Node: Density Instructions, Next: Xtensa Automatic Alignment, Up: Xtensa Optimizations

### Using Density Instructions

The Xtensa instruction set has a code density option that provides 16-bit versions of some of the most commonly used opcodes. Use of these opcodes can significantly reduce code size. When possible, the assembler automatically translates generic instructions from the core Xtensa instruction set into equivalent instructions from the Xtensa code density option. This translation can be disabled by using specific opcodes (see Opcode Names), by using the `--no-density` command-line option (see Command Line Options), or by using the `no-density` directive (see density).

It is a good idea not to use the density instructions directly. The assembler will automatically select dense instructions where possible. If you later need to avoid using the code density option, you can disable it in the assembler without having to modify the code.