Monolithic vector processor configured to operate on variable length vectors using a vector length register

A method comprising:

• holding, by a processor using a vector register file comprising a vector register, a varying number of elements;
• storing a first integer value specifying, by the processor using a first vector length register in a length register file, a first number of operations;
• executing a first vector instruction as a single instruction, the first vector instruction comprising a first identifier representing the vector register and a second identifier representing the first vector length register to specify a first number of operations applied to the varying number of elements, wherein the first number of operations is independent from a number of elements that the vector register is capable of packing therein, wherein the first vector instruction comprises an explicit length field containing the second identifier representing the first vector length register specifying the first number of operations to be performed on the varying number of elements, wherein the first number of operations is greater than the number of elements that the vector register is capable of packing therein.