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Noun Expression


Has the conventional meaning -- a use occurence of a variable name. When evaluated as an expression, it evaluates to the current value of the variable. When used on the left side of an assignment expression, it set the current value of the variable to be the value assigned. A Noun expression must correspond, by static scope analysis, to a unique defining occurence (FinalPattern or VarPattern) of the same Noun. In any computational context where the Noun expression may be evaluated or defined, it refers to the unique instantiation of the defining occurence that is within its scope.

BNF:
Identifier
XML DTD:
<!ELEMENT Noun #PCDATA>
Java:
Scope analysis will be covered separately, but the result is that each Noun will be simple or boxed. A simple Noun named "c" translates into a Java variable (local, parameter, or instance) named "c" or some obvious mangling of "c". A boxed Noun translates into a Java variable names "c_Box" that holds a one element array containing the value of "c".
Example:
count
in Kernel-E:
same
in XML:
<Noun>count</Noun>
in Java:

If simple:

    count

If boxed:

    count[0]

 

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Unless stated otherwise, all text on this page which is either unattributed or by Mark S. Miller is hereby placed in the public domain.
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