---
description: "Learn more about: Microsoft Macro Assembler reference"
title: "Microsoft Macro Assembler reference"
ms.date: 09/21/2021
helpviewer_keywords: ["MASM (Microsoft Macro Assembler), reference", "MASM (Microsoft Macro Assembler), overview", "MASM (Microsoft Macro Assembler)", "MASM (Microsoft Macro Assembler), documentation overview"]
---
# Microsoft Macro Assembler reference

The Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) provides several advantages over inline assembly. MASM contains a macro language that has features such as looping, arithmetic, and string processing. MASM gives you greater control over the hardware. By using MASM, you also can reduce time and memory overhead in your code.

## In This Section

[ML and ML64 command-line options](ml-and-ml64-command-line-reference.md)\
Describes the ML and ML64 command-line options.

[MASM for x64 (ml64.exe)](masm-for-x64-ml64-exe.md)\
Information about how to create output files for x64.

[Instruction Format](instruction-format.md)\
Describes basic instruction format and instruction prefixes for MASM.

[Directives reference](directives-reference.md)\
Provides links to articles that discuss the use of directives in MASM.

[Symbols Reference](symbols-reference.md)\
Provides links to articles that discuss the use of symbols in MASM.

[Operators Reference](operators-reference.md)\
Provides links to articles that discuss the use of operators in MASM.

[ML error messages](ml-error-messages.md)\
Describes fatal and nonfatal error messages and warnings.

[Processor Manufacturer Programming Manuals](processor-manufacturer-programming-manuals.md)\
Provides links to programming information about processors not manufactured, sold, or supported by Microsoft.

[MASM BNF Grammar](masm-bnf-grammar.md)\
Formal BNF description of MASM for x64.

## Related Sections

[C++ in Visual Studio](../../overview/visual-cpp-in-visual-studio.md)\
Provides links to different areas of the Visual Studio and Visual C++ documentation.

## See also

[Compiler Intrinsics](../../intrinsics/compiler-intrinsics.md)\
[x86 Intrinsics](../../intrinsics/x86-intrinsics-list.md)\
[x64 (amd64) Intrinsics](../../intrinsics/x64-amd64-intrinsics-list.md)