Tracing branch instructions

An apparatus comprises data processing circuitry to perform data processing operations in response to a sequence of instructions, where the sequence of instructions comprises branch instructions. Trace generating circuitry generates a trace stream of trace items indicative of the data processing operations. The trace generating circuitry is responsive to one or more not-taken branch instructions followed by a taken branch instruction in the sequence of instructions to: include at least one not-taken trace item corresponding to the one or more not-taken branch instructions followed by a taken trace item in the trace stream when a current status condition of the apparatus is met, and to include a source address associated with the taken branch instruction in the trace stream when the current status condition of the apparatus is not met. A hybrid approach between tracing not-taken branch instructions and tracing a source address associated with the taken branch instruction is thus provided.