Annotated Ada Reference Manual (Ada 202y Draft 1)Legal Information
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12.5.1 Formal Private and Derived Types

1/5
{AI95-00442-01} {AI05-0213-1} {AI12-0445-1} [In its most general form, the category determined for a formal private type is all types, but the category can be restricted to only nonlimited types or to only tagged types. Similarly, the category for a formal incomplete type is all types but the category can be restricted to only tagged types; unlike other formal types, the actual type can be incompletely defined, and not ready to be frozen (see 13.14). The category determined for a formal derived type is the derivation class rooted at the ancestor type.] 
1.a/3
Proof: {AI95-00442-01} {AI05-0213-1} The first two rules are given normatively below, and the third rule is given normatively in 12.5; they are repeated here to give a capsule summary of what this subclause is about. 
1.b/3
Ramification: {AI05-0213-1} Since the actual of a formal incomplete type does not need to be able to be frozen, the actual can be an incomplete type or a partial view before its completion. 

Syntax

2
formal_private_type_definition ::= [[abstracttagged] [limitedprivate
3/5
{AI95-00251-01} {AI95-00419-01} {AI95-00443-01} {AI12-0446-1} formal_derived_type_definition ::= 
     [abstract] [limited | synchronizednew subtype_mark [[and interface_listwith private]

Legality Rules

4
If a generic formal type declaration has a known_discriminant_part, then it shall not include a default_expression for a discriminant. 
4.a
Ramification: Consequently, a generic formal subtype with a known_discriminant_part is an indefinite subtype, so the declaration of a stand-alone variable has to provide a constraint on such a subtype, either explicitly, or by its initial value. 
5/3
{AI95-00401-01} {AI95-00419-01} {AI95-00443-01} {AI05-0237-1} The ancestor subtype of a formal derived type is the subtype denoted by the subtype_mark of the formal_derived_type_definition. For a formal derived type declaration, the reserved words with private shall appear if and only if the ancestor type is a tagged type; in this case the formal derived type is a private extension of the ancestor type and the ancestor shall not be a class-wide type. [Similarly, an interface_list or the optional reserved words abstract or synchronized shall appear only if the ancestor type is a tagged type]. The reserved word limited or synchronized shall appear only if the ancestor type [and any progenitor types] are limited types. The reserved word synchronized shall appear (rather than limited) if the ancestor type or any of the progenitor types are synchronized interfaces. The ancestor type shall be a limited interface if the reserved word synchronized appears.
5.a
Reason: We use the term “ancestor” here instead of “parent” because the actual can be any descendant of the ancestor, not necessarily a direct descendant.
5.b/3
{AI95-00419-01} {AI05-0005-1} We require the ancestor type to be limited when limited appears so that we avoid oddities like limited integer types. Normally, limited means “match anything” for a generic formal, but it was felt that allowing limited elementary types to be declared was just too weird. Integer still matches a formal limited private type; it is only a problem when the type is known to be elementary. Note that the progenitors are required to be limited by rules in 3.9.4, thus that part of the rule is redundant.
5.c/2
{AI95-00443-01} We require that synchronized appear if the ancestor or any of the progenitors are synchronized, so that property is explicitly given in the program text – it is not automatically inherited from the ancestors. However, it can be given even if neither the ancestor nor the progenitors are synchronized. 
5.1/5
 {AI95-00251-01} {AI95-00401-01} {AI95-00443-01} {AI05-0087-1} {AI12-0036-1} {AI12-0442-1} The actual type for a formal derived type shall be a descendant of [the ancestor type and] every progenitor of the formal type. The actual type for a formal derived type shall be tagged if and only if the formal derived type is a private extension. If the reserved word synchronized appears in the declaration of the formal derived type, the actual type shall be a synchronized tagged type. 
5.d/2
Proof: The actual type has to be a descendant of the ancestor type, in order that it be in the correct class. Thus, that part of the rule is redundant. 
5.e/3
Discussion: {AI05-0005-1} For a nonformal private extension, we require the partial view to be synchronized if the full view is synchronized tagged. This does not apply to a formal private extension — it is OK if the formal is not synchronized. Any attempt to extend the formal type will be rechecked in the instance, where the rule disallowing extending a synchronized noninterface type will be enforced. This is consistent with the “no hidden interfaces” rule also applying only to nonformal private extensions, as well as the rule that a limited nonformal private extension implies a limited full type. Formal private extensions are exempted from all these rules to enable the construction of generics that can be used with the widest possible range of types. In particular, an indefinite tagged limited formal private type can match any “concrete” actual tagged type.
5.f/3
{AI05-0087-1} A type (including formal types) derived from a limited interface could be nonlimited; we do not want a limited type derived from such an interface to match a nonlimited formal derived type. Otherwise, we could assign limited objects. Thus, we have to explicitly ban this case.
5.g/5
{AI12-0036-1} {AI12-0005-1} If we allowed actual types whose kind differs from that of the formal derived type, we could allow type conversions that would not be allowed outside of the generic. That would be particularly problematical if the actual is a tagged type with extension components; we could have created an object of the type that is missing those components by converting from the ancestor type to a formal derived type that is not an extension.
6/5
{AI05-0213-1} {AI12-0442-1} If a formal private or derived subtype is definite, then the actual subtype shall also be definite. If the formal type is nonlimited, the actual type shall be nonlimited. 
6.a
Ramification: On the other hand, for an indefinite formal subtype, the actual can be either definite or indefinite.
6.b/5
Discussion: {AI12-0442-1} The rule about nonlimited formals applies to both private and derived formal types. 
6.1/3
 {AI05-0213-1} A formal_incomplete_type_declaration declares a formal incomplete type. The only view of a formal incomplete type is an incomplete view. [Thus, a formal incomplete type is subject to the same usage restrictions as any other incomplete type — see 3.10.1.]
7/5
{AI12-0351-1} For a generic formal derived type with no discriminant_part, the actual subtype shall be statically compatible with the ancestor subtype. Furthermore: 
8/5
{AI12-0351-1} If the ancestor subtype is constrained, the actual subtype shall be constrained;
8.a/5
Ramification: {AI12-0351-1} In other words, any constraint on the ancestor subtype is considered part of the “contract”. Predicates are also considered part of the contract for any subtype, via the static compatibility requirement. 
9
If the ancestor subtype is an unconstrained access or composite subtype, the actual subtype shall be unconstrained. 
9.a
Reason: This rule ensures that if a composite constraint is allowed on the formal, one is also allowed on the actual. If the ancestor subtype is an unconstrained scalar subtype, the actual is allowed to be constrained, since a scalar constraint does not cause further constraints to be illegal. 
10
If the ancestor subtype is an unconstrained discriminated subtype, then the actual shall have the same number of discriminants, and each discriminant of the actual shall correspond to a discriminant of the ancestor, in the sense of 3.7.
10.a
Reason: This ensures that if a discriminant constraint is given on the formal subtype, the corresponding constraint in the instance will make sense, without additional runtime checks. This is not necessary for arrays, since the bounds cannot be overridden in a type extension. An unknown_discriminant_part may be used to relax these matching requirements. 
10.1/2
{AI95-00231-01} If the ancestor subtype is an access subtype, the actual subtype shall exclude null if and only if the ancestor subtype excludes null. 
10.b/2
Reason: We require that the “excludes null” property match, because it would be difficult to write a correct generic for a formal access type without knowing this property. Many typical algorithms and techniques will not work for a subtype that excludes null (setting an unused component to null, default-initialized objects, and so on). We want this sort of requirement to be reflected in the contract of the generic.
11/3
{AI05-0213-1} The declaration of a formal derived type shall not have a known_discriminant_part. For a generic formal private or incomplete type with a known_discriminant_part:
12
The actual type shall be a type with the same number of discriminants.
13
The actual subtype shall be unconstrained.
14
The subtype of each discriminant of the actual type shall statically match the subtype of the corresponding discriminant of the formal type.
14.a
Reason: We considered defining the first and third rule to be called “subtype conformance” for discriminant_parts. We rejected that idea, because it would require implicit (inherited) discriminant_parts, which seemed like too much mechanism. 
15/5
{AI12-0444-1} [For a generic formal type with an unknown_discriminant_part, the actual may have discriminants, though that is not required, and may be definite or indefinite.]
15.1/4
  {AI12-0095-1} When enforcing Legality Rules, for the purposes of determining within a generic body whether a type is unconstrained in any partial view, a discriminated subtype is considered to have a constrained partial view if it is a descendant of an untagged generic formal private or derived type.

Static Semantics

16/2
{AI95-00442-01} The category determined for a formal private type is as follows: 
17/2
Type Definition  Determined Category

limited private  the category of all types
private  the category of all nonlimited types
tagged limited private  the category of all tagged types
tagged private  the category of all nonlimited tagged types
18
[The presence of the reserved word abstract determines whether the actual type may be abstract.]
18.1/3
  {AI05-0213-1} The category determined for a formal incomplete type is the category of all types, unless the formal_type_declaration includes the reserved word tagged; in this case, it is the category of all tagged types.
19
A formal private or derived type is a private or derived type, respectively. A formal derived tagged type is a private extension. [A formal private or derived type is abstract if the reserved word abstract appears in its declaration.]
20/3
{AI95-00233-01} {AI05-0110-1} For a formal derived type, the characteristics (including components, but excluding discriminants if there is a new discriminant_part), predefined operators, and inherited user-defined primitive subprograms are determined by its ancestor type and its progenitor types (if any), in the same way that those of a derived type are determined by those of its parent type and its progenitor types (see 3.4 and 7.3.1).
21/3
{8652/0038} {AI95-00202} {AI95-00233-01} {AI95-00401-01} {AI05-0029-1} {AI05-0110-1} In an instance, the copy of an implicit declaration of a primitive subprogram of a formal derived type declares a view of the corresponding primitive subprogram of the ancestor or progenitor of the formal derived type, even if this primitive has been overridden for the actual type and even if it is never declared for the actual type. When the ancestor or progenitor of the formal derived type is itself a formal type, the copy of the implicit declaration declares a view of the corresponding copied operation of the ancestor or progenitor. [In the case of a formal private extension, however, the tag of the formal type is that of the actual type, so if the tag in a call is statically determined to be that of the formal type, the body executed will be that corresponding to the actual type.] 
21.a/3
Ramification: {AI95-00401-01} {AI05-0239-1} The above rule defining the properties of primitive subprograms in an instance applies even if the subprogram has been overridden or hidden for the actual type. This rule is necessary for untagged types, because their primitive subprograms might have been overridden by operations that are not subtype conformant with the operations defined for the class. For tagged types, the rule still applies, but the primitive subprograms will dispatch to the appropriate implementation based on the type and tag of the operands. Even for tagged types, the formal parameter names and default_expressions are determined by those of the primitive subprograms of the specified ancestor type (or progenitor type, for subprograms inherited from an interface type). 
21.b/4
To be honest: {AI12-0030-1} The availability of stream attributes is not formally a characteristic of a type, but it is still determined by the ancestor type for a formal derived type in the same way as the characteristics are. Availability is rechecked in the instance specification. 
21.1/5
  {AI12-0419-1} In an instance, the implicitly composed and additive aspects (see 13.1.1) of a formal type are those of the actual; for a nonoverridable aspect, a formal derived type inherits the aspect if the ancestor or any progenitor has the aspect, according to the rules given in 13.1.
22/1
For a prefix S that denotes a formal indefinite subtype, the following attribute is defined: 
23/3
S'Definite
{AI05-0264-1} S'Definite yields True if the actual subtype corresponding to S is definite; otherwise, it yields False. The value of this attribute is of the predefined type Boolean. 
23.a/5
Discussion: {AI95-00114-01} {AI12-0005-1} Whether an actual subtype is definite or indefinite may have a major effect on the algorithm used in a generic. For example, in a generic I/O package, whether to use fixed-length or variable-length records could depend on whether the actual is definite or indefinite. This attribute is essentially a replacement for the Constrained attribute, which is now obsolescent. 

Dynamic Semantics

23.1/3
  {AI95-00158-01} {AI05-0071-1} In the case where a formal type has unknown discriminants, and the actual type is a class-wide type T'Class:
23.2/2
{AI95-00158-01} For the purposes of defining the primitive operations of the formal type, each of the primitive operations of the actual type is considered to be a subprogram (with an intrinsic calling convention — see 6.3.1) whose body consists of a dispatching call upon the corresponding operation of T, with its formal parameters as the actual parameters. If it is a function, the result of the dispatching call is returned.
23.3/2
{AI95-00158-01} If the corresponding operation of T has no controlling formal parameters, then the controlling tag value is determined by the context of the call, according to the rules for tag-indeterminate calls (see 3.9.2 and 5.2). In the case where the tag would be statically determined to be that of the formal type, the call raises Program_Error. If such a function is renamed, any call on the renaming raises Program_Error.
23.b/2
Discussion: As it states in 6.3.1, the convention of an inherited subprogram of a generic formal tagged type with unknown discriminants is intrinsic.
23.c/2
In the case of a corresponding primitive of T with no controlling formal parameters, the context of the call provides the controlling tag value for the dispatch. If no tag is provided by context, Program_Error is raised rather than resorting to a nondispatching call. For example:
23.d/2
generic
   type NT(<>) is new T with private;
    -- Assume T has operation "function Empty return T;"
package G is
   procedure Test(X : in out NT);
end G;
23.e/2
package body G is
   procedure Test(X : in out NT) is
   begin
      X := Empty;  -- Dispatching based on X'Tag takes
                   -- place if actual is class-wide.
      declare
          Y : NT := Empty;
                   -- If actual is class-wide, this raises Program_Error
                   -- as there is no tag provided by context.
      begin
          X := Y;  -- We never get this far.
      end;
   end Test;
end G;
23.f/2
type T1 is new T with null record;
package I is new G(T1'Class);
27
NOTE 1   The actual type can be abstract only if the formal type is abstract (see 3.9.3).
27.a
Reason: This is necessary to avoid contract model problems, since one or more of its primitive subprograms are abstract; it is forbidden to create objects of the type, or to declare functions returning the type. 
27.b
Ramification: On the other hand, it is OK to pass a nonabstract actual to an abstract formal — abstract on the formal indicates that the actual might be abstract. 
28/5
NOTE 2   {AI12-0447-1} If the formal has a discriminant_part, the actual can be either definite or indefinite. Otherwise, the actual can only be definite. 

Incompatibilities With Ada 83

28.a
Ada 83 does not have unknown_discriminant_parts, so it allows indefinite subtypes to be passed to definite formals, and applies a legality rule to the instance body. This is a contract model violation. Ada 95 disallows such cases at the point of the instantiation. The workaround is to add (<>) as the discriminant_part of any formal subtype if it is intended to be used with indefinite actuals. If that's the intent, then there can't be anything in the generic body that would require a definite subtype.
28.b
The check for discriminant subtype matching is changed from a runtime check to a compile-time check. 

Extensions to Ada 95

28.c/2
{AI95-00251-01} {AI95-00401-01} {AI95-00419-01} {AI95-00443-01} A generic formal derived type can include progenitors (interfaces) as well as a primary ancestor. It also may include limited to indicate that it is a limited type, and synchronized to indicate that it is a synchronized type. 

Wording Changes from Ada 95

28.d/2
{8652/0038} {AI95-00202-01} Corrigendum: Corrected wording to define the operations that are inherited when the ancestor of a formal type is itself a formal type to avoid anomalies.
28.e/2
{AI95-00158-01} Added a semantic description of the meaning of operations of an actual class-wide type, as such a type does not have primitive operations of its own.
28.f/2
{AI95-00231-01} Added a matching rule for access subtypes that exclude null.
28.g/2
{AI95-00233-01} The wording for the declaration of implicit operations is corrected to be consistent with 7.3.1 as modified by Corrigendum 1.
28.h/2
{AI95-00442-01} We change to “determines a category” as that is the new terminology (it avoids confusion, since not all interesting properties form a class).

Incompatibilities With Ada 2005

28.i/3
{AI05-0087-1} Correction: Added wording to prevent a limited type from being passed to a nonlimited formal derived type. While this was allowed, it would break the contract for the limited type, so hopefully no programs actually depend on that. 

Extensions to Ada 2005

28.j/3
{AI05-0213-1} Formal incomplete types are a new kind of generic formal; these can be instantiated with incomplete types and unfrozen private types. 

Wording Changes from Ada 2005

28.k/3
{AI05-0029-1} Correction: Updated the wording to acknowledge the possibility of operations that are never declared for an actual type but still can be used inside of a generic unit.
28.l/3
{AI05-0071-1} Correction: Fixed hole that failed to define what happened for "=" for an untagged private type whose actual is class-wide.
28.m/3
{AI05-0110-1} Correction: Revised the wording for inheritance of characteristics and operations of formal derived types to be reuse the rules as defined for derived types; this should eliminate holes in the wording which have plagued us since Ada 95 was defined (it has been "corrected" four previous times).
28.n/3
{AI05-0237-1} Correction: Added missing rule for the ancestors of formal derived types. The added rule would formally be incompatible, but since it would be impossible to instantiate any such generic, this cannot happen outside of test suites and thus is not documented as an incompatibility. 

Incompatibilities With Ada 2012

28.o/4
{AI12-0036-1} Corrigendum: Added a requirement that a tagged type only match a formal derived type that is a private extension. This is necessary to prevent type conversions that would not be allowed outside of the generic. We expect that this will be rare, as it only can happen if the formal derived type does not accurately describe the actual type; in most such cases, extension will be desired and a private extension used so that is allowed.
28.p/5
{AI12-0351-1} Correction: The predicates of an ancestor subtype are considered part of the contract for a formal derived type, even if the ancestor subtype is unconstrained. This means, for instance, if the ancestor subtype is a subtype of Float with a predicate, then an actual subtype with a different predicate is illegal in Ada 2022 while it would have been allowed in Ada 2012. Cases like this are quite unlikely and will be detected at compile-time if they occur. 

Wording Changes from Ada 2012

28.q/4
{AI12-0095-1} Corrigendum: The assume the worst rule for determining within a generic body whether a type is unconstrained in any partial view was moved here. While AI05-0041-1 added it to 3.10.2, it's also needed (at least) in 4.6 and 6.4.1. Thus, it was moved here so that it applies generally. 

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