_ = p[3] 消除边界检查

src/runtime/utf8.go

// encoderune writes into p (which must be large enough) the UTF-8 encoding of the rune.
// It returns the number of bytes written.
func encoderune(p []byte, r rune) int {
	// Negative values are erroneous. Making it unsigned addresses the problem.
	switch i := uint32(r); {
	case i <= rune1Max:
		p[0] = byte(r)
		return 1
	case i <= rune2Max:
		_ = p[1] // eliminate bounds checks
		p[0] = t2 | byte(r>>6)
		p[1] = tx | byte(r)&maskx
		return 2
	case i > maxRune, surrogateMin <= i && i <= surrogateMax:
		r = runeError
		fallthrough
	case i <= rune3Max:
		_ = p[2] // eliminate bounds checks
		p[0] = t3 | byte(r>>12)
		p[1] = tx | byte(r>>6)&maskx
		p[2] = tx | byte(r)&maskx
		return 3
	default:
		_ = p[3] // eliminate bounds checks
		p[0] = t4 | byte(r>>18)
		p[1] = tx | byte(r>>12)&maskx
		p[2] = tx | byte(r>>6)&maskx
		p[3] = tx | byte(r)&maskx
		return 4
	}
}

_ = p[1]
_ = p[2]
_ = p[3]
以上操作都是消除边界检查，边界检查是为了确保切片下标不越界等
与此异曲同工的还有，mutex 的 Unlock方法的 _ = m.state 感知空指针

src/sync/mutex.go

// Unlock unlocks m.
// It is a run-time error if m is not locked on entry to Unlock.
//
// A locked Mutex is not associated with a particular goroutine.
// It is allowed for one goroutine to lock a Mutex and then
// arrange for another goroutine to unlock it.
func (m *Mutex) Unlock() {
	if race.Enabled {
		_ = m.state
		race.Release(unsafe.Pointer(m))
	}

	// Fast path: drop lock bit.
	new := atomic.AddInt32(&m.state, -mutexLocked)
	if new != 0 {
		// Outlined slow path to allow inlining the fast path.
		// To hide unlockSlow during tracing we skip one extra frame when tracing GoUnblock.
		m.unlockSlow(new)
	}
}

参考一下
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vdAEAjYdzjnPA9WDOQ1e4e05cYVMpqSxJYZT33Cqw2g/edit#

https://go101.org/article/bounds-check-elimination.html