Control flow prediction

A method, comprising:

• generating a predicted outcome for each of a plurality of candidate control flow instructions;
• providing a confidence value associated with each predicted outcome;
• implementing a reduced-latency recovery mechanism for a selected subset of the plurality of candidate control flow instructions, wherein implementing the reduced-latency recovery mechanism for a given control flow instruction comprises reducing a performance impact caused by a predicted outcome of the given control flow instruction being incorrect;
• and
• performing a selection operation, comprising selecting the selected subset of the plurality of candidate control flow instructions, in dependence on the confidence values associated with the predicted outcomes for the plurality of candidate control flow instructions and at least one further attribute of the plurality of candidate control flow instructions.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable code for fabrication of an apparatus comprising:

• prediction circuitry configured to generate a predicted outcome for each of a plurality of candidate control flow instructions and provide a confidence value associated with each predicted outcome;
• reduced-latency recovery circuitry configured to implement a reduced-latency recovery mechanism for a selected subset of the plurality of candidate control flow instructions, wherein implementing the reduced-latency recovery mechanism for a given control flow instruction comprises reducing a performance impact caused by a predicted outcome of the given control flow instruction being incorrect;
• and
• selection circuitry configured to perform a selection operation, comprising selecting the selected subset of the plurality of candidate control flow instructions, in dependence on the confidence values associated with the predicted outcomes for the plurality of candidate control flow instructions and at least one further attribute of the plurality of candidate control flow instructions.