Available expression
Encyclopedia
In the field of compiler optimization
s, available expressions is an analysis algorithm that determines for each point in the program the set of expressions
that need not be recomputed. Those expressions are said to be available at such a point. To be available on a program point, the operands of the expression should not be modified on any path from the occurrence of that expression to the program point.
The analysis is an example of a forward data flow analysis problem. A set of available expressions is maintained. Each statement is analysed to see whether it changes the operands of one or more available expressions. This yields sets of available expressions at the end of each basic block
, known as the outset in data flow analysis terms. An expression is available at the start of a basic block if it is available at the end of each of the basic block's predecessors. This gives a set of equations in terms of available sets, which can be solved by an iterative algorithm.
Available expression analysis is used to do global common subexpression elimination
(CSE). If an expression is available at a point, there is no need to re-evaluate it.
Compiler optimization
Compiler optimization is the process of tuning the output of a compiler to minimize or maximize some attributes of an executable computer program. The most common requirement is to minimize the time taken to execute a program; a less common one is to minimize the amount of memory occupied...
s, available expressions is an analysis algorithm that determines for each point in the program the set of expressions
Expression (programming)
An expression in a programming language is a combination of explicit values, constants, variables, operators, and functions that are interpreted according to the particular rules of precedence and of association for a particular programming language, which computes and then produces another value...
that need not be recomputed. Those expressions are said to be available at such a point. To be available on a program point, the operands of the expression should not be modified on any path from the occurrence of that expression to the program point.
The analysis is an example of a forward data flow analysis problem. A set of available expressions is maintained. Each statement is analysed to see whether it changes the operands of one or more available expressions. This yields sets of available expressions at the end of each basic block
Basic block
In computing, a basic block is a portion of the code within a program with certain desirable properties that make it highly amenable to analysis. Compilers usually decompose programs into their basic blocks as a first step in the analysis process...
, known as the outset in data flow analysis terms. An expression is available at the start of a basic block if it is available at the end of each of the basic block's predecessors. This gives a set of equations in terms of available sets, which can be solved by an iterative algorithm.
Available expression analysis is used to do global common subexpression elimination
Common subexpression elimination
In computer science, common subexpression elimination is a compiler optimization that searches for instances of identical expressions , and analyses whether it is worthwhile replacing them with a single variable holding the computed value.- Example :In the following code: a = b * c + g; d = b * c...
(CSE). If an expression is available at a point, there is no need to re-evaluate it.