POPCNT — Return the Count of Number of Bits Set to 1

Opcode	Instruction	Op/En	64-Bit Mode	Compat/Leg Mode	Description
F3 0F B8 /r	POPCNT r16, r/m16	RM	Valid	Valid	POPCNT on r/m16
F3 0F B8 /r	POPCNT r32, r/m32	RM	Valid	Valid	POPCNT on r/m32
F3 REX.W 0F B8 /r	POPCNT r64, r/m64	RM	Valid	N.E.	POPCNT on r/m64

Instruction Operand Encoding ¶

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

Description ¶

This instruction calculates the number of bits set to 1 in the second operand (source) and returns the count in the first operand (a destination register).

Operation ¶

Count = 0;
For (i=0; i < OperandSize; i++)
{ IF (SRC[ i] = 1) // i’th bit
    THEN Count++; FI;
}
DEST := Count;

Flags Affected ¶

OF, SF, ZF, AF, CF, PF are all cleared. ZF is set if SRC = 0, otherwise ZF is cleared.

Intel C/C++ Compiler Intrinsic Equivalent ¶

POPCNT int _mm_popcnt_u32(unsigned int a);

POPCNT int64_t _mm_popcnt_u64(unsigned __int64 a);

Protected Mode Exceptions ¶

#GP(0)	If a memory operand effective address is outside the CS, DS, ES, FS or GS segments.
#SS(0)	If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit.
#PF	(fault-code) For a page fault.
#AC(0)	If an unaligned memory reference is made while the current privilege level is 3 and alignment checking is enabled.
#UD	If CPUID.01H:ECX.POPCNT [Bit 23] = 0.
#UD	If LOCK prefix is used.

Real-Address Mode Exceptions ¶

#GP(0)	If any part of the operand lies outside of the effective address space from 0 to 0FFFFH.
#SS(0)	If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit.
#UD	If CPUID.01H:ECX.POPCNT [Bit 23] = 0.
#UD	If LOCK prefix is used.

Virtual 8086 Mode Exceptions ¶

#GP(0)	If any part of the operand lies outside of the effective address space from 0 to 0FFFFH.
#SS(0)	If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit.
#PF	(fault-code) For a page fault.
#AC(0)	If an unaligned memory reference is made while alignment checking is enabled.
#UD	If CPUID.01H:ECX.POPCNT [Bit 23] = 0.
#UD	If LOCK prefix is used.

Compatibility Mode Exceptions ¶

Same exceptions as in Protected Mode.

64-Bit Mode Exceptions ¶

#GP(0)	If the memory address is in a non-canonical form.
#SS(0)	If a memory address referencing the SS segment is in a non-canonical form.
#PF	(fault-code) For a page fault.
#AC(0)	If alignment checking is enabled and an unaligned memory reference is made while the current privilege level is 3.
#UD	If CPUID.01H:ECX.POPCNT [Bit 23] = 0.
#UD	If LOCK prefix is used.