FUNCTION::GET\_CYCLES(3stap) Timestamp Functions FUNCTION::GET\_CYCLES(3stap)

# [NAME](#NAME)

function::get\_cycles - Processor cycle count

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```


    get_cycles:long()
```

# [ARGUMENTS](#ARGUMENTS)

None

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

This function returns the processor cycle counter value if available, else it returns zero. The cycle counter is free running and unsynchronized on each processor. Thus, the order of events cannot determined by comparing the results of the get\_cycles function on different processors.

# [SEE ALSO0](#SEE_ALSO0)

[*tapset::timestamp*(3stap)](/man/enterprise-packages/systemtap/tapset::timestamp.3stap)

September 2026 SystemTap Tapset Reference Ver

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Document: function::get_cycles(3stap) from systemtap 5.6-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://sourceware.org/git/systemtap.git