What value does SLTI write?
It writes 1 when the comparison is true, otherwise 0.
SLTI
RISC-V SLTI Instruction Details
Instruction ManualI-typeSet rd to 1 if rs1 is less than the immediate (signed), else 0
Instruction Syntax
slti rd, rs1, imm
Operand Breakdown
Destination rd: general-purpose register receiving the result.
Source rs1: register holding the first operand.
Immediate imm: 12-bit signed value, sign-extended before operation with rs1.
RV32IArithmeticCompare
Instruction Encoding
31..20
imm[11:0]
19..15
rs1
14..12
funct3
11..7
rd
6..0
opcode
SLTI uses opcode 0010011 (0x13), funct3 010. The rs1 field selects the source register, the 12-bit immediate provides the second operand, and rd selects the destination.
Format: I-type
opcode: 0010011 (0x13)
funct3: 010 (0x2)
Instruction Behavior
SLTI (signed) compares rs1 with the sign-extended 12-bit immediate, setting rd to 1 if rs1 < imm (signed), else 0. Used for single-step comparison and range checking in loops.
Quick Understanding & Search Notes
SLTI performs signed comparison rs1 < imm; rd is set to 1 when true and 0 otherwise. It turns a comparison result into an integer value usable by later arithmetic or branches.
The immediate form uses a sign-extended 12-bit immediate.
Signed and unsigned comparisons differ in how the bit patterns are interpreted, not in register width.
Common Usage Scenarios
Branch & Jump
Understand this scenario with real code like «slti x5, x6, 10 # x5 = (x6 < 10) ? 1 : 0 (signed)».
Pre-Use Checklist
Syntax Check
- Confirm the current instruction format is I-type.
- Confirm the operand order matches the example.
Semantic Check
- Ensure the destination register usage is compatible with the calling convention.
- Confirm this is not the lower-level form of a pseudo-instruction expansion.
Pitfalls / Common Confusions
Result is boolean (0 or 1), not difference sign
Immediate is sign-extended before comparison
FAQ
What is the difference between SLT and SLTU?
SLT/SLTI compare as signed integers; SLTU/SLTIU compare as unsigned integers.