Print partial string in MIPS

Question

I would like to print out "HEL" from the string "HELLO!". I am aware that I can load individual byte using lb in MIPS, however, how do I load the first 3 characters?

.data
    string: .asciiz "HELLO!"

.text
    lw $t6, string
    lb $a0, 0-2($t6)  # pseudo-code, returns "HEL"
    li $v0, 4 # as opposed to 11, printing character
    syscall

There's no system call that prints a string where the actual string contents are stored in a register. You could temporarily modify the string in the data section by storing 0 at the location of the second 'L' and then using system call 4. Or just use three lb instructions and system call 11s. — Michael
– Michael, Commented Nov 21, 2021 at 19:24

Erik Eidt · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-21 19:33:55Z

2

This has little to do with MIPS, and everything to do with C style nul-terminated strings, if you consider printing a character and whole string are your only options.

So, you can print the first 3 characters one a a time using syscall #11, or, copy them to another string and print it using syscall #4.

Otherwise, you can modify the string in place by smashing the 2nd L with a nul character, and print it.

answered Nov 21, 2021 at 19:33

Erik Eidt

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2 Comments

A1122 Over a year ago

How do I modify the string? I'm reading something like this: stackoverflow.com/questions/56584949/…

A1122 Over a year ago

Ok, I figured it out using sb.

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