Language Reference

Glossary

This glossary defines terms that are commonly used in this book. It includes definitions developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and entries from the IBM Dictionary of Computing

A

actual argument

An expression, variable, procedure, or alternate return specifier that is specified in a procedure reference.

alphabetic character

A letter or other symbol, excluding digits, used in a language. Usually the uppercase and lowercase letters A through Z plus other special symbols (such as _) allowed by a particular language.

alphanumeric

Pertaining to a character set that contains letters, digits, and usually other characters, such as punctuation marks and mathematical symbols.

American National Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)

The code developed by ANSI for information interchange among data processing systems, data communication systems, and associated equipment. The ASCII character set consists of 7-bit control characters and symbolic characters.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

An organization sponsored by the Computer and Business Equipment Manufacturers Association through which accredited organizations create and maintain voluntary industry standards.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute.

argument

An actual argument or a dummy argument.

argument association

The relationship between an actual argument and a dummy argument during the execution of a procedure reference.

arithmetic constant

A constant of type integer, real, or complex.

arithmetic expression

One or more arithmetic operators and arithmetic primaries, the evaluation of which produces a numeric value. An arithmetic expression can be an unsigned arithmetic constant, the name of an arithmetic constant, or a reference to an arithmetic variable, function reference, or a combination of such primaries formed by using arithmetic operators and parentheses.

arithmetic operator

A symbol that directs the performance of an arithmetic operation. The intrinsic arithmetic operators are:

+      addition
-      subtraction
*      multiplication
/      division
**     exponentiation

array

An entity that contains an ordered group of scalar data. All objects in an array have the same data type and type parameters.

array declarator

The part of a statement that describes an array used in a program unit. It indicates the name of the array, the number of dimensions it contains, and the size of each dimension.

array element

A single data item in an array, identified by the array name followed by one or more integer expressions called subscript expressions that indicate its position in the array.

array name

The name of an ordered set of data items.

array pointer

A pointer to an array.

array section

A subobject that is an array and is not a structure component.

ASCII

American National Standard Code for Information Interchange.

assignment statement

An assignment statement can be intrinsic or defined. An intrinsic assignment stores the value of the right operand in the storage location of the left operand.

attribute

A property of a data object that may be specified in a type declaration statement, attribute specification statement, or through a default setting.

automatic parallelization

The process by which the compiler attempts to parallelize both explicitly coded DO loops, as well as those generated by the compiler for array language.

B

binary constant

A constant that is made of one or more binary digits (0 and 1).

bind

To relate an identifier to another object in a program; for example, to relate an identifier to a value, an address or another identifier, or to associate formal parameters and actual parameters.

blank common

An unnamed common block.

block data subprogram

A subprogram headed by a BLOCK DATA statement and used to initialize variables in named common blocks.

byte constant

A named constant that is of type byte.

byte type

A data type representing a one-byte storage area that can be used wherever a LOGICAL(1), CHARACTER(1), or INTEGER(1) can be used.

C

character constant

A string of one or more alphabetic characters enclosed in apostrophes or double quotation marks.

character expression

A character object, a character-valued function reference, or a sequence of them separated by the concatenation operator, with optional parentheses.

character operator

A symbol that represents an operation, such as concatenation (//) to be performed on character data.

character set

All the valid characters for a programming language or for a computer system.

character string

A sequence of consecutive characters.

character substring

A contiguous portion of a character string.

character type

A data type that consists of alphanumeric characters. See also data type.

chunk

A subset of consecutive loop iterations.

collating sequence

The sequence in which characters are ordered within the computer for sorting, combining, or comparing. The AIX collating sequence used by XL Fortran is ASCII.

comment

A language construct for the inclusion of text in a program that has no effect on the execution of the program.

common block

A storage area that may be referred to by a calling program and one or more subprograms.

compiler directive

Source code that controls what XL Fortran does rather than what the user program does.

complex constant

An ordered pair of real or integer constants separated by a comma and enclosed in parentheses. The first constant of the pair is the real part of the complex number; the second is the imaginary part.

complex number

A number consisting of an ordered pair of real numbers, expressible in the form a+bi, where a and b are real numbers and i squared equals -1.

complex type

A data type that represents the values of complex numbers. The value is expressed as an ordered pair of real data items separated by a comma and enclosed in parentheses. The first item represents the real part of the complex number; the second represents the imaginary part.

conformance

An executable program conforms to the Fortran 90 Standard if it uses only those forms and relationships described therein and if the executable program has an interpretation according to the Fortran 90 Standard. A program unit conforms to the Fortran 90 Standard if it can be included in an executable program in a manner that allows the executable program to be standard-conforming. A processor conforms to the standard if it executes standard-conforming programs in a manner that fulfills the interpretations prescribed in the standard.

connected unit

In XL Fortran, a unit that is connected to a file in one of three ways: explicitly via the OPEN statement to a named file, implicitly, or by preconnection.

constant

A data object with a value that does not change. Contrast with variable. The four classes of constants specify numbers (arithmetic), truth values (logical), character data (character), and typeless data (hexadecimal, octal, and binary).

construct

A sequence of statements starting with a SELECT CASE, DO, IF, or WHERE statement and ending with the corresponding terminal statement.

continuation line

Continues a statement beyond its initial line.

control statement

A statement that is used to alter the continuous sequential invocation of statements; a control statement may be a conditional statement, such as IF, or an imperative statement, such as STOP.

D

data object

A variable, constant, or subobject of a constant.

data transfer statement

A READ, WRITE, or PRINT statement.

data type

The properties and internal representation that characterize data and functions. The intrinsic types are integer, real, complex, logical, and character.

debug line

Allowed only for fixed source form, a line containing source code taht is to be used for debugging. Debug lines are defined by a D in column 1. The handling of debug lines is controlled by the -qdlines compiler option.

default initialization

The initialization of an object with a value specified as part of a derived type definition.

definable

A variable is definable if its value can be changed by the appearance of its name or designator on the left of an assignment statement.

delimiters

A pair of parentheses or slashes (or both) used to enclose syntactic lists.

denormal

An IEEE number with a very small absolute value and lowered precision. Denormal numbers are represented by a zero exponent and a non-zero fraction.

derived type

A type whose data have components, each of which is either of intrinsic type or of another derived type.

digit

A character that represents a nonnegative integer. For example, any of the numerals from 0 through 9.

directive

A type of comment that provides instructions and information to the compiler.

DO loop

A range of statements invoked repetitively by a DO statement.

DO variable

A variable, specified in a DO statement, that is initialized or incremented prior to each occurrence of the statement or statements within a DO range. It is used to control the number of times the statements within the range are executed.

DOUBLE PRECISION constant

A constant of type real with twice the precision of the default real precision.

dummy argument

An entity whose name appears in the parenthesized list following the procedure name in a FUNCTION, SUBROUTINE, ENTRY, or statement function statement.

dynamic extent

The dynamic extent of a directive includes the lexical extent of the directive and all subprograms called from within the lexical extent.

edit descriptors

In Fortran, abbreviated keywords that control the formatting of integer, real, and complex data.

E

elemental

An adjective applied to an intrinsic operation, procedure or assignment that is applied independently to elements of an array or corresponding elements of a set of conformable arrays and scalars.

embedded blanks

Blanks that are surrounded by any other characters.

entity

A general term for the following: a program unit, procedure, operator, interface block, common block, external unit, statement function, type, named variable, expression, component of a structure, named constant, statement label, construct, or namelist group.

executable program

A program that can be executed as a self-contained procedure. It consists of a main program and, optionally, modules, subprograms and non-Fortran external procedures.

executable statement

A statement that causes an action to be taken by the program; for example, to calculate, test conditions, or alter normal sequential execution.

existing unit

A valid unit number that is system-specific.

explicit initialization

The initialization of an object with a value stated in a data statement initial value list, block data program unit, type declaration statement, or array constructor.

explicit interface

For a procedure referenced in a scoping unit, the property of being an internal procedure, module procedure, intrinsic procedure, external procedure that has an interface block, recursive procedure reference in its own scoping unit, or dummy procedure that has an interface block.

expression

A sequence of operands, operators, and parentheses. It may be a variable, constant, function reference, or it may represent a computation.

extended-precision constant

A processor approximation to the value of a real number that occupies 16 consecutive bytes of storage.

external procedure

A procedure that is defined by an external subprogram or by a means other than Fortran.

F

field

An area in a record used to contain a particular category of data.

file

A sequence of records. If the file is located in internal storage, it is an internal file; if it is on an input/output device, it is an external file.

floating-point number

A real number represented by a pair of distinct numerals. The real number is the product of the fractional part, one of the numerals, and a value obtained by raising the implicit floating-point base to a power indicated by the second numeral.

format

(1) A defined arrangement of such things as characters, fields, and lines, usually used for displays, printouts, or files.

(2) To arrange such things as characters, fields, and lines.

formatted data

Data that is transferred between main storage and an input/output device according to a specified format. See also list-directed data and unformatted data.

FORmula TRANslation (Fortran)

A high-level programming language used primarily for scientific, engineering, and mathematical applications.

Fortran

FORmula TRANslation.

function

A procedure that returns the value of a single variable and that usually has a single exit. See also function subprogram, intrinsic function, and statement function.

G

generic identifier

A lexical token that appears in an INTERFACE statement and is associated with all the procedures in an interface block.

H

hexadecimal

Pertaining to a system of numbers to the base sixteen; hexadecimal digits range from 0 (zero) through 9 (nine) and A (ten) through F (fifteen).

hexadecimal constant

A constant, usually starting with special characters, that contains only hexadecimal digits.

Hollerith constant

A string of any characters capable of representation by XL Fortran and preceded with nH, where n is the number of characters in the string.

host

A main program or subprogram that contains an internal procedure is called the host of the internal procedure. A module that contains a module procedure is called the host of the module procedure.

host association

The process by which an internal subprogram, module subprogram, or derived-type definition accesses the entities of its host.

I

implicit interface

A procedure referenced in a scoping unit other than its own is said to have an implicit interface if the procedure is an external procedure that does not have an interface block, a dummy procedure that does not have an interface block, or a statement function.

implied DO

An indexing specification (similar to a DO statement, but without specifying the word DO) with a list of data elements, rather than a set of statements, as its range.

infinity

An IEEE number (positive or negative) created by overflow or division by zero. Infinity is represented by an exponent where all the bits are 1's, and a zero fraction.

input/output (I/O)

Pertaining to either input or output, or both.

input/output list

A list of variables in an input or output statement specifying the data to be read or written. An output list can also contain a constant, an expression involving operators or function references, or an expression enclosed in parentheses.

integer constant

An optionally signed digit string that contains no decimal point.

interface block

A sequence of statements from an INTERFACE statement to the corresponding END INTERFACE statement.

interface body

A sequence of statements in an interface block from a FUNCTION or SUBROUTINE statement to the corresponding END statement.

interference

When two iterations within a DO loop have dependencies upon one another. For more information, see ASSERT.

intrinsic

An adjective applied to types, operations, assignment statements, and procedures that are defined by Fortran 90 and can be used in any scoping unit without further definition or specification.

I/O

Input/output.

K

keyword

(1) A statement keyword is a word that is part of the syntax of a statement (or directive) and that may be used to identify the statement.

(2) An argument keyword specifies a name for a dummy argument.

kind type parameter

A parameter whose values label the available kinds of an intrinsic type.

L

lexical extent

The lexical extent of a directive includes all code that appears directly within the directive construct.

lexical token

A sequence of characters with an indivisible interpretation.

list-directed

A predefined input/output format that depends on the type, type parameters, and values of the entities in the data list.

literal

A symbol or a quantity in a source program that is itself data, rather than a reference to data.

literal constant

In Fortran, a lexical token that directly represents a scalar value of intrinsic type.

logical constant

A constant with a value of either true or false (or T or F).

logical operator

A symbol that represents an operation on logical expressions:

.NOT.    (logical negation)
.AND.    (logical conjunction)
.OR.     (logical union)
.EQV.    (logical equivalence)
.NEQV.   (logical nonequivalence)
.XOR.    (logical exclusive disjunction)

loop

A statement block that executes repeatedly.

M

main program

The first program unit to receive control when a program is run. Contrast with subprogram.

master thread

The head process of a group of threads.

module

A program unit that contains or accesses definitions to be accessed by other program units.

mutex

The word mutex is shorthand for a primitive object that provides MUTual EXclusion between threads. A mutual exclusion (mutex) is used cooperatively between threads to ensure that only one of the cooperating threads is allowed to access the data or run certain application code at a time.

N

name

A lexical token consisting of a letter followed by up to 249 alphanumeric characters (letters, digits, and underscores). Note that in FORTRAN 77, this was called a symbolic name.

named common

A separate, named common block consisting of variables.

namelist group name

The first parameter in the NAMELIST statement that names a list of names to be used in READ, WRITE, and PRINT statements.

negative zero

An IEEE representation where the exponent and fraction are both zero, but the sign bit is 1. Negative zero is treated as equal to positive zero.

nest

To incorporate a structure or structures of some kind into a structure of the same kind. For example, to nest one loop (the nested loop) within another loop (the nesting loop); to nest one subroutine (the nested subroutine) within another subroutine (the nesting subroutine).

nonexecutable statement

A statement that describes the characteristics of a program unit, data, editing information, or statement functions, but does not cause any action to be taken by the program.

nonexisting file

A file that does not physically exist on any accessible storage medium.

normal

A floating point number that is not denormal, infinity, or NaN.

numeric constant

A constant that expresses an integer, real, complex, or byte number.

O

octal

Pertaining to a system of numbers to the base eight; the octal digits range from 0 (zero) through 7 (seven).

octal constant

A constant that is made of octal digits.

operator

In Fortran, a specification of a particular computation involving one or two operands.

P

pad

To fill unused positions in a field or character string with dummy data, usually zeros or blanks.

pointer

A variable that has the POINTER attribute. A pointer must not be referenced or defined unless it is pointer associated with a target. If it is an array, it does not have a shape unless it is pointer-associated.

preconnected file

A file that is connected to a unit at the beginning of execution of the executable program. Standard error, standard input, and standard output are preconnected files (units 0, 5 and 6, respectively).

predefined convention

The implied type and length specification of a data object, based on the initial character of its name when no explicit specification is given. The initial characters I through N imply type integer of length 4; the initial characters A through H, O through Z, $, and _ imply type real of length 4.

present

A dummy argument is present in an instance of a subprogram if it is associated with an actual argument and the actual argument is a dummy argument that is present in the invoking procedure or is not a dummy argument of the invoking procedure.

primary

The simplest form of an expression: an object, array constructor, structure constructor, function reference, or expression enclosed in parentheses.

procedure

A computation that may be invoked during program execution. It may be a function or subroutine. It may be an intrinsic procedure, external procedure, module procedure, internal procedure, dummy procedure, or statement function. A subprogram may define more than one procedure if it contains ENTRY statements.

program unit

A main program or subprogram.

pure

An attribute of a procedure that indicates there are no side effects.

R

random access

An access method in which records can be read from, written to, or removed from a file in any order.

rank

In Fortran, the number of dimensions of an array.

real constant

A string of decimal digits that expresses a real number. A real constant must contain a decimal point, a decimal exponent, or both.

record

A sequence of values that is treated as a whole within a file.

relational expression

An expression that consists of an arithmetic or character expression, followed by a relational operator, followed by another arithmetic or character expression.

relational operator

The words or symbols used to express a relational condition or a relational expression:

.GT.        greater than
.GE.        greater than or equal to
.LE.        less than or equal to
.EQ.        equal to
.NE.        not equal to

result variable

The variable that returns the value of a function.

return specifier

An argument sepcified for a statement, such as CALL, that indicates to which statement label control should return, depending on the action specified by the subroutine in the RETURN statement.

S

scalar

(1) A single datum that is not an array.

(2) Not having the property of being an array.

scale factor

A number indicating the location of the decimal point in a real number (and, on input, if there is no exponent, the magnitude of the number).

scope

That part of an executable program within which a lexical token has a single interpretation.

scope attribute

That part of an executable program within which a lexical token has a single interpretation of a particular named property or entity.

scoping unit

(1) A derived-type definition.

(2) An interface body, excluding any derived-type definitions and interface bodies contained within it.

(3) A program unit or subprogram, excluding derived-type definitions, interface bodies, and subprograms contained within it.

selector

A pointer, pointing device, or selection cursor.

sequential access

An access method in which records are read from, written to, or removed from a file based on the logical order of the records in the file.

SMP

Symmetric Multiprocessing

specification statement

One of the set of statements that provides information about the data used in the source program. The statement could also supply information to allocate data storage.

statement

A language construct that represents a step in a sequence of actions or a set of declarations. Statements fall into two broad classes: executable and nonexecutable.

statement function

A name, followed by a list of dummy arguments, that is equated with an intrinsic or derived-type expression, and that can be used as a substitute for the expression throughout the program.

statement label

A number from one through five digits that is used to identify a statement. Statement labels can be used to transfer control, to define the range of a DO, or to refer to a FORMAT statement.

storage association

The relationship between two storage sequences if a storage unit of one is the same as the storage unit of the other.

structure

A scalar data object of derived type.

structure component

The part of a data object of derived-type corresponding to a component of its type.

subobject

A portion of a named data object that may be referenced or defined independently of other portions. It can be an array element, array section, structure component, or substring.

subprogram

A function subprogram or a subroutine subprogram. Note that in FORTRAN 77, a block data program unit was called a subprogram.

subroutine

A procedure that is invoked by a CALL statement or defined assignment statement.

subscript

A subscript quantity or set of subscript quantities enclosed in parentheses and used with an array name to identify a particular array element.

substring

A contiguous portion of a scalar character string. (Although an array section can specify a substring selector, the result is not a substring.)

Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP)

Any processor can be substituted for any other processor without affecting the architecture of the machine.

T

target

A named data object specified to have the TARGET attribute, a data object created by an ALLOCATE statement for a pointer, or a subobject of such an object.

thread

A collection of processes whose order determines the process eligible for execution. A thread is the element that is scheduled, and to which resources such as time slices, locks and queues may be assigned.

thread visible variable

A variable that is visible to more than one thread. See FLUSH for more information.

time slice

An interval of time on the processing unit allocated for use in performing a task. After the interval has expired, processing unit time is allocated to another task, so a task cannot monopolize processing unit time beyond a fixed limit.

token

Ina programming language, a character string, in a particular format, that has some defined significance.

type declaration statement

Specifies the type, length, and attributes of objects and functions. Objects can be assigned initial values.

U

unformatted record

A record that is transmitted unchanged between internal and external storage.

unit

A means of referring to a file to use in input/output statements. A unit can be connected or not connected to a file. If connected, it refers to a file. The connection is symmetric: that is, if a unit is connected to a file, the file is connected to the unit.

use association

The association of names in different scoping units specified by a USE statement.

V

variable

A data object whose value can be defined and redefined during the execution of an executable program. It may be a named data object, array element, array section, structure component, or substring. Note that in FORTRAN 77, a variable was always scalar and named.

Z

zero-length character

A character object that has a length of 0 and is always defined.

zero-sized array

An array that has a lower bound that is greater than its corresponding upper bound. The array is always defined.