Below is a list of all standard MSX-BASIC instructions, that are not linked to a localisation (Arabic, Japanese, Korean), the presence or addition of a device such as a disk drive or a RS-232C interface, or the usage of a program that adds specific new instructions.

These instructions are classified according to their purpose. For a general overview of all instructions in alphabetical order (with exception for most reserved words), see this page : MSX-BASIC Instructions.

Generally, all instructions corresponding to a MSX generation will also work on the higher generations, but there are some exceptions, for example the instructions related to the data recorder will not work on a MSX Turbo R.

Although the instructions added by MSX-BASIC 4.0 (MSX Turbo R) begin with CALL, they are included in the standard MSX-BASIC instructions, even though they have a syntax typical of an extension.

For all the instructions that are not part of the standard MSX-BASIC instructions, first check this page: MSX-BASIC Extensions.

A few instructions are standard instructions while being at the same time linked to a specific MSX-BASIC extension. The most obvious case is COPY added by the Disk BASIC extension and also present on all MSX2 (and later) computers as a graphical instruction.

Arithmetic operators

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
-	MSX1	Subtraction
+	MSX1	Addition
/	MSX1	Division
\ or ¥ or ₩	MSX1	Division without a digit after the decimal point in result ¥ is used on Japanese MSX instead of \ ₩ is used on Korean MSX instead of \
*	MSX1	Multiplication
^	MSX1	Root squared
MOD	MSX1	Rest resulting of a division

Call/Return, Jump and Loop

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
FOR...NEXT	MSX1
GOSUB	MSX1
GOTO	MSX1
RETURN	MSX1

Clock & Timing

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
CALL PAUSE	MSX Turbo R	Short version: _PAUSE
INTERVAL	MSX1
GET DATE	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
GET TIME	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
ON INTERVAL GOSUB	MSX1
SET DATE	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
SET TIME	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
TIME	MSX1

Conditions

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
<	MSX1	Checks if the first argument is less than the second. Returns -1 or 0 if true or false.
>	MSX1	Checks if the first argument is greater than the second. Returns -1 or 0 if true or false.
=	MSX1	Checks if the first argument is equal to the second. Returns -1 or 0 if true or false.
>= or =>	MSX1	Checks if the first argument is greater than the second or equal. Returns -1 or 0 if true or false.
<= or =<	MSX1	Checks if the first argument is less than the second or equal. Returns -1 or 0 if true or false.
<> or ><	MSX1	Checks if the first argument is diffent than the second. Returns -1 or 0 if true or false.
NOT	MSX1
IF...GOTO...ELSE	MSX1
IF...THEN...ELSE	MSX1
ON...GOSUB	MSX1
ON...GOTO	MSX1

Conversion Functions

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
ASC()	MSX1
BIN$()	MSX1
CDBL()	MSX1
CHR$()	MSX1
CINT()	MSX1
CSNG()	MSX1
HEX$()	MSX1
OCT$()	MSX1
STR$()	MSX1
VAL()	MSX1

Data Storage

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
BLOAD	MSX1	Disk BASIC
BSAVE	MSX1	Disk BASIC
CLOAD	MSX1
CLOAD?	MSX1
CLOSE	MSX1	Disk BASIC, QuickDisk BASIC, MemoryDisk BASIC, RS-232C BASIC
CSAVE	MSX1
EOF()	MSX1	Data input function
LOAD	MSX1	Disk BASIC, MemoryDisk BASIC, RS-232C BASIC
MAXFILES	MSX1
MERGE	MSX1	Disk BASIC, MemoryDisk BASIC, RS-232C BASIC
MOTOR	MSX1
OPEN	MSX1	Disk BASIC, QuickDisk BASIC, MemoryDisk BASIC, RS-232C BASIC
RUN	MSX1	Disk BASIC, MemoryDisk BASIC
SAVE	MSX1	Disk BASIC, MemoryDisk BASIC, RS-232C BASIC
VARPTR()	MSX1	Data input function

Note: The Data Recorder support has been removed from the MSX Turbo R.

Display

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
BASE	MSX1	MSX2, MSX2+	Instruction for VDP experts
CIRCLE	MSX1
CLS	MSX1		Delta BASIC
COLOR	MSX1	MSX2, MSX2+	Kanji BASIC, Hangul BASIC
COLOR=	MSX2
COPY	MSX2		It is the standard MSX2 instruction It must not be confused with the COPY instruction added by the Disk BASIC
COPY SCREEN	MSX2		Optional, can be used only on machines with an internal or external digitizer
CSRLIN	MSX1
DRAW	MSX1
LINE	MSX1	MSX2
LOCATE	MSX1		Delta BASIC
LPOS()	MSX1		Data input function
OPEN	MSX1
PAINT	MSX1
POINT	MSX1		Data input function
POS()	MSX1		Data input function
PRESET	MSX1	MSX2
PRINT or ?	MSX1
PSET	MSX1	MSX2
PUT KANJI	MSX2		Related to Kanji BASIC
SCREEN	MSX1	MSX2, MSX2+	Hangul BASIC, Kanji BASIC
SET ADJUST	MSX2		Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
SET PAGE	MSX2
SET SCROLL	MSX2+
SET VIDEO	MSX2		Optional, can be used only on machines with an internal or external digitizer
SPC()	MSX1
TAB()	MSX1
VDP()	MSX1	MSX2, MSX2+	Instruction for VDP experts
VPEEK()	MSX1	MSX2	Data input function
VPOKE	MSX1	MSX2
WIDTH	MSX1	MSX2	Hangul BASIC, Kanji BASIC

Error Treatment

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
ERL	MSX1
ERR	MSX1	Disk BASIC, Delta BASIC
ERROR	MSX1	Disk BASIC, Delta BASIC
ON ERROR GOTO	MSX1

Input/Output Bus

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
INP()	MSX1	Data input function
OUT	MSX1	Data output function
WAIT	MSX1	Data input function

Keyboard and/or Controllers

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
CALL ADJUST	MSX2		Short version: _ADJUST Only on MSX2 computers manufactured by Daewoo Maybe also available with the Sanyo MPC-X Graphic Expander Unit and the Sanyo MPC-27 computer Enables the V9938 light-pen interface
INKEY$	MSX1		Data input function
INPUT	MSX1
INPUT$()	MSX1		Data input function
KEY	MSX1
KEY()	MSX1
LINE INPUT	MSX1
OPEN	MSX1
ON KEY GOSUB	MSX1
ON STOP GOSUB	MSX1
ON STRIG GOSUB	MSX1
PAD()	MSX1	MSX2	Data input function, Light Pen support removed on MSX Turbo R
PDL()	MSX1		Data input function, Paddle controllers support removed on MSX Turbo R, these devices are unused on MSXPLAYer.
STICK()	MSX1		Data input function
STRIG()	MSX1		Data input function

Logical operators

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
AND	MSX1
EQV	MSX1
IMP	MSX1
NOT	MSX1
OR	MSX1
XOR	MSX1

Mathematical functions

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
ABS()	MSX1
CDBL()	MSX1
CINT()	MSX1
CSNG()	MSX1
EXP()	MSX1
FN	MSX1
FIX()	MSX1
INT()	MSX1
LOG()	MSX1
RND()	MSX1
SGN()	MSX1
SQR()	MSX1

New Basic Instructions/Machine Language Functions

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
CALL or _	MSX1	Instruction for machine language experts
DEF USR	MSX1
USR()	MSX1	Data input function

Printer

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
LLIST	MSX1
LPRINT	MSX1
OPEN	MSX1

Programming

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
:	MSX1	Separator between two instructions
AUTO	MSX1
CONT	MSX1
DELETE	MSX1
ELSE	MSX1
END	MSX1
FRE()	MSX1
LIST	MSX1
NEW	MSX1
REM or '	MSX1
RENUM	MSX1
RESUME	MSX1
STOP	MSX1
TROFF	MSX1
TRON	MSX1

Prompt

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
SET BEEP	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
SET PASSWORD	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
SET PROMPT	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
SET SCREEN	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)
SET TITLE	MSX2	Related to Real Time Clock (RTC)

RAM Access

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
PEEK()	MSX1	Data input function
POKE	MSX1
VARPTR()	MSX1	Data input function

Sound and Music

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
BEEP	MSX1	MSX2
CALL PCMPLAY	MSX Turbo R		Short version: _PCMPLAY
CALL PCMREC	MSX Turbo R		Short version: _PCMREC
PLAY	MSX1		MSX-AUDIO BASIC, MSX-MUSIC BASIC
PLAY()	MSX1
SOUND	MSX1		Instruction for PSG experts

Sprites

Instruction	Generation	Updates
COLOR SPRITE()	MSX2
COLOR SPRITE$()	MSX2
ON SPRITE GOSUB	MSX1
PUT SPRITE	MSX1	MSX2
SPRITE	MSX1
SPRITE$()	MSX1

String Handling

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
INSTR()	MSX1
LEN()	MSX1
LEFT$()	MSX1
MID$()	MSX1
RIGHT$()	MSX1
SPACE$()	MSX1
STRING$()	MSX1

Trigonometric Functions

Instruction	Generation	Updates	Related extensions / Remarks
ATN()	MSX1
COS()	MSX1
SIN()	MSX1
TAN()	MSX1

Variables Setting

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
=	MSX1	Defines a variable - see LET
CLEAR	MSX1
DATA	MSX1
DEFDBL	MSX1
DEF FN	MSX1
DEFINT	MSX1
DEFSNG	MSX1
DEFSTR	MSX1
DIM	MSX1
ERASE	MSX1
LET	MSX1	Optional instruction, can be omitted
READ	MSX1
RESTORE	MSX1
RUN	MSX1	Disk BASIC, MemoryDisk BASIC
SWAP	MSX1

Reserved Words

Most of these reserved words are used in Disk BASIC.

Instruction	Generation	Related extensions / Remarks
ATTR$()	MSX1	Without diversion, returns "Illegal function call"
CMD	MSX1	Without diversion, returns "Illegal function call"
COPY	MSX1, MSX2	Returns "Illegal function call" on diskless MSX1
CVD()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
CVI()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
CVS()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
DSKF()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
DSKO$	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
FIELD	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
FILES	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
FPOS()	MSX1	Without diversion, returns "Internal error".
GET	MSX1	Instruction works, but is useless on diskless MSX1
IPL	MSX1	Without diversion, returns "Illegal function call"
KILL	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
LOC()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
LOF()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
LSET	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
MKD$()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
MKI$()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
MKS$()	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
NAME	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
PUT	MSX1	Instruction works, but is useless on diskless MSX1 (except when combined with SPRITE)
RSET	MSX1	Used in Disk BASIC, returns "Illegal function call" otherwise.
SET	MSX1	Returns "Illegal function call" on MSX1

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