Filtering Micro-Operations for a Micro-Operation Cache in a Processor

A method for handling micro-operations in an electronic device that includes a processor;

• a micro-operation cache in the processor that includes a plurality of micro-operation cache entries, each micro-operation cache entry configured for storing micro-operations decoded from instruction groups of one or more instructions;
• and a micro-operation filter in the processor that includes a plurality of micro-operation filter table entries, each micro-operation filter table entry configured for storing identifiers of instruction groups for which the micro-operations are predicted not to be accessed if stored in the micro-operation cache, the method comprising:
• receiving, by the micro-operation filter, a first identifier for a first instruction group;
• and
• preventing, by the micro-operation filter, a copy of the micro-operations from the first instruction group from being stored in the micro-operation cache when a micro-operation filter table entry includes an identifier that matches the first identifier.