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 3.4 Derived Types and Classes

1/2
{AI95-00401-01} {AI95-00419-01} {derived type} A derived_type_definition defines a derived type new type (and its first subtype) whose characteristics are derived from those of a parent type, and possibly from progenitor types parent type. {inheritance: See derived types and classes}
1.a/2
Glossary entry: {Derived type} A derived type is a type defined in terms of one or more other types given in a derived type definition. The first of those types another type, which is the parent type of the derived type and any others are progenitor types. Each class containing the parent type or a progenitor type also contains the derived type. The derived type inherits properties such as components and primitive operations from the parent and progenitors. A type together with the types derived from it (directly or indirectly) form a derivation class.
1.1/2
  {AI95-00442-01} {class (of types)} {category (of types)} A class of types is a set of types that is closed under derivation; that is, if the parent or a progenitor type of a derived type belongs to a class, then so does the derived type. By saying that a particular group of types forms a class, we are saying that all derivatives of a type in the set inherit the characteristics that define that set. The more general term category of types is used for a set of types whose defining characteristics are not necessarily inherited by derivatives; for example, limited, abstract, and interface are all categories of types, but not classes of types.
1.b/2
Ramification: A class of types is also a category of types. 

Syntax

2/2
{AI95-00251-01} {AI95-00419-01} derived_type_definition ::= 
    [abstract] [limited] new parent_subtype_indication [[and interface_list] record_extension_part]

Legality Rules

3/2
{AI95-00251-01} {AI95-00401-01} {AI95-00419-01} {parent subtype} {parent type} The parent_subtype_indication defines the parent subtype; its type is the parent type parent type. The interface_list defines the progenitor types (see 3.9.4). A derived type has one parent type and zero or more progenitor types.
3.a/2
Glossary entry: {Parent} The parent of a derived type is the first type given in the definition of the derived type. The parent can be almost any kind of type, including an interface type.
4
A type shall be completely defined (see 3.11.1) prior to being specified as the parent type in a derived_type_definition — [the full_type_declarations for the parent type and any of its subcomponents have to precede the derived_type_definition.]
4.a
Discussion: This restriction does not apply to the ancestor type of a private extension — see 7.3; such a type need not be completely defined prior to the private_extension_declaration. However, the restriction does apply to record extensions, so the ancestor type will have to be completely defined prior to the full_type_declaration corresponding to the private_extension_declaration.
4.b
Reason: We originally hoped we could relax this restriction. However, we found it too complex to specify the rules for a type derived from an incompletely defined limited type that subsequently became nonlimited. 
5/2
{AI95-00401-01} {record extension} If there is a record_extension_part, the derived type is called a record extension of the parent type. A record_extension_part shall be provided if and only if the parent type is a tagged type. [An interface_list shall be provided only if the parent type is a tagged type.] 
5.a.1/2
Proof: {AI95-00401-01} The syntax only allows an interface_list to appear with a record_extension_part, and a record_extension_part can only be provided if the parent type is a tagged type. We give the last sentence anyway for completeness. 
5.a
Implementation Note: We allow a record extension to inherit discriminants; an early version of Ada 9X did not. If the parent subtype is unconstrained, it can be implemented as though its discriminants were repeated in a new known_discriminant_part and then used to constrain the old ones one-for-one. However, in an extension aggregate, the discriminants in this case do not appear in the component association list. 
5.b/2
Ramification: {AI95-00114-01} This rule needs to be rechecked in the visible part of an instance of a generic unit because of the “only if” part of the rule. For example: 
5.c/2
generic
   type T is private;
package P is
   type Der is new T;
end P;
5.d/2
package I is new P (Some_Tagged_Type); -- illegal
5.e/2
{AI95-00114-01} The instantiation is illegal because a tagged type is being extended in the visible part without a record_extension_part. Note that this is legal in the private part or body of an instance, both to avoid a contract model violation, and because no code that can see that the type is actually tagged can also see the derived type declaration.
5.f/2
No recheck is needed for derived types with a record_extension_part, as that has to be derived from something that is known to be tagged (otherwise the template is illegal). 
5.1/2
  {AI95-00419-01} If the reserved word limited appears in a derived_type_definition, the parent type shall be a limited type. 
5.g/2
Reason: We allow limited because we don't inherit limitedness from interfaces, so we must have a way to derive a limited type from interfaces. The word limited has to be legal when the parent could be an interface, and that includes generic formal abstract types. Since we have to allow it in this case, we might as well allow it everywhere as documentation, to make it explicit that the type is limited.
5.h/2
However, we do not want to allow limited when the parent is nonlimited: limitedness cannot change in a derivation tree. 

Static Semantics

6
{constrained (subtype)} {unconstrained (subtype)} The first subtype of the derived type is unconstrained if a known_discriminant_part is provided in the declaration of the derived type, or if the parent subtype is unconstrained. {corresponding constraint} Otherwise, the constraint of the first subtype corresponds to that of the parent subtype in the following sense: it is the same as that of the parent subtype except that for a range constraint (implicit or explicit), the value of each bound of its range is replaced by the corresponding value of the derived type. 
6.a
Discussion: A digits_constraint in a subtype_indication for a decimal fixed point subtype always imposes a range constraint, implicitly if there is no explicit one given. See 3.5.9, “Fixed Point Types”. 
6.1/2
  {AI95-00231-01} The first subtype of the derived type excludes null (see 3.10) if and only if the parent subtype excludes null.
7
The characteristics of the derived type are defined as follows: 
8/2
8.a
Discussion: This is inherent in our notion of a “class” of types. It is not mentioned in the initial definition of “class” since at that point type derivation has not been defined. In any case, this rule ensures that every class of types is closed under derivation. 
9
9.a
Discussion: The base range of a type defined by an integer_type_definition or a real_type_definition is determined by the _definition, and is not necessarily the same as that of the corresponding root numeric type from which the newly defined type is implicitly derived. Treating numerics types as implicitly derived from one of the two root numeric types is simply to link them into a type hierarchy; such an implicit derivation does not follow all the rules given here for an explicit derived_type_definition.
10
11
12
12.a
Ramification: The profiles of entries and protected subprograms do not change upon type derivation, although the type of the “implicit” parameter identified by the prefix of the name in a call does.
12.b
To be honest: Any name in the parent type_declaration that denotes the current instance of the type is replaced with a name denoting the current instance of the derived type, converted to the parent type.
13
14
14.a
Discussion: The order of declarations within the region matters for record_aggregates and extension_aggregates. 
14.b
Ramification: In most cases, these things are implicitly declared immediately following the parent subtype_indication. However, 7.3.1, “Private Operations” defines some cases in which they are implicitly declared later, and some cases in which the are not declared at all.
14.c
Discussion: The place of the implicit declarations of inherited components matters for visibility — they are not visible in the known_discriminant_part nor in the parent subtype_indication, but are usually visible within the record_extension_part, if any (although there are restrictions on their use). Note that a discriminant specified in a new known_discriminant_part is not considered “inherited” even if it has the same name and subtype as a discriminant of the parent type. 
15/2
15.a/2
This paragraph was deleted.To be honest: {AI95-00419-01} The derived type can become nonlimited if the derivation takes place in the visible part of a child package, and the parent type is nonlimited as viewed from the private part of the child package — see 7.5. 
16
16.a
Proof: This is a ramification of the fact that each class that includes the parent type also includes the derived type, and the fact that the set of predefined operators that is defined for a type, as described in 4.5, is determined by the classes to which it belongs. 
16.b
Reason: Predefined operators are handled separately because they follow a slightly different rule than user-defined primitive subprograms. In particular the systematic replacement described below does not apply fully to the relational operators for Boolean and the exponentiation operator for Integer. The relational operators for a type derived from Boolean still return Standard.Boolean. The exponentiation operator for a type derived from Integer still expects Standard.Integer for the right operand. In addition, predefined operators "reemerge" when a type is the actual type corresponding to a generic formal type, so they need to be well defined even if hidden by user-defined primitive subprograms. 
17/2
17.a
Ramification: We say “...already exists...” rather than “is visible” or “has been declared” because there are certain operations that are declared later, but still exist at the place of the derived_type_definition, and there are operations that are never declared, but still exist. These cases are explained in 7.3.1.
17.b
Note that nonprivate extensions can appear only after the last primitive subprogram of the parent — the freezing rules ensure this. 
17.c
Reason: A special case is made for the equality operators on nonlimited record extensions because their predefined equality operators are already defined in terms of the primitive equality operator of their parent type (and of the tagged components of the extension part). Inheriting the parent's equality operator as is would be undesirable, because it would ignore any components of the extension part. On the other hand, if the parent type is limited, then any user-defined equality operator is inherited as is, since there is no predefined equality operator to take its place. 
17.d/2
Ramification: {AI-00114-01} Because user-defined equality operators are not inherited by nonlimited record extensions, the formal parameter names of = and /= revert to Left and Right, even if different formal parameter names were used in the user-defined equality operators of the parent type. 
17.e/2
Discussion: {AI-00401-01} This rule only describes what operations are inherited; the rules that describe what happens when there are conflicting inherited subprograms are found in 8.3. 
18/2
19
20
21
21.a
Reason: An inherited subprogram of an untagged type has an Intrinsic calling convention, which precludes the use of the Access attribute. We preclude 'Access because correctly performing all required constraint checks on an indirect call to such an inherited subprogram was felt to impose an undesirable implementation burden. 
22/2
22.a/2
Reason: {AI95-00401-01} We don't introduce the type conversion explicitly here since conversions to record extensions or on access parameters are not generally legal. Furthermore, any type conversion would just be "undone" since the parent's subprogram of the parent or progenitor is ultimately being called anyway. (Null procedures can be inherited from a progenitor without being overridden, so it is possible to call subprograms of an interface.) 
23/2
 {AI95-00401-01} If a primitive subprogram of the parent or progenitor type is visible at the place of the derived_type_definition, then the corresponding inherited subprogram is implicitly declared immediately after the derived_type_definition. Otherwise, the inherited subprogram is implicitly declared later or not at all, as explained in 7.3.1.
24
{derived type [partial]} A derived type can also be defined by a private_extension_declaration (see 7.3) or a formal_derived_type_definition (see 12.5.1). Such a derived type is a partial view of the corresponding full or actual type.
25
All numeric types are derived types, in that they are implicitly derived from a corresponding root numeric type (see 3.5.4 and 3.5.6).

Dynamic Semantics

26
{elaboration (derived_type_definition) [partial]} The elaboration of a derived_type_definition creates the derived type and its first subtype, and consists of the elaboration of the subtype_indication and the record_extension_part, if any. If the subtype_indication depends on a discriminant, then only those expressions that do not depend on a discriminant are evaluated. 
26.a/2
Discussion: {AI95-00251-01} We don't mention the interface_list, because it does not need elaboration (see 3.9.4. This is consistent with the handling of discriminant_parts, which aren't elaborated either. 
27/2
 {AI95-00391-01} {AI95-00401-01} {execution (call on an inherited subprogram) [partial]} For the execution of a call on an inherited subprogram, a call on the corresponding primitive subprogram of the parent or progenitor type is performed; the normal conversion of each actual parameter to the subtype of the corresponding formal parameter (see 6.4.1) performs any necessary type conversion as well. If the result type of the inherited subprogram is the derived type, the result of calling the parent's subprogram of the parent or progenitor is converted to the derived type, or in the case of a null extension, extended to the derived type using the equivalent of an extension_aggregate with the original result as the ancestor_part and null record as the record_component_association_list. {implicit subtype conversion (result of inherited function) [partial]}
27.a/2
Discussion: {AI95-00391-01} If an inherited function returns the derived type, and the type is a non-null record extension, then the inherited function shall be overridden, unless the type is abstract (in which case the function is abstract, and (unless overridden) cannot be called except via a dispatching call). See 3.9.3. 
NOTES
28
10  {closed under derivation} Classes are closed under derivation — any class that contains a type also contains its derivatives. Operations available for a given class of types are available for the derived types in that class.
29
11  Evaluating an inherited enumeration literal is equivalent to evaluating the corresponding enumeration literal of the parent type, and then converting the result to the derived type. This follows from their equivalence to parameterless functions. {implicit subtype conversion (inherited enumeration literal) [partial]}
30
12  A generic subprogram is not a subprogram, and hence cannot be a primitive subprogram and cannot be inherited by a derived type. On the other hand, an instance of a generic subprogram can be a primitive subprogram, and hence can be inherited.
31
13  If the parent type is an access type, then the parent and the derived type share the same storage pool; there is a null access value for the derived type and it is the implicit initial value for the type. See 3.10.
32
14  If the parent type is a boolean type, the predefined relational operators of the derived type deliver a result of the predefined type Boolean (see 4.5.2). If the parent type is an integer type, the right operand of the predefined exponentiation operator is of the predefined type Integer (see 4.5.6).
33
15  Any discriminants of the parent type are either all inherited, or completely replaced with a new set of discriminants.
34
16  For an inherited subprogram, the subtype of a formal parameter of the derived type need not have any value in common with the first subtype of the derived type. 
34.a
Proof: This happens when the parent subtype is constrained to a range that does not overlap with the range of a subtype of the parent type that appears in the profile of some primitive subprogram of the parent type. For example:
34.b
type T1 is range 1..100;
subtype S1 is T1 range 1..10;
procedure P(X : in S1);  -- P is a primitive subprogram
type T2 is new T1 range 11..20;
-- implicitly declared:
-- procedure P(X : in T2'Base range 1..10);
--      X cannot be in T2'First .. T2'Last
35
17  If the reserved word abstract is given in the declaration of a type, the type is abstract (see 3.9.3).
35.1/2
18  {AI95-00251-01} {AI95-00401-01} An interface type that has a progenitor type “is derived from” that type. A derived_type_definition, however, never defines an interface type.
35.2/2
19  {AI95-00345-01} It is illegal for the parent type of a derived_type_definition to be a synchronized tagged type. 
35.a/2
Proof: 3.9.1 prohibits record extensions whose parent type is a synchronized tagged type, and this clause requires tagged types to have a record extension. Thus there are no legal derivations. Note that a synchronized interface can be used as a progenitor in an interface_definition as well as in task and protected types, but we do not allow concrete extensions of any synchronized tagged type. 

Examples

36
Examples of derived type declarations: 
37
type Local_Coordinate is new Coordinate;   --  two different types
type Midweek is new Day range Tue .. Thu;  --  see 3.5.1
type Counter is new Positive;              --  same range as Positive 
38
type Special_Key is new Key_Manager.Key;   --  see 7.3.1
  -- the inherited subprograms have the following specifications: 
  --         procedure Get_Key(K : out Special_Key);
  --         function "<"(X,Y : Special_Key) return Boolean;

Inconsistencies With Ada 83

38.a
{inconsistencies with Ada 83} When deriving from a (nonprivate, nonderived) type in the same visible part in which it is defined, if a predefined operator had been overridden prior to the derivation, the derived type will inherit the user-defined operator rather than the predefined operator. The work-around (if the new behavior is not the desired behavior) is to move the definition of the derived type prior to the overriding of any predefined operators.

Incompatibilities With Ada 83

38.b
{incompatibilities with Ada 83} When deriving from a (nonprivate, nonderived) type in the same visible part in which it is defined, a primitive subprogram of the parent type declared before the derived type will be inherited by the derived type. This can cause upward incompatibilities in cases like this: 
38.c
   package P is
      type T is (A, B, C, D);
      function F( X : T := A ) return Integer;
      type NT is new T;
      -- inherits F as
      -- function F( X : NT := A ) return Integer;
      -- in Ada 95 only
      ...
   end P;
   ...
   use P;  -- Only one declaration of F from P is use-visible in
           -- Ada 83;  two declarations of F are use-visible in
           -- Ada 95.
begin
   ...
   if F > 1 then ... -- legal in Ada 83, ambiguous in Ada 95

Extensions to Ada 83

38.d
{extensions to Ada 83} The syntax for a derived_type_definition is amended to include an optional record_extension_part (see 3.9.1).
38.e
A derived type may override the discriminants of the parent by giving a new discriminant_part.
38.f
The parent type in a derived_type_definition may be a derived type defined in the same visible part.
38.g
When deriving from a type in the same visible part in which it is defined, the primitive subprograms declared prior to the derivation are inherited as primitive subprograms of the derived type. See 3.2.3. 

Wording Changes from Ada 83

38.h
We now talk about the classes to which a type belongs, rather than a single class.
38.i
As explained in Section 13, the concept of "storage pool" replaces the Ada 83 concept of "collection." These concepts are similar, but not the same. 

Extensions to Ada 95

38.j/2
{AI95-00251-01} {AI95-00401-01} {extensions to Ada 95} A derived type may inherit from multiple (interface) progenitors, as well as the parent type — see 3.9.4, “Interface Types”.
38.k/2
{AI95-00419-01} A derived type may specify that it is a limited type. This is required for interface ancestors (from which limitedness is not inherited), but it is generally useful as documentation of limitedness.

Wording Changes from Ada 95

38.l/2
{AI95-00391-01} Defined the result of functions for null extensions (which we no longer require to be overridden - see 3.9.3).
38.m/2
{AI95-00442-01} Defined the term “category of types” and used it in wording elsewhere; also specified the language-defined categories that form classes of types (this was never normatively specified in Ada 95. 
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