Explain objc_msgSend fast path in ARM64 in detail

Updated May 17, 2026

Short answer

objc_msgSend uses cache lookup → hash bucket → direct branch to IMP via registers.

Deep explanation

On ARM64, objc_msgSend uses x0=receiver, x1=selector. It computes cache bucket index via selector hash. If hit, loads IMP into x17 and branches (br x17). No stack frame is created. On miss, slow path triggers method resolution and forwarding.

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