J3/04-309

To: J3
From: Malcolm Cohen
Subject: Interp F90/000096
Date: 5th May 2004

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NUMBER: F90/000096
TITLE: Definition of "Declaration"
KEYWORDS: declaration, specification
DEFECT TYPE: Erratum
STATUS: J3 consideration in progress

QUESTION:  "Declaration" is a significant concept of Fortran 90.

Section 5 is titled "Data object declarations and specifications" and
what were in FORTRAN 77 "type statements" are now "type declaration
statements".  5.1.1 states

    "A type specifier specifies the type of all entities declared in
     an entity declaration list."

Nowhere, though, is there a definition of "declaration".

What does it mean, in Fortran 90, to "declare" something?

ANSWER:

That is correct, the standard does not define the term "declaration".  It is
used both in the sense of explicit specification, and of implicit declaration
via usage or context.  Both of these meanings fall within the normal English
meaning of the term.

The suggestion that the standard should define the term "declaration" may be
considered for a future revision of the standard.

EDIT: None.

SUBMITTED BY: Dick Weaver

HISTORY: 92-232  Submitted
         92-232r Draft response, withdrawn
         93-144 m125 unanimous consent
         93-255r1 m127 ballot failed 16-7
         94-103 m128 revised response, approved uc
         94-116 m129 X3J3 ballot failed 16-7
         94-223 m130 revised response
         94-335 m131 alternate response proposed, withdrawn
         04-309 m168 revised response

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