(j3.2006) finalizers and constants

[Bill Long]

Finalizers only apply to derived types.  A constant for a derived type 
is in the form of a structure constructor.  Those can be finalized. See 
04-007:[59:27-28]. 

Cheers,
Bill


Michael Ingrassia wrote:
> New question I promise!
>
> Can constants be finalized ?
>
> They might be huge, and tie up storage resources which one would like to
> free once the name of the constant is out of scope.  (NOTE 4.47
> "finalization is used for storage management".)
>
> But as I read the standard, constants might be finalizable but they
> are never actually finalized.  Because, of course, an entity isn't generally
> finalized until "it would become undefined" and constants aren't variables 
> so they don't actually become undefined.  They do become garbage but
> garbage ain't the same thing as undefined.
>
> What am I missing?
>
>
> 	--Michael I.
>
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-- 
Bill Long                                   longb at cray.com
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