DEFINED VARIABLE

System Programing Lab

Second Year
Introduction
• Variable is a memory location. Our compiler
supports two types of variables:
BYTE and WORD
• There are two types of the variables:
Numeric variable & String variables
• Syntax for a variable declaration:

Name Directive Value

Ahmed1 DB 02H
Val_2 DW 0123H
Introduction
Name
Must
• Can be consist of letters, numbers, and symbols.
start with letter. Must defer from instruction
names. It’s not important small or large letter
because assembly isn’t sensitive language .
Directive
• Can be DB to define byte, or DW to define 2 bytes.

Value
• Can be any numeric, or string value in any supported
numbering system (hexadecimal, binary, octal, ASCII or
decimal), or "?" symbol for variables that are not initialized.
 Numeric variable
• Variable can define numerical numbers in multiple forms:
Constant: value in this type of variables can not be change.

Variable Description
Var1 EQU 02 H Define constant number 8 bit
Var1 EQU 0123 H Define constant number 16 bit

Variable: value in this type of variables can be change

Variable
Var1 DB 02 H
Var2 DW 0234 H
Var3 DB 01H, 02H, 03H, 04H
Var4 DW 0123H, 4567H, 89ABH
Var7 DB 6DUP (01H)
Var8 DB 3DUP (01H,02H)
Description
Define 1 value 8 bit stored at one memory location
Define 1 value 16 bit stored at tow memory locations
Define 4 values each 8 bit (array) at 4 memory locations
Define 3 values each 16 bit (array) at 6 memory locations
Define an array (6 ML) using DUP instruction
Define an array (6 ML) using DUP instruction
String variables
• String variables can be one or multiple letters

Variable Description
Var5 DB ‘A’ Define 1 ASCII Code at 1 memory locations
Var6 DB “AHMED” Define 5 ASCII Codes (array) at 5 memory locations
Var7 DB ‘A’,’H’,’M’,’E’,’D’ Define 5 ASCII Codes (array) at 5 memory locations

• DUP an instruction duplicate the value between

brackets n times based on the number written
before it.
Variable Result
Var5 DB 4DUP (02H) N=4 , Var5 = 02H, 02H, 02H, 02H
Var5 DW 4DUP (0123H) N=4 , Var5 = 0123H, 0123H, 0123H, 0123H
Var5 DB 4DUP (02H, 03H) N=4 , Var5 = 02H, 03H, 02H, 03H,02,03,02,03
Reading Variables
• There are many ways to read variables:
• Offset : Store variable address into specific register.
MOV BX, OFFSET Var1
• LEA (load effective address)
LEA BX, Var1
• Direct : can use it if there is one value
MOV AL, Var1
Program 1 Program 2 Program 3
MOV BX, offset Var1 LEA BX, Var1 MOV AL, Var1
MOV AL, [BX] MOV AL, [BX] HLT
HLT HLT Var1 DB 01H
Var1 DB 01H Var1 DB 01H
Define Variables
• There are tow ways to define variables:
• At the beginning of program:
.Data
VAR1 DB 01H
.code
MOV BX, OFFSET VAR1
MOV AL, [BX]
HLT
• At the end of program:
MOV BX, OFFSET VAR1
MOV AL, [BX]
HLT
VAR1 DB 01H
EXAMPLES
• Write a program to exchange the content of var1,var 2

.DATA MOV AX, 0100

Var1 DB 01H MOV DS, AX
Var2 DB 02H MOV SI, OFFSET Var1
MOV DI, OFFSET Var2
.CODE MOV AL, [SI]
MOV AX, 0100H MOV BL, [DI]
MOV DS, AX MOV [SI], BL
MOV SI, OFFSET Var1 MOV [DI], AL
MOV DI, OFFSET Var2 HLT
MOV AL, [SI] Var1 DB 01H
MOV BL, [DI] Var2 DB 02H
MOV [SI], BL
MOV [DI], AL
HLT
EXAMPLES
• Write a program to transfer the content of var1 in data
segment started at 2000H ,to var2 in stack segment
started at 3000H
.DATA MOV AX, 2000H
Var1 DB 01H MOV DS, AX
Var2 DB ? MOV SI, OFFSET Var1
MOV BL, [SI]
.CODE MOV AX, 3000H
MOV AX, 2000H MOV SS, AX
MOV DS, AX MOV BP, OFFSET Var2
MOV SI, OFFSET Var1 MOV [BP], BL
MOV BL, [SI] HLT
MOV AX, 3000H Var1 DB 01H
MOV SS, AX Var2 DB ?
MOV BP, OFFSET Var2
MOV [BP], BL
HLT