Write SIMD code on Arm using Rust
Introduction
Introduction to Rust
Arm SIMD on Rust
Inlining Intrinsics
Matrix transpose
A more complicated example
Conclusion
Next Steps

  Log an issue

  Fork and edit

  Discuss on Discord

About this Learning Path

Skill level:  Advanced
Reading time:  30 min
Last updated:  03 Aug 2026
Skill level:
  Advanced
Reading time:
  30 min
Last updated:
  03 Aug 2026
Author:Konstantinos Margaritis, VectorCamp
Arm IP:Cortex-A Neoverse
Tags: Performance and Architecture Linux GCC Clang Rust Runbook
Author:
  • Konstantinos Margaritis, VectorCamp
Arm IP:
Cortex-A Neoverse
Tags:
Performance and Architecture Linux GCC Clang Rust Runbook

Who is this for?

This is an advanced topic for software developers who want to take advantage of SIMD code on Arm systems using Rust.

What will you learn?

Upon completion of this Learning Path, you will be able to:

  • Write SIMD code with Rust using std::arch and Neon intrinsics on Arm
  • Use portable SIMD abstractions with std::simd for cross-platform code
  • Apply feature detection and target attributes for architecture-specific optimizations
  • Compare C and Rust SIMD implementations and disassembly output

Prerequisites

Before starting, you will need the following:

  • An Arm-based computer with recent versions of a C compiler (Clang or GCC) and a Rust compiler installed

Summary

AI-assisted

This summary was drafted with an approved AI-assisted workflow and reviewed by Arm contributors before publication. Human technical review remains part of the process so the final page reflects engineering rigor, accuracy, and Arm editorial standards.

Close
?
You’ll write SIMD code for Arm with Rust by translating familiar C examples into Rust. Starting with Arm Advanced SIMD (Neon) intrinsics in C, you’ll mirror them in Rust with std::arch and explore portable SIMD with std::simd. You’ll implement pairwise averaging, a dot-product sum of absolute differences, a 4x4 matrix transpose, and a DCT butterfly. Then, you’ll compare C and Rust output and disassembly.

Frequently asked questions

AI-assisted

These FAQs were drafted with an approved AI-assisted workflow and reviewed by Arm contributors before publication. Human technical review remains part of the process so the final page reflects engineering rigor, accuracy, and Arm editorial standards.

Close
?
Which Rust SIMD API should I use when porting the C Neon intrinsics examples?
Use std::arch for a one-to-one match with the C Neon intrinsics. Use std::simd when you prefer a portable abstraction.
How do I know the pairwise average example produced the right result?
The program averages corresponding elements from two arrays. Compare its output with the scalar calculation (A[i] + B[i]) / 2 for each index.
What output should I expect from the dot product (`vdotq_u32`) example?
The example prints the input arrays and then reports one sum of absolute differences (SAD) value. Compare the arrays and SAD total with the expected calculation.
What should I check if the Rust intrinsics code does not compile?
Confirm that the imports and architecture-specific attributes match the example, and target an Arm platform that supports the intrinsics. Mismatched names or attributes can cause build errors.
How do I compare the C and Rust implementations for the transpose or butterfly steps?
Build and run both versions, then compare their printed outputs. Review the disassembly to see how each implementation maps to Arm Neon instructions.
Next