CONTROL TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS INDICATING INTENT TO CALL OR RETURN

摘要

Embodiments of an invention for control transfer instructions indicating intent to call or return are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes a return target predictor, instruction hardware, and execution hardware. The instruction hardware is to receive a first instruction, a second instruction, and a third instruction, and the execution hardware to execute the first instruction, the second instruction, and the third instruction. Execution of the first instruction is to store a first return address on a stack and to transfer control to a first target address. Execution of the second instruction is to store a second return address in the return target predictor and transfer control to a second target address. Execution of the third instruction is to transfer control to the second target address.