Table of Contents
Section 1 Introduction to SystemVerilog ...................................................................................................... 1
Section 2 Literal Values.................................................................................................................................. 4
2.1 Introduction (informative) ...............................................................................................................4
2.2 Literal value syntax..........................................................................................................................4
2.3 Integer and logic literals ..................................................................................................................4
2.4 Real literals ......................................................................................................................................5
2.5 Time literals .....................................................................................................................................5
2.6 String literals....................................................................................................................................5
2.7 Array literals ....................................................................................................................................6
2.8 Structure literals ...............................................................................................................................6
Section 3 Data Types....................................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Introduction (informative) ...............................................................................................................8
3.2 Data type syntax...............................................................................................................................9
3.3 Integer data types ...........................................................................................................................10
3.4 Real and shortreal data types .........................................................................................................11
3.5 Void data type ................................................................................................................................11
3.6 chandle data type ...........................................................................................................................11
3.7 String data type ..............................................................................................................................12
3.8 Event data type...............................................................................................................................16
3.9 User-defined types .........................................................................................................................16
3.10 Enumerations .................................................................................................................................17
3.11 Structures and unions.....................................................................................................................22
3.12 Class...............................................................................................................................................26
3.13 Singular and aggregate types .........................................................................................................27
3.14 Casting ...........................................................................................................................................27
3.15 $cast dynamic casting ....................................................................................................................28
3.16 Bit-stream casting ..........................................................................................................................29
Section 4 Arrays ............................................................................................................................................ 32
4.1 Introduction (informative) .............................................................................................................32
4.2 Packed and unpacked arrays ..........................................................................................................32
4.3 Multiple dimensions ......................................................................................................................33
4.4 Indexing and slicing of arrays........................................................................................................34
4.5 Array querying functions ...............................................................................................................35
4.6 Dynamic arrays ..............................................................................................................................35
4.7 Array assignment ...........................................................................................................................37
4.8 Arrays as arguments.......................................................................................................................38
4.9 Associative arrays ..........................................................................................................................39
4.10 Associative array methods .............................................................................................................41
4.11 Associative array assignment.........................................................................................................44
4.12 Associative array arguments ..........................................................................................................44
4.13 Associative array literals................................................................................................................44
4.14 Queues ...........................................................................................................................................45
4.15 Array manipulation methods .........................................................................................................47
Section 5 Data Declarations ......................................................................................................................... 52
5.1 Introduction (informative) .............................................................................................................52
5.2 Data declaration syntax..................................................................................................................52
5.3 Constants........................................................................................................................................52
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5.4 Variables ........................................................................................................................................53
5.5 Scope and lifetime .........................................................................................................................54
5.6 Nets, regs, and logic.......................................................................................................................55
5.7 Signal aliasing................................................................................................................................56
5.8 Type compatibility .........................................................................................................................58
Section 6 Attributes....................................................................................................................................... 61
6.1 Introduction (informative) .............................................................................................................61
6.2 Default attribute type .....................................................................................................................61
Section 7 Operators and Expressions.......................................................................................................... 62
7.1 Introduction (informative) .............................................................................................................62
7.2 Operator syntax..............................................................................................................................62
7.3 Assignment operators ....................................................................................................................62
7.4 Operations on logic and bit types ..................................................................................................63
7.5 Wild equality and wild inequality..................................................................................................63
7.6 Real operators ................................................................................................................................64
7.7 Size.................................................................................................................................................64
7.8 Sign ................................................................................................................................................64
7.9 Operator precedence and associativity ..........................................................................................64
7.10 Built-in methods ............................................................................................................................65
7.11 Static Prefixes ................................................................................................................................66
7.12 Concatenation ................................................................................................................................67
7.13 Unpacked array expressions ..........................................................................................................67
7.14 Structure expressions .....................................................................................................................68
7.15 Tagged union expressions and member access..............................................................................70
7.16 Aggregate expressions ...................................................................................................................71
7.17 Operator overloading .....................................................................................................................72
7.18 Streaming operators (pack / unpack) .............................................................................................73
7.19 Conditional operator ......................................................................................................................77
7.20 Set membership..............................................................................................................................77
Section 8 Procedural Statements and Control Flow.................................................................................. 79
8.1 Introduction (informative) .............................................................................................................79
8.2 Statements ......................................................................................................................................79
8.3 Blocking and nonblocking assignments ........................................................................................80
8.4 Selection statements.......................................................................................................................81
8.5 Loop statements .............................................................................................................................87
8.6 Jump statements.............................................................................................................................89
8.7 Final blocks....................................................................................................................................89
8.8 Named blocks and statement labels ...............................................................................................90
8.9 Disable ...........................................................................................................................................90
8.10 Event control..................................................................................................................................91
8.11 Level-sensitive sequence controls .................................................................................................93
8.12 Procedural assign and deassign removal .......................................................................................94
Section 9 Processes........................................................................................................................................ 95
9.1 Introduction (informative) .............................................................................................................95
9.2 Combinational logic.......................................................................................................................95
9.3 Latched logic..................................................................................................................................96
9.4 Sequential logic..............................................................................................................................96
9.5 Continuous assignments ................................................................................................................96
9.6 fork...join........................................................................................................................................97
9.7 Process execution threads ..............................................................................................................98
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9.8 Process control ...............................................................................................................................98
9.9 Fine-grain process control ...........................................................................................................100
Section 10 Tasks and Functions................................................................................................................... 102
10.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................102
10.2 Tasks ............................................................................................................................................103
10.3 Functions......................................................................................................................................104
10.4 Task and function argument passing ...........................................................................................106
10.5 Import and export functions.........................................................................................................109
Section 11 Classes.......................................................................................................................................... 111
11.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................111
11.2 Syntax ..........................................................................................................................................112
11.3 Overview......................................................................................................................................113
11.4 Objects (class instance)................................................................................................................113
11.5 Object properties..........................................................................................................................114
11.6 Object methods ............................................................................................................................114
11.7 Constructors .................................................................................................................................115
11.8 Static class properties...................................................................................................................116
11.9 Static methods..............................................................................................................................116
11.10 This ..............................................................................................................................................116
11.11 Assignment, re-naming and copying ...........................................................................................117
11.12 Inheritance and subclasses ...........................................................................................................118
11.13 Overridden members....................................................................................................................119
11.14 Super ............................................................................................................................................119
11.15 Casting .........................................................................................................................................120
11.16 Chaining constructors ..................................................................................................................120
11.17 Data hiding and encapsulation .....................................................................................................121
11.18 Constant class properties .............................................................................................................121
11.19 Abstract classes and virtual methods ...........................................................................................122
11.20 Polymorphism: dynamic method lookup.....................................................................................123
11.21 Class scope resolution operator :: ................................................................................................123
11.22 Out of block declarations .............................................................................................................124
11.23 Parameterized classes ..................................................................................................................125
11.24 Typedef class ...............................................................................................................................126
11.25 Classes and structures ..................................................................................................................126
11.26 Memory management ..................................................................................................................127
Section 12 Random Constraints .................................................................................................................. 128
12.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................128
12.2 Overview......................................................................................................................................128
12.3 Random variables ........................................................................................................................131
12.4 Constraint blocks .........................................................................................................................132
12.5 Randomization methods ..............................................................................................................145
12.6 In-line constraints — randomize() with.......................................................................................147
12.7 Disabling random variables with rand_mode() ...........................................................................148
12.8 Controlling constraints with constraint_mode() ..........................................................................149
12.9 Dynamic constraint modification.................................................................................................150
12.10 In-line random variable control ...................................................................................................150
12.11 Randomization of scope variables — std::randomize()...............................................................151
12.12 Random number system functions and methods .........................................................................153
12.13Random stability ..........................................................................................................................154
12.14 Manually seeding randomize .......................................................................................................156
12.15 Random weighted case — randcase ............................................................................................157
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12.16 Random sequence generation — randsequence...........................................................................158
Section 13 Interprocess Synchronization and Communication................................................................ 166
13.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................166
13.2 Semaphores ..................................................................................................................................166
13.3 Mailboxes.....................................................................................................................................167
13.4 Parameterized mailboxes .............................................................................................................170
13.5 Event ............................................................................................................................................171
13.6 Event sequencing: wait_order() ...................................................................................................172
13.7 Event variables.............................................................................................................................173
Section 14 Scheduling Semantics................................................................................................................. 176
14.1 Execution of a hardware model and its verification environment ...............................................176
14.2 Event simulation ..........................................................................................................................176
14.3 The stratified event scheduler ......................................................................................................176
14.4 The PLI callback control points...................................................................................................180
Section 15 Clocking Blocks .......................................................................................................................... 181
15.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................181
15.2 Clocking block declaration ..........................................................................................................181
15.3 Input and output skews ................................................................................................................183
15.4 Hierarchical expressions ..............................................................................................................184
15.5 Signals in multiple clocking blocks .............................................................................................185
15.6 Clocking block scope and lifetime...............................................................................................185
15.7 Multiple clocking blocks example ...............................................................................................185
15.8 Interfaces and clocking blocks.....................................................................................................186
15.9 Clocking block events..................................................................................................................187
15.10 Cycle delay: ## ............................................................................................................................187
15.11 Default clocking...........................................................................................................................188
15.12 Input sampling .............................................................................................................................189
15.13 Synchronous events .....................................................................................................................189
15.14 Synchronous drives......................................................................................................................190
Section 16 Program Block............................................................................................................................ 193
16.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................193
16.2 The program construct .................................................................................................................193
16.3 Multiple programs........................................................................................................................195
16.4 Eliminating testbench races .........................................................................................................195
16.5 Blocking tasks in cycle/event mode.............................................................................................196
16.6 Program control tasks ..................................................................................................................196
Section 17 Assertions ................................................................................................................................... 198
17.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................198
17.2 Immediate assertions....................................................................................................................198
17.3 Concurrent assertions overview...................................................................................................200
17.4 Boolean expressions ....................................................................................................................201
17.5 Sequences.....................................................................................................................................203
17.6 Declaring sequences ....................................................................................................................206
17.7 Sequence operations ....................................................................................................................208
17.8 Manipulating data in a sequence..................................................................................................224
17.9 Calling subroutines on match of a sequence................................................................................228
17.10 System functions..........................................................................................................................229
17.11 Declaring properties.....................................................................................................................229
17.12 Multiple clock support .................................................................................................................240
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17.13 Concurrent assertions...................................................................................................................246
17.14 Clock resolution ...........................................................................................................................252
17.15 Binding properties to scopes or instances....................................................................................258
17.16 The expect statement ...................................................................................................................259
Section 18 Hierarchy..................................................................................................................................... 261
18.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................261
18.2 Packages.......................................................................................................................................261
18.3 Compilation unit support .............................................................................................................265
18.4 Top-level instance........................................................................................................................266
18.5 Module declarations.....................................................................................................................267
18.6 Nested modules............................................................................................................................267
18.7 Extern modules ............................................................................................................................269
18.8 Port declarations ..........................................................................................................................270
18.9 List of port expressions................................................................................................................271
18.10 Time unit and precision ...............................................................................................................271
18.11 Module instances .........................................................................................................................272
18.12 Port connection rules ...................................................................................................................276
18.13 Name spaces ................................................................................................................................277
18.14 Hierarchical names ......................................................................................................................278
Section 19 Interfaces ..................................................................................................................................... 279
19.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................279
19.2 Interface syntax............................................................................................................................280
19.3 Ports in interfaces.........................................................................................................................284
19.4 Modports ......................................................................................................................................285
19.5 Interfaces and specify blocks .......................................................................................................291
19.6 Tasks and functions in interfaces.................................................................................................291
19.7 Parameterized interfaces ..............................................................................................................297
19.8 Virtual interfaces..........................................................................................................................299
19.9 Access to interface objects...........................................................................................................303
Section 20 Coverage...................................................................................................................................... 305
20.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................305
20.2 Defining the coverage model: covergroup...................................................................................306
20.3 Using covergroup in classes ........................................................................................................308
20.4 Defining coverage points .............................................................................................................309
20.5 Defining cross coverage...............................................................................................................315
20.6 Specifying coverage options ........................................................................................................319
20.7 Predefined coverage methods ......................................................................................................324
20.8 Predefined coverage system tasks and functions .........................................................................324
20.9 Organization of option and type_option members ......................................................................324
Section 21 Parameters .................................................................................................................................. 326
21.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................326
21.2 Parameter declaration syntax .......................................................................................................327
Section 22 Configuration Libraries............................................................................................................. 330
22.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................330
22.2 Libraries .......................................................................................................................................330
Section 23 System Tasks and System Functions ........................................................................................ 331
23.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................331
23.2 Elaboration-time typeof function.................................................................................................331
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23.3 Typename function ......................................................................................................................331
23.4 Expression size system function ..................................................................................................332
23.5 Range system function.................................................................................................................333
23.6 Shortreal conversions...................................................................................................................333
23.7 Array querying system functions .................................................................................................334
23.8 Assertion severity system tasks ...................................................................................................335
23.9 Assertion control system tasks.....................................................................................................336
23.10 Assertion system functions ..........................................................................................................336
23.11 Random number system functions...............................................................................................337
23.12 Program control ...........................................................................................................................337
23.13 Coverage system functions ..........................................................................................................337
23.14 Enhancements to Verilog-2001 system tasks ..............................................................................337
23.15 $readmemb and $readmemh........................................................................................................338
23.16 $writememb and $writememh .....................................................................................................338
23.17 File format considerations for multi-dimensional unpacked arrays ............................................339
23.18 System task arguments for multi-dimensional unpacked arrays .................................................340
Section 24 VCD Data .................................................................................................................................... 342
Section 25 Compiler Directives.................................................................................................................... 343
25.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................343
25.2 ‘define macros..............................................................................................................................343
25.3 `include ........................................................................................................................................344
Section 26 Features under consideration for removal from SystemVerilog ........................................... 345
26.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................345
26.2 Defparam statements....................................................................................................................345
26.3 Procedural assign and deassign statements..................................................................................345
Section 27 Direct Programming Interface (DPI) ....................................................................................... 347
27.1 Overview......................................................................................................................................347
27.2 Two layers of the DPI ..................................................................................................................348
27.3 Global name space of imported and exported functions..............................................................349
27.4 Imported tasks and functions .......................................................................................................349
27.5 Calling imported functions ..........................................................................................................355
27.6 Exported functions .......................................................................................................................356
27.7 Exported tasks..............................................................................................................................357
27.8 Disabling DPI tasks and functions...............................................................................................357
Section 28 SystemVerilog Assertion API .................................................................................................... 359
28.1 Requirements ...............................................................................................................................359
28.2 Extensions to VPI enumerations..................................................................................................359
28.3 Static information ........................................................................................................................360
28.4 Dynamic information ...................................................................................................................363
28.5 Control functions .........................................................................................................................366
Section 29 SystemVerilog Coverage API .................................................................................................... 368
29.1 Requirements ...............................................................................................................................368
29.2 SystemVerilog real-time coverage access ...................................................................................369
29.3 FSM recognition ..........................................................................................................................374
29.4 VPI coverage extensions..............................................................................................................377
Section 30 SystemVerilog Data Read API .................................................................................................. 381
30.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................381
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30.2 Requirements ...............................................................................................................................381
30.3 Extensions to VPI enumerations..................................................................................................382
30.4 VPI object type additions.............................................................................................................383
30.5 Object model diagrams ................................................................................................................385
30.6 Usage extensions to VPI routines ................................................................................................387
30.7 VPI routines added in SystemVerilog .........................................................................................388
30.8 Reading data ................................................................................................................................389
30.9 Optionally unloading the data......................................................................................................399
30.10 Reading data from multiple databases and/or different read library providers ...........................399
30.11VPI routines extended in SystemVerilog.....................................................................................402
30.12VPI routines added in SystemVerilog .........................................................................................403
Section 31 SystemVerilog VPI Object Model............................................................................................. 407
31.1 Introduction (informative) ...........................................................................................................407
31.2 Instance .......................................................................................................................................409
31.3 Interface ......................................................................................................................................410
31.4 Program........................................................................................................................................410
31.5 Module (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.1) ............................................................................411
31.6 Modport ......................................................................................................................................412
31.7 Interface tf decl ............................................................................................................................412
31.8 Ports (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.5) .................................................................................413
31.9 Ref Obj.........................................................................................................................................414
31.10 Variables (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 section 26.6.8) .............................................................416
31.11 Var Select (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.8).........................................................................418
31.12 Typespec ......................................................................................................................................419
31.13 Variable Drivers and Loads (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.23) ...........................................421
31.14 Instance Arrays (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.2) ................................................................421
31.15 Scope (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.3) ...............................................................................422
31.16 IO Declaration (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.4) .................................................................423
31.17 Clocking Block ...........................................................................................................................424
31.18 Class Object Definition................................................................................................................425
31.19 Constraint, constraint ordering, distribution, ...............................................................................426
31.20 Constraint expression...................................................................................................................427
31.21 Class Variables ...........................................................................................................................428
31.23 Named Events (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.11) ................................................................430
31.24 Task, Function Declaration (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.18)............................................431
31.25 Alias Statement ...........................................................................................................................432
31.26 Frames (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.20)............................................................................433
31.27 Threads.........................................................................................................................................434
31.28 tf call (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.19) ..............................................................................435
31.29 Module path, path term (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.15) .................................................436
31.30 Concurrent assertions ..................................................................................................................437
31.31 Property Decl ..............................................................................................................................437
31.32 Property Specification .................................................................................................................438
31.33 Multiclock Sequence Expression ................................................................................................439
31.34 Sequence Declaration .................................................................................................................440
31.35 Sequence Expression ..................................................................................................................441
31.36 Attribute (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.42) ........................................................................442
31.37 Atomic Statement (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.27) .........................................................443
31.38 If, if else, return, case, do while (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.35, 26.6.36).......................444
31.39 waits, disables, expect, foreach (supersedes IEEE 1364 26.6.38) ...............................................445
31.40 Simple expressions (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.25) ........................................................446
31.41 Expressions (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.26) ....................................................................447
31.42 Event control (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.30)..................................................................448
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31.43 Event stmt (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.27) .....................................................................448
31.44 Process (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.27) ..........................................................................449
31.45 Assignment (supersedes IEEE 1364-2001 26.6.28) ...................................................................449
Annex A Formal Syntax.............................................................................................................................. 451
Annex B Keywords ...................................................................................................................................... 488
Annex C Std Package ................................................................................................................................. 490
Annex D Linked Lists................................................................................................................................. 492
Annex E DPI C-layer .................................................................................................................................. 498
Annex F Include files .................................................................................................................................. 523
Annex G Inclusion of Foreign Language Code ......................................................................................... 529
Annex H Formal Semantics of Concurrent Assertions ............................................................................ 533
Annex I sv_vpi_user.h................................................................................................................................ 544
Annex J Glossary ........................................................................................................................................ 553
Annex K Bibliography................................................................................................................................. 555
Index 557
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