User-Defined References
Author: JTC1/SC22/WG9/ARG, by Randall Brukardt, ARG Editor

Ada Reference Manual — Legal Information

# 4.1.5 User-Defined References

#### Static Semantics

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Given a discriminated type T, the following type-related operational aspect may be specified:
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Implicit_Dereference
This aspect is specified by a name that denotes an access discriminant declared for the type T.
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A (view of a) type with a specified Implicit_Dereference aspect is a reference type. A reference object is an object of a reference type. The discriminant named by the Implicit_Dereference aspect is the reference discriminant of the reference type or reference object. A generalized_reference is a name that identifies a reference object, and denotes the object or subprogram designated by the reference discriminant of the reference object.

#### Syntax

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generalized_reference ::= reference_object_ name

#### Name Resolution Rules

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The expected type for the reference_object_ name in a generalized_reference is any reference type.

#### Static Semantics

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A generalized_reference denotes a view equivalent to that of a dereference of the reference discriminant of the reference object.
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Given a reference type T, the Implicit_Dereference aspect is inherited by descendants of type T if not overridden. If a descendant type constrains the value of the reference discriminant of T by a new discriminant, that new discriminant is the reference discriminant of the descendant. If the descendant type constrains the value of the reference discriminant of T by an expression other than the name of a new discriminant, a generalized_reference that identifies an object of the descendant type denotes the object or subprogram designated by the value of this constraining expression.

#### Dynamic Semantics

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The evaluation of a generalized_reference consists of the evaluation of the reference_object_ name and a determination of the object or subprogram designated by the reference discriminant of the named reference object. A check is made that the value of the reference discriminant is not the null access value. Constraint_Error is raised if this check fails. The generalized_reference denotes the object or subprogram designated by the value of the reference discriminant of the named reference object.

#### Examples

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type Barrel is tagged ... -- holds objects of type Element
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type Ref_Element(Data : access Element) is limited private
with Implicit_Dereference => Data;
-- This Ref_Element type is a "reference" type.
-- "Data" is its reference discriminant.
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function Find (B : aliased in out Barrel; Key : String) return Ref_Element;
-- Return a reference to an element of a barrel.
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B: aliased Barrel;
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...
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Find (B, "grape") := Element'(...); -- Assign through a reference.
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-- This is equivalent to:
Find (B, "grape").Data.all := Element'(...);

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