Overview: Intrinsics Reference

Intrinsics are assembly-coded functions that allow you to use C++ function calls and variables in place of assembly instructions.

Intrinsics are expanded inline eliminating function call overhead. Providing the same benefit as using inline assembly, intrinsics improve code readability, assist instruction scheduling, and help reduce debugging.

Intrinsics provide access to instructions that cannot be generated using the standard constructs of the C and C++ languages.

Note

When developing and debugging your program, compile your sources with ‑D__INTEL_COMPILER_USE_INTRINSIC_PROTOTYPES to take advantage of improved compile-time checking of the intrinsics functions. When done be sure to remove this option as it significantly increases compile time.

Intrinsics for Intel® C++ Compilers

The Intel® C++ Compiler enables easy implementation of assembly instructions through the use of intrinsics. Intrinsics are provided for the following instructions:

Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (Intel® AVX-512) instructions
Intel® Many Integrated Core (Intel® MIC) instructions
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (Intel® AVX2) instructions
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (Intel® AVX) instructions
Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 4 (Intel® SSE4) instructions
Intel® Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSSE3) instructions
Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® SSE3) instructions
Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (Intel® SSE2) instructions
Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions (Intel® SSE) instructions
MMX™ Technology instructions
Carry-less Multiplication instruction and Advanced Encryption Standard Extensions instructions
Half-float conversion instructions

The Short Vector Math Library (svml) intrinsics are documented in this reference.

Note

Many routines in the svml library are more highly optimized for Intel® microprocessors than for non-Intel microprocessors.

The Intel® C++ Compiler supports Microsoft Visual Studio* intrinsics (for x86 and x64 architectures). For more information on Microsoft* intrinsics, visit http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/26td21ds.aspx.

Availability of Intrinsics on Intel Processors

Not all Intel® processors support all intrinsics. For information on which intrinsics are supported on Intel® processors, visit http://processorfinder.intel.com. The Processor Spec Finder tool links directly to all processor documentation and the data sheets list the features, including intrinsics, supported by each processor.