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3.2.2 Subtype Declarations

1
A subtype_declaration declares a subtype of some previously declared type, as defined by a subtype_indication.

Syntax

2
subtype_declaration ::= 
   subtype defining_identifier is subtype_indication;
3/2
{AI95-00231-01} subtype_indication ::=  [null_exclusion] subtype_mark [constraint]
4
subtype_mark ::= subtype_name
4.a
Ramification: Note that name includes attribute_reference; thus, S'Base can be used as a subtype_mark.
4.b
Reason: We considered changing subtype_mark to subtype_name. However, existing users are used to the word "mark," so we're keeping it. 
5
constraint ::= scalar_constraint | composite_constraint
6
scalar_constraint ::= 
     range_constraint | digits_constraint | delta_constraint
7
composite_constraint ::= 
     index_constraint | discriminant_constraint

Name Resolution Rules

8
A subtype_mark shall resolve to denote a subtype. {determines (a type by a subtype_mark)} The type determined by a subtype_mark is the type of the subtype denoted by the subtype_mark.
8.a
Ramification: Types are never directly named; all subtype_marks denote subtypes — possibly an unconstrained (base) subtype, but never the type. When we use the term anonymous type we really mean a type with no namable subtypes. 

Dynamic Semantics

9
{elaboration (subtype_declaration) [partial]} The elaboration of a subtype_declaration consists of the elaboration of the subtype_indication. {elaboration (subtype_indication) [partial]} The elaboration of a subtype_indication creates a new subtype. If the subtype_indication does not include a constraint, the new subtype has the same (possibly null) constraint as that denoted by the subtype_mark. The elaboration of a subtype_indication that includes a constraint proceeds as follows: 
10
The constraint is first elaborated.
11
{Range_Check [partial]} {check, language-defined (Range_Check)} A check is then made that the constraint is compatible with the subtype denoted by the subtype_mark.
11.a
Ramification: The checks associated with constraint compatibility are all Range_Checks. Discriminant_Checks and Index_Checks are associated only with checks that a value satisfies a constraint. 
12
The condition imposed by a constraint is the condition obtained after elaboration of the constraint. {compatibility (constraint with a subtype) [distributed]} The rules defining compatibility are given for each form of constraint in the appropriate subclause. These rules are such that if a constraint is compatible with a subtype, then the condition imposed by the constraint cannot contradict any condition already imposed by the subtype on its values. {Constraint_Error (raised by failure of run-time check)} The exception Constraint_Error is raised if any check of compatibility fails. 
12.a
To be honest: The condition imposed by a constraint is named after it — a range_constraint imposes a range constraint, etc. 
12.b
Ramification: A range_constraint causes freezing of its type. Other constraints do not. 
NOTES
13
4  A scalar_constraint may be applied to a subtype of an appropriate scalar type (see 3.5, 3.5.9, and J.3), even if the subtype is already constrained. On the other hand, a composite_constraint may be applied to a composite subtype (or an access-to-composite subtype) only if the composite subtype is unconstrained (see 3.6.1 and 3.7.1). 

Examples

14
Examples of subtype declarations: 
15/2
{AI95-00433-01} subtype Rainbow   is Color range Red .. Blue;        --  see 3.2.1
subtype Red_Blue  is Rainbow;
subtype Int       is Integer;
subtype Small_Int is Integer range -10 .. 10;
subtype Up_To_K   is Column range 1 .. K;            --  see 3.2.1
subtype Square    is Matrix(1 .. 10, 1 .. 10);       --  see 3.6
subtype Male      is Person(Sex => M);               --  see 3.10.1
subtype Binop_Ref is not null Binop_Ptr;             --  see 3.10

Incompatibilities With Ada 83

15.a
{incompatibilities with Ada 83} In Ada 95, all range_constraints cause freezing of their type. Hence, a type-related representation item for a scalar type has to precede any range_constraints whose type is the scalar type. 

Wording Changes from Ada 83

15.b
Subtype_marks allow only subtype names now, since types are never directly named. There is no need for RM83-3.3.2(3), which says a subtype_mark can denote both the type and the subtype; in Ada 95, you denote an unconstrained (base) subtype if you want, but never the type.
15.c
The syntactic category type_mark is now called subtype_mark, since it always denotes a subtype. 

Extensions to Ada 95

15.d/2
{AI95-00231-01} {extensions to Ada 95} An optional null_exclusion can be used in a subtype_indication. This is described in 3.10 
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