Providing extended branch target buffer (btb) entries for storing trunk branch metadata and leaf branch metadata

A method, comprising:

• storing, by a branch target buffer (B TB) circuit of a processor, trunk branch metadata for a first branch instruction among a plurality of instructions in an instruction stream in a first branch entry of a plurality of branch entries of an extended BTB entry of a plurality of extended BTB entries of a BTB, wherein:
• the extended BTB entry corresponds to a first aligned memory block containing an address of the first branch instruction;
• and
• the plurality of branch entries are each configured to store metadata comprising either trunk branch metadata or leaf branch metadata;
• storing, by the BTB circuit, leaf branch metadata for a second branch instruction among the plurality of instructions in a second branch entry of the plurality of branch entries of the extended BTB entry in association with the trunk branch metadata, wherein an address of the second branch instruction is subsequent to a target address of the first branch instruction within a second aligned memory block;
• and
• updating, by the BTB circuit, the first branch entry to store an index of the second branch entry as a leaf branch index.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

• store trunk branch metadata for a first branch instruction among a plurality of instructions in an instruction stream in a first branch entry of a plurality of branch entries of an extended branch target buffer (BTB) entry of a plurality of extended BTB entries of a BTB, wherein:
• the extended BTB entry corresponds to a first aligned memory block containing an address of the first branch instruction;
• and
• the plurality of branch entries are each configured to store metadata comprising either trunk branch metadata or leaf branch metadata;
• store leaf branch metadata for a second branch instruction among the plurality of instructions in a second branch entry of the plurality of branch entries of the extended BTB entry in association with the trunk branch metadata, wherein an address of the second branch instruction is subsequent to a target address of the first branch instruction within a second aligned memory block;
• and
• update the first branch entry to store an index of the second branch entry as a leaf branch index.