Value Numbering

Value numbering is a compiler-based program analysis method that allows redundant computations to be removed. This paper compares hash-based approaches derived from the classic local algorithm1 with partitioning approaches based on the work of Alpern, Wegman and Zadeck.2 Historically, the hash-based algorithm has been applied to single basic blocks or extended basic blocks. We have improved the technique to operate over the routine's dominator tree. The partitioning approach partitions the values in the routine into congruence classes and removes computations when one congruent value dominates another. We have extended this technique to remove computations that define a value in the set of available expressions (AVAIL).3 Also, we are able to apply a version of Morel and Renvoise's partial redundancy elimination4 to remove even more redundancies. The paper presents a series of hash-based algorithms and a series of refinements to the partitioning technique. Within each series, it can be proved that each method discovers at least as many redundancies as its predecessors. Unfortunately, no such relationship exists between the hash-based and global techniques. On some programs, the hash-based techniques eliminate more redundancies than the partitioning techniques, while on others, partitioning wins. We experimentally compare the improvements made by these techniques when applied to real programs. These results will be useful for commercial compiler writers who wish to assess the potential impact of each technique before implementation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.