(j3.2006) Meaning of "reference a variable"

[Malcolm Cohen]

Aleksandar Donev said:
> Question on terminology (following Mike's concerns). In this example:
> 
> real, target :: x
> real :: p
> 
> p=>x

I don't know why people occasionally get confused by these things;
or maybe I don't know why people bring up complicated examples using
new features when the same point can be illustrated using features
that have been with us since F77, or in this case, F66.

After all, pointers are only like a sort of dynamic EQUIVALENCE.

...
> "A data object reference is the appearance of the data object designator
> in a context requiring its value at that point during execution."
> 
> The problem is the definite article in "the data object designator", as
> if there is only one designator that gets to the same value.

And you don't even need equivalence, just consider a(1+1) vs. a(2).
That's been with us since Fortran 1.

Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that I had already wordsmithed the
article while doing my "terms and definitions" edits.

Cheers,
-- 
........................Malcolm Cohen (malcolm at nag-j.co.jp), Nihon NAG, Tokyo.