Zero extension
= Zero extension
{title2=$\operatorname{zext}_{m\to w}(b)$}
Widen an $m$-<bit> <binary representation> to $w>m$ <bits> by retaining the original low positions and filling every new high position with zero. This preserves the <unsigned interpretation>. A <MIPS instruction> such as `ori` uses <zero extension> of its <immediate operand>, whereas `addi` uses <sign extension>.