@@ -79,6 +79,40 @@ def NVVM_Dialect : Dialect {
7979 sequence must be expressed directly, NVVM provides an `nvvm.inline_ptx` op to
8080 embed PTX inline as a last-resort escape hatch, with explicit operands and
8181 results.
82+
83+
84+ **Memory Spaces:** The NVVM dialect introduces the following memory spaces,
85+ each with distinct scopes and lifetimes:
86+ ```
87+ | Memory Space | Address Space | Scope | Lifetime |
88+ |-------------------|---------------|----------------------|-------------------|
89+ | `generic` | 0 | All threads | Context-dependent |
90+ | `global` | 1 | All threads (device) | Application |
91+ | `shared` | 3 | Thread block (CTA) | Kernel execution |
92+ | `constant` | 4 | All threads (RO) | Application |
93+ | `local` | 5 | Single thread | Kernel execution |
94+ | `tensor` | 6 | Thread block (CTA) | Kernel execution |
95+ | `shared_cluster` | 7 | Thread block cluster | Kernel execution |
96+ ```
97+ **Memory Space Details:**
98+ - **generic**: Can point to any memory space; requires runtime resolution of
99+ actual address space. Use when pointer origin is unknown at compile time.
100+ Performance varies based on the underlying memory space.
101+ - **global**: Accessible by all threads across all blocks; persists across
102+ kernel launches. Highest latency but largest capacity (device memory). Best
103+ for large data and inter-kernel communication.
104+ - **shared**: Shared within a thread block (CTA); very fast on-chip memory for
105+ cooperation between threads in the same block. Limited capacity. Ideal for
106+ block-level collaboration, caching, and reducing global memory traffic.
107+ - **constant**: Read-only memory cached per SM. Size typically limited to
108+ 64KB. Best for read-only data and uniform values accessed by all threads.
109+ - **local**: Private to each thread. Use for per-thread private data and
110+ automatic variables that don't fit in registers.
111+ - **tensor**: Special memory space for tensor core operations. Used by
112+ `tcgen05` instructions on SM 100+ for tensor input/output operations.
113+ - **shared_cluster**: Distributed shared memory across thread blocks within
114+ a cluster (SM 90+). Enables collaboration beyond single-block scope with
115+ fast access across cluster threads.
82116 }];
83117
84118 let name = "nvvm";
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