level is not 0. If an attempt is made to write invalid bit combinations in CR0 (such as setting the PG flag to 1 when the PE flag is set to 0, or setting the CD flag to 0 when the NW flag is set to 1). If an attempt is made to write a 1 to any reserved bit in CR4. If an attempt is made to write 1 to CR4.PCIDE. If any of the reserved bits are set in the page-directory pointers table (PDPT) and the loading of a control register causes the PDPT to be loaded into the processor. If an attempt is made to activate IA-32e mode and either the current CS has the L-bit set or the TR references a 16-bit TSS. #UD If the LOCK prefix is used. If an attempt is made to access CR1, CR5, CR6, CR7, or CR9–CR15. #GP(0) If the current privilege level is not 0. #UD If CR4.DE[bit 3] = 1 (debug extensions) and a MOV instruction is executed involving DR4 or DR5. If the LOCK prefix is used. #DB If any debug register is accessed while the DR7.GD[bit 13] = 1.

Real-Address Mode Exceptions

#GP If a memory operand effective address is outside the CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS segment limit. #SS If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit. #UD If attempt is made to load the CS register. If the LOCK prefix is used. #GP If an attempt is made to write a 1 to any reserved bit in CR4. If an attempt is made to write 1 to CR4.PCIDE. If an attempt is made to write invalid bit combinations in CR0 (such as setting the PG flag to 1 when the PE flag is set to 0). If an attempt is made to activate IA-32e mode and either the current CS has the L-bit set or the TR references a 16-bit TSS. #UD If the LOCK prefix is used. If an attempt is made to access CR1, CR5, CR6, CR7, or CR9–CR15. #UD If CR4.DE[bit 3] = 1 (debug extensions) and a MOV instruction is executed involving DR4 or DR5. If the LOCK prefix is used. #DB If any debug register is accessed while the DR7.GD[bit 13] = 1.

Virtual-8086 Mode Exceptions

#GP(0) If a memory operand effective address is outside the CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS segment limit. #SS(0) If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit. #PF(fault-code) If a page fault occurs. #AC(0) If alignment checking is enabled and an unaligned memory reference is made. #UD If attempt is made to load the CS register. If the LOCK prefix is used. #GP(0) These instructions cannot be executed in virtual-8086 mode. #GP(0) The debug registers cannot be loaded or read when in virtual-8086 mode.

Compatibility Mode Exceptions

Same exceptions as in protected mode. #GP(0) If the current privilege level is not 0. If an attempt is made to write invalid bit combinations in CR0 (such as setting the PG flag to 1 when the PE flag is set to 0, or setting the CD flag to 0 when the NW flag is set to 1). If an attempt is made to change CR4.PCIDE from 0 to 1 while CR3[11:0] ≠ 000H. If an attempt is made to clear CR0.PG[bit 31] while CR4.PCIDE = 1. If an attempt is made to leave IA-32e mode by clearing CR4.PAE[bit 5]. #UD If the LOCK prefix is used. If an attempt is made to access CR1, CR5, CR6, CR7, or CR9–CR15. MOV—Move to/from Control Registers Vol. 2B 4-33 Same exceptions as in protected mode.

64-Bit Mode Exceptions

#GP(0) If the memory address is in a non-canonical form. If an attempt is made to load SS register with NULL segment selector when CPL = 3. If an attempt is made to load SS register with NULL segment selector when CPL < 3 and CPL ≠ RPL. #GP(selector) If segment selector index is outside descriptor table limits. If the memory access to the descriptor table is non-canonical. If the SS register is being loaded and the segment selector's RPL and the segment descriptor’s DPL are not equal to the CPL. If the SS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is a nonwritable data segment. If the DS, ES, FS, or GS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is not a data or readable code segment. If the DS, ES, FS, or GS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is a data or nonconforming code segment, but both the RPL and the CPL are greater than the DPL. #SS(0) If the stack address is in a non-canonical form. #SS(selector) If the SS register is being loaded and the segment pointed to is marked not present. #PF(fault-code) If a page fault occurs. #AC(0) If alignment checking is enabled and an unaligned memory reference is made while the current privilege level is 3. #UD If attempt is made to load the CS register. If the LOCK prefix is used. MOV—Move Vol. 2B 4-31 MOV—Move to/from Control Registers Opcode Instruction Op/ 64-Bit Compat/ Description En Mode Leg Mode 0F 20/r MOV r32, CR0–CR7 MR N.E. Valid Move control register to r32. 0F 20/r MOV r64, CR0–CR7 MR Valid N.E. Move extended control register to r64. REX.R + 0F 20 /0 MOV r64, CR8 MR Valid N.E. Move extended CR8 to r64.1 0F 22 /r MOV CR0–CR7, r32 RM N.E. Valid Move r32 to control register. 0F 22 /r MOV CR0–CR7, r64 RM Valid N.E. Move r64 to extended control register. REX.R + 0F 22 /0 MOV CR8, r64 RM Valid N.E. Move r64 to extended CR8.1 #GP(0) If the current privilege level is not 0. If an attempt is made to write invalid bit combinations in CR0 (such as setting the PG flag to 1 when the PE flag is set to 0, or setting the CD flag to 0 when the NW flag is set to 1). If an attempt is made to change CR4.PCIDE from 0 to 1 while CR3[11:0] ≠ 000H. If an attempt is made to clear CR0.PG[bit 31]. If an attempt is made to write a 1 to any reserved bit in CR4. If an attempt is made to write a 1 to any reserved bit in CR8. If an attempt is made to write a 1 to any reserved bit in CR3[63:MAXPHYADDR]. If an attempt is made to leave IA-32e mode by clearing CR4.PAE[bit 5]. #UD If the LOCK prefix is used. If an attempt is made to access CR1, CR5, CR6, CR7, or CR9–CR15. If the REX.R prefix is used to specify a register other than CR8. MOV—Move to/from Control Registers Vol. 2B 4-34 MOV—Move to/from Debug Registers Opcode Instruction Op/ 64-Bit Compat/ Description En Mode Leg Mode 0F 21/r MOV r32, DR0–DR7 MR N.E. Valid Move debug register to r32. 0F 21/r MOV r64, DR0–DR7 MR Valid N.E. Move extended debug register to r64. 0F 23 /r MOV DR0–DR7, r32 RM N.E. Valid Move r32 to debug register. 0F 23 /r MOV DR0–DR7, r64 RM Valid N.E. Move r64 to extended debug register. #GP(0) If the current privilege level is not 0. If an attempt is made to write a 1 to any of bits 63:32 in DR6. If an attempt is made to write a 1 to any of bits 63:32 in DR7. #UD If CR4.DE[bit 3] = 1 (debug extensions) and a MOV instruction is executed involving DR4 or DR5. If the LOCK prefix is used. If the REX.R prefix is used. #DB If any debug register is accessed while the DR7.GD[bit 13] = 1. MOV—Move to/from Debug Registers Vol. 2B 4-36