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<h3 class="section">5.4 The Special Dot Symbol</h3>

<p><a name="index-dot-_0028symbol_0029-223"></a><a name="index-g_t_0040code_007b_002e_007d-_0028symbol_0029-224"></a><a name="index-current-address-225"></a><a name="index-location-counter-226"></a>The special symbol &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.</span></samp>&rsquo; refers to the current address that
<samp><span class="command">as</span></samp> is assembling into.  Thus, the expression &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">melvin:
.long .</span></samp>&rsquo; defines <code>melvin</code> to contain its own address. 
Assigning a value to <code>.</code> is treated the same as a <code>.org</code>
directive. 
Thus, the expression &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.=.+4</span></samp>&rsquo; is the same as saying
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.space 4</span></samp>&rsquo;.

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