Ada '83 Language Reference Manual

Copyright 1980, 1982, 1983 owned by the United States Government. Direct reproduction and usage requests to the Ada Information Clearinghouse.

4.4. Expressions

An expression is a formula that defines the computation of a value.

    expression ::=
         relation {and relation} | relation {and then relation}
       | relation {or relation}  | relation {or else relation}
       | relation {xor relation} 

    relation ::=
         simple_expression [relational_operator simple_expression]
       | simple_expression [not] in range
       | simple_expression [not] in type_mark 

    simple_expression ::= [unary_adding_operator]
                          term {binary_adding_operator term}

    term ::= factor {multiplying_operator factor} 

    factor ::= primary [** primary] | abs primary | not primary 

    primary ::=
       numeric_literal | null | aggregate | string_literal | name | allocator
     | function_call | type_conversion | qualified_expression | (expression)

Each primary has a value and a type. The only names allowed as primaries are named numbers; attributes that yield values; and names denoting objects (the value of such a primary is the value of the object) or denoting values. Names that denote formal parameters of mode out are not allowed as primaries; names of their subcomponents are only allowed in the case of discriminants.

The type of an expression depends only on the type of its constituents and on the operators applied; for an overloaded constituent or operator, the determination of the constituent type, or the identification of the appropriate operator, depends on the context. For each predefined operator, the operand and result types are given in section 4.5.

Examples of primaries:

    4.0                --  real literal
    PI                 --  named number
    (1 .. 10 => 0)     --  array aggregate
    SUM                --  variable
    INTEGER'LAST       --  attribute
    SINE(X)            --  function call
    COLOR'(BLUE)       --  qualified expression
    REAL(M*N)          --  conversion
    (LINE_COUNT + 10)  --  parenthesized expression 

Examples of expressions:

    VOLUME                  -- primary
    not DESTROYED           -- factor
    2*LINE_COUNT            -- term  
    -4.0                      -- simple expression
    -4.0 + A                  -- simple expression
    B**2 - 4.0*A*C            -- simple expression
    PASSWORD(1 .. 3) = "BWV"    -- relation
    COUNT in SMALL_INT          -- relation
    COUNT not in SMALL_INT      -- relation
    INDEX = 0 or ITEM_HIT         -- expression
    (COLD and SUNNY) or WARM      -- expression (parentheses are required)
    A**(B**C)                     -- expression (parentheses are required)                                                

References: aggregate, allocator, array aggregate, attribute, binary adding operator, and 4.5.3, context of overload resolution, exponentiating operator, and 4.5.6, function call, multiplying operator, and 4.5.5, name, named number, null literal, numeric literal, object, operator, overloading, overloading an operator, qualified expression, range, real literal, relation, relational operator, and 4.5.2, result type, string literal, type, type conversion, type mark, unary adding operator, and 4.5.4, variable.

Rationale references: 3.6 Expressions

Style Guide references: 2.1.1 Horizontal Spacing, 2.1.3 Alignment of Operators, 2.1.5 More on Alignment, 5.5 Expressions, 5.5.3 Parenthetical Expressions, 7.2.7 Subexpression Evaluation

Address any questions or comments to adainfo@sw-eng.falls-church.va.us.