What is Frame pointer?

A register that keeps pointing at the stack position on function entry; s0 (fp) in RISC-V. Locals can be addressed at fixed offsets, and the call chain is easy to walk.

Field: ISA & Assembly

Frame pointer in the explanations

Questions that mention Frame pointer (1)

  1. What is an advantage of using a frame pointer (s0/fp in RISC-V) inside a function?

Related terms

Addressing mode Application binary interface (ABI) Assembler Branch delay slot Callee-saved register Caller-saved register Calling convention Compressed instruction Condition code Immediate operand

Back to the glossary