BSF—Bit Scan Forward

Opcode Instruction Op/En 64-bit Mode Compat/Leg Mode Description
0F BC /r BSF r16, r/m16 RM Valid Valid Bit scan forward on r/m16.
0F BC /r BSF r32, r/m32 RM Valid Valid Bit scan forward on r/m32.
REX.W + 0F BC /r BSF r64, r/m64 RM Valid N.E. Bit scan forward on r/m64.

Instruction Operand Encoding

Op/En Operand 1 Operand 2 Operand 3 Operand 4
RM ModRM:reg (w) ModRM:r/m (r) NA NA

Description

Searches the source operand (second operand) for the least significant set bit (1 bit). If a least significant 1 bit is found, its bit index is stored in the destination operand (first operand). The source operand can be a register or a memory location; the destination operand is a register. The bit index is an unsigned offset from bit 0 of the source operand. If the content of the source operand is 0, the content of the destination operand is undefined.

In 64-bit mode, the instruction’s default operation size is 32 bits. Using a REX prefix in the form of REX.R permits access to additional registers (R8-R15). Using a REX prefix in the form of REX.W promotes operation to 64 bits. See the summary chart at the beginning of this section for encoding data and limits.

Operation

IF SRC = 0
    THEN
         ZF ← 1;
         DEST is undefined;
    ELSE
         ZF ← 0;
         temp ← 0;
         WHILE Bit(SRC, temp) = 0
         DO
              temp ← temp + 1;
         OD;
         DEST ← temp;
FI;

Flags Affected

The ZF flag is set to 1 if all the source operand is 0; otherwise, the ZF flag is cleared. The CF, OF, SF, AF, and PF, flags are undefined.

Protected Mode Exceptions

#GP(0)

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.

#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 while the current privilege level is 3.
#UD If the LOCK prefix is used.

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 the LOCK prefix is used.

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 the LOCK prefix is used.

Compatibility Mode Exceptions

Same exceptions as in protected mode.

64-Bit Mode Exceptions

#SS(0) If a memory address referencing the SS segment is in a non-canonical form.
#GP(0) If the memory address is in a non-canonical form.
#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 the LOCK prefix is used.