Q24962: <constant> and [<constant>] Are Semantically the Same

Article: Q24962
Product(s): Microsoft Macro Assembler
Version(s): 1.25,1.27,3.0x,4.0,5.0,5.1,6.0,6.0a,6.0b
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 06-MAY-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), versions 1.25, 1.27, 3.0x, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0b 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

While <constant> and [<constant>] are syntactically different (a
constant and a constant within brackets), they are semantically the same. For
example, the following statement:

     MOV ax, [100]

will move the value of 100 into ax, not the value that is at address 100.

Another example is using a constant offset in a segment override:

     MOV ax, ds:100     ; This will access the word at offset 100

     MOV ax, ds:[100]   ; This will do the same thing

Additional query words: 1.25 1.27 3.0x 4.00 5.00 5.10 6.00 6.00a 6.00b

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMASMsearch kbAudDeveloper kbMASM510 kbMASM600 kbMASM125 kbMASM127 kbMASM30xSearch kbMASM400 kbMASM500 kbMASM600a kbMASM600b
Version           : :1.25,1.27,3.0x,4.0,5.0,5.1,6.0,6.0a,6.0b

=============================================================================