Concatenation is generally used for combining two or more vectors to form a single vector. But in Verilog, concatenation operator can be used to either join two or more vectors or split a vector into small sub-vectors.
{ and } together form the concatenation operator in Verilog.
I will show you some examples, to give you a practical idea.
Combing two or more vectors to form a single vector:
//Declare the registers
reg [7:0] c; //8 bit vector
reg [4:0] a = 5'b11111; //5 bit vector
reg [2:0] b = 3'b000; //3 bit vector
//First way to concatenate
c = {a,b}; // c = "11111000"
c = {b,a}; // c = "00011111"
//Replicate a vector multiple times by using {{}}
// {a{b}} means 'b' replicated 'a' times.
// size of "1" is not mentioned. so its taken as a 32 bit integer.
c = {{1}}; // c = "00000001"
// size of "1" is mentioned and its replicated 8 times.
c = {8{1'b1}}; // c = "11111111"
//the replicated part will be added to Least significant bits. MSB is padded with zeros.
c = {4{1'b1}}; // c = "00001111"
//Note that MSB is padded with zeros again
c = {{2'b10}}; // c = "00000010"
//"10" is replicated 4 times.
c = {4{2'b10}}; // c = "10101010"
//replicate "110" eight times and take the least significant 8 bits.
c = {8{3'b110}}; // c = "10110110"
// Compilation error. Multiple concatenating is not allowed.
c = {2{4{1'b1}}};
Splitting a vector to smaller vectors:
//Declare variables
reg [7:0] e = 8'b10110110; //8 bit vector
reg [4:0] d; //5 bit vector
reg [2:0] a,b,c; //3 bit vector
//splitting up a vector to two vectors.
{a,d} = e; // a = "101" and d = "10110"
//splitting up a vector to three vectors.
//Least significant vectors(right hand side) is filled first.
{ and } together form the concatenation operator in Verilog.
I will show you some examples, to give you a practical idea.
Combing two or more vectors to form a single vector:
//Declare the registers
reg [7:0] c; //8 bit vector
reg [4:0] a = 5'b11111; //5 bit vector
reg [2:0] b = 3'b000; //3 bit vector
//First way to concatenate
c = {a,b}; // c = "11111000"
c = {b,a}; // c = "00011111"
//Replicate a vector multiple times by using {{}}
// {a{b}} means 'b' replicated 'a' times.
// size of "1" is not mentioned. so its taken as a 32 bit integer.
c = {{1}}; // c = "00000001"
// size of "1" is mentioned and its replicated 8 times.
c = {8{1'b1}}; // c = "11111111"
//the replicated part will be added to Least significant bits. MSB is padded with zeros.
c = {4{1'b1}}; // c = "00001111"
//Note that MSB is padded with zeros again
c = {{2'b10}}; // c = "00000010"
//"10" is replicated 4 times.
c = {4{2'b10}}; // c = "10101010"
//replicate "110" eight times and take the least significant 8 bits.
c = {8{3'b110}}; // c = "10110110"
// Compilation error. Multiple concatenating is not allowed.
c = {2{4{1'b1}}};
Splitting a vector to smaller vectors:
//Declare variables
reg [7:0] e = 8'b10110110; //8 bit vector
reg [4:0] d; //5 bit vector
reg [2:0] a,b,c; //3 bit vector
//splitting up a vector to two vectors.
{a,d} = e; // a = "101" and d = "10110"
//splitting up a vector to three vectors.
//Least significant vectors(right hand side) is filled first.
// remaining vectors are assigned zero.
{a,b,c} = 8'b11111111; // a = "011" , b = "111" , c = "111"
//splitting up a vector to three vectors.
//10 times "10" is replicated.
{a,b,c} = {10{2'b10}}; // a = "010" , b = "101" , c = "010"
I hope the concept of concatenation operator is clear now. A clear understanding of this might save you, lots of typing, when you are implementing your Verilog design.
{a,b,c} = 8'b11111111; // a = "011" , b = "111" , c = "111"
//splitting up a vector to three vectors.
//10 times "10" is replicated.
{a,b,c} = {10{2'b10}}; // a = "010" , b = "101" , c = "010"
I hope the concept of concatenation operator is clear now. A clear understanding of this might save you, lots of typing, when you are implementing your Verilog design.
