4.1 Names
Names can denote declared entities, whether declared explicitly or implicitly (see 3.1). Names can also denote objects or subprograms designated by access values; the results of type_conversions or function_calls; subcomponents and slices of objects and values; protected subprograms, single entries, entry families, and entries in families of entries. Finally, names can denote attributes of any of the foregoing.
Syntax
name ::= direct_name | explicit_dereference | indexed_component | slice | selected_component | attribute_reference | type_conversion | function_call | character_literal
direct_name ::= identifier | operator_symbol
prefix ::= name | implicit_dereference
explicit_dereference ::= name.all
implicit_dereference ::= name
Certain forms of name (indexed_components, selected_components, slices, and attributes) include a prefix that is either itself a name that denotes some related entity, or an implicit_dereference of an access value that designates some related entity.
Name Resolution Rules
The name in a dereference (either an implicit_dereference or an explicit_dereference) is expected to be of any access type.
Static Semantics
If the type of the name in a dereference is some access-to-object type T, then the dereference denotes a view of an object, the nominal subtype of the view being the designated subtype of T.
If the type of the name in a dereference is some access-to-subprogram type S, then the dereference denotes a view of a subprogram, the profile of the view being the designated profile of S.
Dynamic Semantics
The evaluation of a name determines the entity denoted by the name. This evaluation has no other effect for a name that is a direct_name or a character_literal.
The evaluation of a name that has a prefix includes the evaluation of the prefix. The evaluation of a prefix consists of the evaluation of the name or the implicit_dereference. The prefix denotes the entity denoted by the name or the implicit_dereference.
The evaluation of a dereference consists of the evaluation of the name and the determination of the object or subprogram that is designated by the value of the name. A check is made that the value of the name is not the null access value. Constraint_Error is raised if this check fails. The dereference denotes the object or subprogram designated by the value of the name.
Examples
Examples of direct names:
Pi -- the direct name of a number (see 3.3.2)
Limit -- the direct name of a constant (see 3.3.1)
Count -- the direct name of a scalar variable (see 3.3.1)
Board -- the direct name of an array variable (see 3.6.1)
Matrix -- the direct name of a type (see 3.6)
Random -- the direct name of a function (see 6.1)
Error -- the direct name of an exception (see 11.1)
Examples of dereferences:
Next_Car.all -- explicit dereference denoting the object designated by
-- the access variable Next_Car (see 3.10.1)
Next_Car.Owner -- selected component with implicit dereference;
-- same as Next_Car.all.Owner
Copyright © 1992,1993,1994,1995 Intermetrics, Inc.
Copyright © 2000 The MITRE Corporation, Inc.
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