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.