Ada Reference Manual — Legal Information

2.3 Identifiers

Identifiers are used as names.

Syntax

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identifier ::=
identifier_start {identifier_start | identifier_extend}

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3.1/2

identifier_extend ::=
     mark_non_spacing
   | mark_spacing_combining
   | number_decimal
   | punctuation_connector
   | other_format

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After eliminating the characters in category other_format, an identifier shall not contain two consecutive characters in category punctuation_connector, or end with a character in that category.

Static Semantics

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Two identifiers are considered the same if they consist of the same sequence of characters after applying the following transformations (in this order):

5.1/2

The characters in category other_format are eliminated.

5.2/2

The remaining sequence of characters is converted to upper case.

5.3/2

After applying these transformations, an identifier shall not be identical to a reserved word (in upper case).

Implementation Permissions

In a nonstandard mode, an implementation may support other upper/lower case equivalence rules for identifiers, to accommodate local conventions.

NOTES

6.1/2

3 Identifiers differing only in the use of corresponding upper and lower case letters are considered the same.

Examples

Examples of identifiers:

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Count      X    Get_Symbol   Ethelyn   Marion
Snobol_4   X1   Page_Count   Store_Next_Item
Πλάτων      -- Plato
Чайковский  -- Tchaikovsky
θ  φ        -- Angles