# `vslo` — Vector Shift Left by Octet
> **Category:** [VMX (Altivec)](../categories/vmx.md) · **Form:** [VX](../forms/VX.md) · **Opcode:** `0x1000040c`
## Assembler Mnemonics
| Mnemonic | XML entry | Flags | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `vslo` | `vslo` | — | Vector Shift Left by Octet |
| `vslo128` | `vslo128` | — | Vector128 Shift Left Octet |
## Syntax
```asm
vslo [VD], [VA], [VB]
vslo128 [VD], [VA], [VB]
```
## Encoding
### `vslo` — form `VX`
- **Opcode word:** `0x1000040c`
- **Primary opcode (bits 0–5):** `4`
- **Extended opcode:** `1036`
- **Synchronising:** no
| Bits | Field | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0–5 | `OPCD` | primary opcode (4) |
| 6–10 | `VRT/VD` | destination vector register |
| 11–15 | `VRA/VA` | source A vector register |
| 16–20 | `VRB/VB` | source B vector register |
| 21–31 | `XO` | extended opcode (11 bits) |
### `vslo128` — form `VX128`
- **Opcode word:** `0x14000390`
- **Primary opcode (bits 0–5):** `5`
- **Extended opcode:** `912`
- **Synchronising:** no
| Bits | Field | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0–5 | `OPCD` | primary opcode (4 or 5) |
| 6–10 | `VD128l` | destination low 5 bits |
| 11–15 | `VA128l` | source A low 5 bits |
| 16–20 | `VB128l` | source B low 5 bits |
| 21 | `VA128H` | source A high bit |
| 22 | `—` | reserved |
| 23–25 | `VC` | optional VC / XO sub-field |
| 26 | `VA128h` | source A middle bit |
| 27 | `—` | reserved |
| 28–29 | `VD128h` | destination high 2 bits |
| 30–31 | `VB128h` | source B high 2 bits |
## Operands
| Field | Role | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `VA` | vslo: read; vslo128: read | Source A vector register. |
| `VB` | vslo: read; vslo128: read | Source B vector register. |
| `VD` | vslo: write; vslo128: write | Destination vector register. |
## Register Effects
### `vslo`
- **Reads (always):** `VA`, `VB`
- **Reads (conditional):** _none_
- **Writes (always):** `VD`
- **Writes (conditional):** _none_
### `vslo128`
- **Reads (always):** `VA`, `VB`
- **Reads (conditional):** _none_
- **Writes (always):** `VD`
- **Writes (conditional):** _none_
## Status-Register Effects
_No condition-register or status-register effects._
## Operation (pseudocode)
```
; Pseudocode derives directly from the xenia-rs interpreter
; arm (see Implementation References). Operation semantics:
; - Read source operands from the fields listed under Operands.
; - Apply the arithmetic / logical / memory action described
; in the Description field above.
; - Write results to the destination register(s); update any
; status bits enumerated under Status-Register Effects.
; Consult the IBM AIX reference link under IBM Reference for
; canonical PPC-style pseudocode where xenia's expression is
; terse.
```
## C Translation Example
```c
/* C translation: the xenia-rs interpreter arm below in */
/* Implementation References is the authoritative semantic */
/* snapshot. Translate it line-by-line: */
/* - ctx.gpr[N] -> r[N] (or f[]/v[] for FPRs/VRs) */
/* - mem.read_u*/write_u* -> mem_read_u*_be / mem_write_u*_be */
/* - ctx.update_cr_signed(fld, v) -> update_cr_signed(fld, v) */
/* - ctx.xer_ca / xer_ov / xer_so -> xer.CA / xer.OV / xer.SO */
/* The Register Effects and Status-Register Effects tables above */
/* enumerate every side effect a faithful translation must emit. */
```
## Implementation References
**`vslo`**
- xenia-canary XML: [`tools/ppc-instructions.xml` — search for `mnem="vslo"`](../../xenia-canary/tools/ppc-instructions.xml)
- xenia-canary emit: [`src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc:1496`](../../xenia-canary/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc#L1496)
- xenia-rs opcode: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs:122`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs#L122)
- xenia-rs decoder: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs:523`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs#L523)
- xenia-rs interpreter: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs:3935-3944`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs#L3935-L3944)
xenia-rs interpreter body (frozen snapshot)
```rust
PpcOpcode::vslo | PpcOpcode::vslo128 => {
let is_128 = matches!(instr.opcode, PpcOpcode::vslo128);
let (ra, rb, rd) = if is_128 { (instr.va128(), instr.vb128(), instr.vd128()) }
else { (instr.ra(), instr.rb(), instr.rd()) };
let a = u128::from_be_bytes(ctx.vr[ra].as_bytes());
let nbytes = ((ctx.vr[rb].as_bytes()[15] >> 3) & 0xF) as u32;
let r = if nbytes == 0 { a } else { a << (nbytes * 8) };
ctx.vr[rd] = xenia_types::Vec128::from_bytes(r.to_be_bytes());
ctx.pc += 4;
}
```
**`vslo128`**
- xenia-canary XML: [`tools/ppc-instructions.xml` — search for `mnem="vslo128"`](../../xenia-canary/tools/ppc-instructions.xml)
- xenia-canary emit: [`src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc:1499`](../../xenia-canary/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc#L1499)
- xenia-rs opcode: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs:122`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs#L122)
- xenia-rs decoder: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs:631`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs#L631)
- xenia-rs interpreter: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs:3935-3944`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs#L3935-L3944)
xenia-rs interpreter body (frozen snapshot)
```rust
PpcOpcode::vslo | PpcOpcode::vslo128 => {
let is_128 = matches!(instr.opcode, PpcOpcode::vslo128);
let (ra, rb, rd) = if is_128 { (instr.va128(), instr.vb128(), instr.vd128()) }
else { (instr.ra(), instr.rb(), instr.rd()) };
let a = u128::from_be_bytes(ctx.vr[ra].as_bytes());
let nbytes = ((ctx.vr[rb].as_bytes()[15] >> 3) & 0xF) as u32;
let r = if nbytes == 0 { a } else { a << (nbytes * 8) };
ctx.vr[rd] = xenia_types::Vec128::from_bytes(r.to_be_bytes());
ctx.pc += 4;
}
```
## Special Cases & Edge Conditions
- **Whole-register shift-left by octets (bytes).** `VA` is shifted left by `N` bytes, where `N = (VB.b[15] >> 3) & 0xF` — bits 1..4 of the last byte of `VB`. Right end is zero-filled. `N` saturates at 15 because only 4 bits are honoured.
- **Shift count constraint.** The ISA mandates a uniform 4-bit count across all of `VB`; xenia-rs reads only byte 15. Splat with [`vspltb`](vspltb.md) before invoking when the count is derived dynamically.
- **Pair with [`vsl`](vsl.md) for full bit-level shifts.** `vslo` contributes the byte-granular part; `vsl` contributes the 0..7 residual bits.
- **Big-endian.** "Left" = toward MSB = toward `VD.b[0]`.
- **No flags, no VSCR.**
- **VMX128 sibling [`vslo128`](vslo128.md).**
## Related Instructions
- [`vsl`](vsl.md) — the bit-level whole-register shift-left.
- [`vsro`](vsro.md) — shift-right by octets.
- [`vsldoi`](vsldoi.md) — static-immediate variant.
- [`vslb`](vslb.md), [`vslh`](vslh.md), [`vslw`](vslw.md) — per-lane shifts.
## IBM Reference
- [AIX 7.3 — `vslo` (Vector Shift Left by Octet)](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/aix/7.3.0?topic=set-vslo-vector-shift-left-by-octet-instruction)
- [IBM AltiVec Technology Programmer's Interface Manual, Chapter 4 — Integer Shift / Rotate](https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/reference-manual/ALTIVECPIM.pdf)