Assembler Reference
3-12 Copyright © 2000, 2001 ARM Limited. A ll rights reserved. ARM DUI 0068B
3.5 Symbols
You can use symbols to represent variables, addresses, and numeric constants. Symbols
representing addresses are also called labels. See:
•Variables on page3-13
•Numeric constants on pag e 3-13
•Labels on page3-15
•Local labels on page3-16.
3.5.1 Symbol naming rules
The following general rules apply to symbol names:
•You can use uppercase letters, lowercase let ters, numeric characters, or th e
underscore character in symbol names.
•Do not use numeric characters for the first character of symbol names, except in
local labels (see Local labels on page 3-16).
•Symbol names are case-sensitive.
•All characters in the symbo l name are significant.
•Symbol names must be unique within their scope.
•Symbols must not use built-in variable names or predefined symbol names (see
Predefined register and coprocessor names on page3-9 and Built-in variables on
page3-10).
•Symbols must not use the same name as instruction mnemonics or directives. If
you use the same name as an instruction mnemonic or directive, use double bars
to delimit the symbol name. For example:
||ASSERT||
The bars are not part of the symbol.
If you need to use a wider range of characters in symbols, for example, when working
with compilers, use single bars to delimit the symbol name. For example:
|.text|
The bars are not part of the symbol. You cannot use bars, semicolons, or newlines within
the bars.