SPSR_EL3

This register is present only when EL3 is implemented. Otherwise, direct accesses to SPSR_EL3 are UNDEFINED.

Attributes

Field descriptions

When AArch32 is supported and exception taken from AArch32 state:

Bits [63:34]

PPEND, bit [33]
When FEAT_SEBEP is implemented:

PMU exception pending bit. Set to the value of PSTATE.PPEND on taking an exception to EL3, and conditionally copied to PSTATE.PPEND on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

Bit [32]

N, bit [31]

Negative Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.N on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.N on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Z, bit [30]

Zero Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.Z on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.Z on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

C, bit [29]

Carry Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.C on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.C on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

V, bit [28]

Overflow Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.V on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.V on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Q, bit [27]

Overflow or saturation flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.Q on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.Q on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

IT, bits [15:10, 26:25]

If-Then. Set to the value of PSTATE.IT on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.IT on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

SPSR_EL3.IT must contain a value that is valid for the instruction being returned to.

The IT field is split as follows:

IT[1:0] is SPSR_EL3[26:25].
IT[7:2] is SPSR_EL3[15:10].

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

DIT, bit [24]
When FEAT_DIT is implemented:

Data Independent Timing. Set to the value of PSTATE.DIT on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.DIT on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

SSBS, bit [23]
When FEAT_SSBS is implemented:

Speculative Store Bypass. Set to the value of PSTATE.SSBS on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.SSBS on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

PAN, bit [22]
When FEAT_PAN is implemented:

Privileged Access Never. Set to the value of PSTATE.PAN on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.PAN on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

SS, bit [21]

Software Step. Set to the value of PSTATE.SS on taking an exception to EL3, and conditionally copied to PSTATE.SS on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

IL, bit [20]

Illegal Execution state. Set to the value of PSTATE.IL on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.IL on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

GE, bits [19:16]

Greater than or Equal flags. Set to the value of PSTATE.GE on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.GE on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

E, bit [9]

Endianness. Set to the value of PSTATE.E on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.E on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

If the implementation does not support big-endian operation, SPSR_EL3.E is RES0. If the implementation does not support little-endian operation, SPSR_EL3.E is RES1. On executing an exception return operation in EL3, if the implementation does not support big-endian operation at the Exception level being returned to, SPSR_EL3.E is RES0, and if the implementation does not support little-endian operation at the Exception level being returned to, SPSR_EL3.E is RES1.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

A, bit [8]

SError exception mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.A on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.A on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

I, bit [7]

IRQ interrupt mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.I on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.I on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

F, bit [6]

FIQ interrupt mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.F on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.F on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

T, bit [5]

T32 Instruction set state. Set to the value of PSTATE.T on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.T on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

M[4], bit [4]

Execution state. Set to 0b1, the value of PSTATE.nRW, on taking an exception to EL3 from AArch32 state, and copied to PSTATE.nRW on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

M[4]	Meaning
0b1	AArch32 execution state.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

M[3:0], bits [3:0]

AArch32 Mode. Set to the value of PSTATE.M[3:0] on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.M[3:0] on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

M[3:0]	Meaning
0b0000	User.
0b0001	FIQ.
0b0010	IRQ.
0b0011	Supervisor.
0b0110	Monitor.
0b0111	Abort.
0b1010	Hyp.
0b1011	Undefined.
0b1111	System.

Other values are reserved. If SPSR_EL3.M[3:0] has a Reserved value, or a value for an unimplemented Exception level, executing an exception return operation in EL3 is an illegal return event, as described in 'Illegal return events from AArch64 state'.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

When exception taken from AArch64 state:

Bits [63:36]

PACM, bit [35]
When FEAT_PAuth_LR is implemented:

PACM. Set to the value of PSTATE.PACM on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.PACM on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

EXLOCK, bit [34]
When FEAT_GCS is implemented:

Exception return state lock. Set to the value of PSTATE.EXLOCK on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.EXLOCK on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

PPEND, bit [33]
When FEAT_SEBEP is implemented:

PMU exception pending bit. Set to the value of PSTATE.PPEND on taking an exception to EL3, and conditionally copied to PSTATE.PPEND on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

PM, bit [32]
When FEAT_EBEP is implemented:

PMU exception mask bit. Set to the value of PSTATE.PM on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.PM on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

N, bit [31]

Negative Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.N on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.N on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Z, bit [30]

Zero Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.Z on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.Z on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

C, bit [29]

Carry Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.C on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.C on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

V, bit [28]

Overflow Condition flag. Set to the value of PSTATE.V on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.V on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Bits [27:26]

TCO, bit [25]
When FEAT_MTE is implemented:

Tag Check Override. Set to the value of PSTATE.TCO on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.TCO on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

When FEAT_MTE2 is not implemented, it is CONSTRAINED UNPREDICTABLE whether this field is RES0 or behaves as if FEAT_MTE2 is implemented.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

DIT, bit [24]
When FEAT_DIT is implemented:

Data Independent Timing. Set to the value of PSTATE.DIT on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.DIT on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

UAO, bit [23]
When FEAT_UAO is implemented:

User Access Override. Set to the value of PSTATE.UAO on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.UAO on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

PAN, bit [22]
When FEAT_PAN is implemented:

Privileged Access Never. Set to the value of PSTATE.PAN on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.PAN on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

SS, bit [21]

Software Step. Set to the value of PSTATE.SS on taking an exception to EL3, and conditionally copied to PSTATE.SS on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

IL, bit [20]

Illegal Execution state. Set to the value of PSTATE.IL on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.IL on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Bits [19:14]

ALLINT, bit [13]
When FEAT_NMI is implemented:

All IRQ or FIQ interrupts mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.ALLINT on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.ALLINT on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

SSBS, bit [12]
When FEAT_SSBS is implemented:

Speculative Store Bypass. Set to the value of PSTATE.SSBS on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.SSBS on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

BTYPE, bits [11:10]
When FEAT_BTI is implemented:

Branch Type Indicator. Set to the value of PSTATE.BTYPE on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.BTYPE on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Otherwise:

D, bit [9]

Debug exception mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.D on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.D on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

A, bit [8]

SError exception mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.A on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.A on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

I, bit [7]

IRQ interrupt mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.I on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.I on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

F, bit [6]

FIQ interrupt mask. Set to the value of PSTATE.F on taking an exception to EL3, and copied to PSTATE.F on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Bit [5]

M[4], bit [4]

Execution state. Set to 0b0, the value of PSTATE.nRW, on taking an exception to EL3 from AArch64 state, and copied to PSTATE.nRW on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

M[4]	Meaning
0b0	AArch64 execution state.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

M[3:0], bits [3:0]

AArch64 Exception level and selected Stack Pointer.

M[3:0]	Meaning
0b0000	EL0.
0b0100	EL1 with SP_EL0 (EL1t).
0b0101	EL1 with SP_EL1 (EL1h).
0b1000	EL2 with SP_EL0 (EL2t).
0b1001	EL2 with SP_EL2 (EL2h).
0b1100	EL3 with SP_EL0 (EL3t).
0b1101	EL3 with SP_EL3 (EL3h).

The bits in this field are interpreted as follows:

M[3:2] is set to the value of PSTATE.EL on taking an exception to EL3 and copied to PSTATE.EL on executing an exception return operation in EL3.
M[1] is unused and is 0 for all non-reserved values.
M[0] is set to the value of PSTATE.SP on taking an exception to EL3 and copied to PSTATE.SP on executing an exception return operation in EL3.

The reset behavior of this field is:

On a Warm reset, this field resets to an architecturally UNKNOWN value.

Accessing SPSR_EL3

Accesses to this register use the following encodings in the System register encoding space:

MRS <Xt>, SPSR_EL3

op0	op1	CRn	CRm	op2
0b11	0b110	0b0100	0b0000	0b000

if PSTATE.EL == EL0 then UNDEFINED; elsif PSTATE.EL == EL1 then UNDEFINED; elsif PSTATE.EL == EL2 then UNDEFINED; elsif PSTATE.EL == EL3 then X[t, 64] = SPSR_EL3;

MSR SPSR_EL3, <Xt>

op0	op1	CRn	CRm	op2
0b11	0b110	0b0100	0b0000	0b000

if PSTATE.EL == EL0 then UNDEFINED; elsif PSTATE.EL == EL1 then UNDEFINED; elsif PSTATE.EL == EL2 then UNDEFINED; elsif PSTATE.EL == EL3 then if IsFeatureImplemented(FEAT_GCS) && GetCurrentEXLOCKEN() && !Halted() && PSTATE.EXLOCK == '1' then EXLOCKException(); else SPSR_EL3 = X[t, 64];

63	62	61	60	59	58	57	56	55	54	53	52	51	50	49	48	47	46	45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37	36	35	34	33	32
31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0
RES0																														PPEND	RES0
N	Z	C	V	Q	IT[1:0]		DIT	SSBS	PAN	SS	IL	GE				IT[7:2]						E	A	I	F	T	M[4]	M[3:0]

63	62	61	60	59	58	57	56	55	54	53	52	51	50	49	48	47	46	45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37	36	35	34	33	32
31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0
RES0																												PACM	EXLOCK	PPEND	PM
N	Z	C	V	RES0		TCO	DIT	UAO	PAN	SS	IL	RES0						ALLINT	SSBS	BTYPE		D	A	I	F	RES0	M[4]	M[3:0]

SPSR_EL3, Saved Program Status Register (EL3)

Purpose

Configuration

Attributes

Field descriptions

When AArch32 is supported and exception taken from AArch32 state:

Bits [63:34]

PPEND, bit [33]When FEAT_SEBEP is implemented:

Otherwise:

Bit [32]

N, bit [31]

Z, bit [30]

C, bit [29]

V, bit [28]

Q, bit [27]

IT, bits [15:10, 26:25]

DIT, bit [24]When FEAT_DIT is implemented:

Otherwise:

SSBS, bit [23]When FEAT_SSBS is implemented:

Otherwise:

PAN, bit [22]When FEAT_PAN is implemented:

Otherwise:

SS, bit [21]

IL, bit [20]

GE, bits [19:16]

E, bit [9]

A, bit [8]

I, bit [7]

F, bit [6]

T, bit [5]

M[4], bit [4]

M[3:0], bits [3:0]

When exception taken from AArch64 state:

Bits [63:36]

PACM, bit [35]When FEAT_PAuth_LR is implemented:

Otherwise:

EXLOCK, bit [34]When FEAT_GCS is implemented:

Otherwise:

PPEND, bit [33]When FEAT_SEBEP is implemented:

Otherwise:

PM, bit [32]When FEAT_EBEP is implemented:

Otherwise:

N, bit [31]

Z, bit [30]

C, bit [29]

V, bit [28]

Bits [27:26]

TCO, bit [25]When FEAT_MTE is implemented:

Otherwise:

DIT, bit [24]When FEAT_DIT is implemented:

Otherwise:

UAO, bit [23]When FEAT_UAO is implemented:

Otherwise:

PAN, bit [22]When FEAT_PAN is implemented:

Otherwise:

SS, bit [21]

IL, bit [20]

Bits [19:14]

ALLINT, bit [13]When FEAT_NMI is implemented:

Otherwise:

SSBS, bit [12]When FEAT_SSBS is implemented:

Otherwise:

BTYPE, bits [11:10]When FEAT_BTI is implemented:

Otherwise:

D, bit [9]

A, bit [8]

I, bit [7]

F, bit [6]

Bit [5]

M[4], bit [4]

M[3:0], bits [3:0]

Accessing SPSR_EL3

MRS <Xt>, SPSR_EL3

MSR SPSR_EL3, <Xt>

PPEND, bit [33]
When FEAT_SEBEP is implemented:

DIT, bit [24]
When FEAT_DIT is implemented:

SSBS, bit [23]
When FEAT_SSBS is implemented:

PAN, bit [22]
When FEAT_PAN is implemented:

PACM, bit [35]
When FEAT_PAuth_LR is implemented:

EXLOCK, bit [34]
When FEAT_GCS is implemented:

PPEND, bit [33]
When FEAT_SEBEP is implemented:

PM, bit [32]
When FEAT_EBEP is implemented:

TCO, bit [25]
When FEAT_MTE is implemented:

DIT, bit [24]
When FEAT_DIT is implemented:

UAO, bit [23]
When FEAT_UAO is implemented:

PAN, bit [22]
When FEAT_PAN is implemented:

ALLINT, bit [13]
When FEAT_NMI is implemented:

SSBS, bit [12]
When FEAT_SSBS is implemented:

BTYPE, bits [11:10]
When FEAT_BTI is implemented: