[PATCH 22/23] aarch64: Add new qualifier AARCH64_OPND_QLF_UNUSED

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Project / Subsystem

binutils / aarch64

Date

2026-05-07

Proposer

Alice Carlotti <alice.carlotti@arm.com>

Source type

public_inbox

Consensus

Proposed

Sentiment

—/10

Technical tradeoffs

• Requires updating code that uses qualifier sequence lists to use the new `AARCH64_OPND_QLF_UNUSED` qualifier.
• Slightly increased code complexity due to the introduction of a new qualifier.

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All attributes

project: binutils
subsystem: aarch64
patch_id: —
discussion_id: 23d4ba68-e7cf-ae93-b6bd-0c6ec5b176eb@e124511.cambridge.arm.com
source_type: public_inbox
title: [PATCH 22/23] aarch64: Add new qualifier AARCH64_OPND_QLF_UNUSED
headline: aarch64: Add new qualifier AARCH64_OPND_QLF_UNUSED
tldr: Replaces QLF_NIL with QLF_UNUSED for qualifier sequence list padding in AArch64 opcode definitions.
proposer: Alice Carlotti <alice.carlotti@arm.com>
consensus: Proposed
outcome: proposed
sentiment_score: —
technical_tradeoffs: • Requires updating code that uses qualifier sequence lists to use the new `AARCH64_OPND_QLF_UNUSED` qualifier.
• Slightly increased code complexity due to the introduction of a new qualifier.
series_id: binutils:aarch64: add new qualifier aarch64_opnd_qlf_unused
series_role: reply
series_parts: []
tags: • aarch64
• opcode
• qualifiers
• assembler
• disassembler
url: https://inbox.sourceware.org/binutils/23d4ba68-e7cf-ae93-b6bd-0c6ec5b176eb@e124511.cambridge.arm.com
bugzilla_url: —
date: 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z

[PATCH 22/23] aarch64: Add new qualifier AARCH64_OPND_QLF_UNUSED

This patch introduces a new qualifier, AARCH64_OPND_QLF_UNUSED, to replace QLF_NIL for padding qualifier sequence lists in AArch64 opcode definitions. This change clarifies the distinct meanings of qualifiers and simplifies the detection of empty qualifier sequences. By separating the concepts of “no further qualification” and “unused entry”, the patch improves the clarity and maintainability of the AArch64 opcode definitions.