Array Methods
Array methods are generic manipulation methods that apply to the entire array rather than iterating to every element in the array.
Basic Array Operations
- Copy: an array can be copied completely to another array without using a loop statement.
- Compare: two arrays can be compared for equality and inequality.
Keep in mind that two arrays that are being compared or copied must be of the same base type and size.
Array Reduction Methods
A basic array reduction method takes an array and reduces it to a single value. Some of the array reduction methods are as follows:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| sum() | Calculates the sum of the array |
| product() | returns the product of the array |
| and(), or(), xor() | performs bitwise logical operation on the array elements |
Array Locator Methods
Array locator methods provide easy and fast access to elements in an array. Some of the methods include a “with” clause, which tells SystemVerilog how to perform the search.
| Method | Descprition |
|---|---|
| min() | returns the minimum element in the array |
| max() | returns the maximum element in the array |
| unique() | returns a queue of unique values from the array, duplicates are not included |
| find() | returns all the elements satisfying the expression, eg. find with (item >4) |
| find_index() | returns all the index of the array that satisfies the expression |
| find_fisrt_index() | returns the index of the first value that satisfies the expression |
| find_last() | returns the last elements that satisfy the expression |
| find_last_index() | returns the index of the last element that satisfies the expression |
In a “with” clause, the name “item” is called the iterator argument that represents a single element of the array. You can combine an array reduction method using the with clause for some unique operations.
Array Sorting and Ordering
SystemVerilog provides a means to change the order of elements in an array with the following commands:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| reverse() | returns an array with elements arranged from last to first |
| sort() | returns an array in ascending order |
| rsort() | returns an array in descending order |
| shuffle() | randomizes the order of array |
NOTE: The reverse and shuffle methods do not have a “with” clause. They work on the entire array.