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12.1 Generic Declarations

A generic_declaration declares a generic unit, which is either a generic subprogram or a generic package. A generic_declaration includes a generic_formal_part declaring any generic formal parameters. A generic formal parameter can be an object; alternatively (unlike a parameter of a subprogram), it can be a type, a subprogram, or a package.

Syntax

   
       generic_declaration ::= generic_subprogram_declaration | generic_package_declaration

       generic_subprogram_declaration ::=
            generic_formal_part  subprogram_specification;

       generic_package_declaration ::=
            generic_formal_part  package_specification;

       generic_formal_part ::= generic {generic_formal_parameter_declaration | use_clause}

       generic_formal_parameter_declaration ::=
             formal_object_declaration
           | formal_type_declaration
           | formal_subprogram_declaration
           | formal_package_declaration

The only form of subtype_indication allowed within a generic_formal_part is a subtype_mark (that is, the subtype_indication shall not include an explicit constraint). The defining name of a generic subprogram shall be an identifier (not an operator_symbol).

Static Semantics

A generic_declaration declares a generic unit -- a generic package, generic procedure or generic function, as appropriate.

An entity is a generic formal entity if it is declared by a generic_formal_parameter_declaration. ``Generic formal,'' or simply ``formal,'' is used as a prefix in referring to objects, subtypes (and types), functions, procedures and packages, that are generic formal entities, as well as to their respective declarations. Examples: ``generic formal procedure'' or a ``formal integer type declaration.''

Dynamic Semantics

The elaboration of a generic_declaration has no effect.

NOTES

(1) Outside a generic unit a name that denotes the generic_declaration denotes the generic unit. In contrast, within the declarative region of the generic unit, a name that denotes the generic_declaration denotes the current instance.

(2) Within a generic subprogram_body, the name of this program unit acts as the name of a subprogram. Hence this name can be overloaded, and it can appear in a recursive call of the current instance. For the same reason, this name cannot appear after the reserved word new in a (recursive) generic_instantiation.

(3) A default_expression or default_name appearing in a generic_formal_part is not evaluated during elaboration of the generic_formal_part; instead, it is evaluated when used. (The usual visibility rules apply to any name used in a default: the denoted declaration therefore has to be visible at the place of the expression.)

Examples

Examples of generic formal parts:

    
       generic     --  parameterless

       generic
          Size : Natural;  --  formal object

       generic
          Length : Integer := 200;          -- formal object with a default expression

          Area   : Integer := Length*Length; -- formal object with a default expression

       generic
          type Item  is private;                       -- formal type
          type Index is (<>);                          -- formal type
          type Row   is array(Index range <>) of Item; -- formal type
          with function "<"(X, Y : Item) return Boolean;    -- formal subprogram

Examples of generic declarations declaring generic subprograms Exchange and Squaring:

    
       generic
          type Elem is private;
       procedure Exchange(U, V : in out Elem);

       generic
          type Item is private;
          with function "*"(U, V : Item) return Item is <>;
       function Squaring(X : Item) return Item;

Example of a generic declaration declaring a generic package:

    
       generic
          type Item   is private;
          type Vector is array (Positive range <>) of Item;
          with function Sum(X, Y : Item) return Item;
       package On_Vectors is
          function Sum  (A, B : Vector) return Vector;
          function Sigma(A    : Vector) return Item;
          Length_Error : exception;
       end On_Vectors;

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