SystemVerilog Arrays

SystemVerilog offers much flexibility in building complicated data structures through the different types of arrays.

• Static Arrays
• Dynamic Arrays
• Associative Arrays
• Queues

Static Arrays

A static array is one whose size is known before compilation time. In the example shown below, a static array of 8-bit wide is declared, assigned some value and iterated over to print its value.

module tb;
	bit [7:0] 	m_data; 	// A vector or 1D packed array
	
	initial begin
		// 1. Assign a value to the vector
		m_data = 8'hA2; 
		
		// 2. Iterate through each bit of the vector and print value
		for (int i = 0; i < $size(m_data); i++) begin
			$display ("m_data[%0d] = %b", i, m_data[i]);
		end
	end
endmodule

Static arrays are further categorized into packed and unpacked arrays.

	bit [2:0][7:0] 	m_data; 			// Packed
	bit [15:0] 		m_mem [10:0]; 		// Unpacked

Unpacked arrays may be fixed-size arrays, dynamic arrays, associative arrays or queues.

Dynamic Arrays

A dynamic array is one whose size is not known during compilation, but instead is defined and expanded as needed during runtime. A dynamic array is easily recognized by its empty square brackets [ ].

	int 		m_mem []; 	// Dynamic array, size unknown but it holds integer values

Associative Arrays

An associative array is one where the content is stored with a certain key. This is easily recognized by the presence of a data type inside its square brackets [ ]. The key is represented inside the square brackets.

	int 		m_data [int]; 			// Key is of type int, and data is also of type int
	int 		m_name [string]; 		// Key is of type string, and data is of type int
	
	m_name ["Rachel"] = 30;
	m_name ["Orange"] = 2;
	
	m_data [32'h123] = 3333;

Queues

A queue is a data type where data can be either pushed into the queue or popped from the array. It is easily recognized by the $ symbol inside square brackets [ ].

	int 	m_queue [$]; 		// Unbound queue, no size
	
	
	m_queue.push_back(23); 		// Push into the queue
	
	int data = m_queue.pop_front(); // Pop from the queue