pTAL Reference Manual (H06.08+)

Glossary
HP pTAL Reference Manual—523746-006
Glossary-10
processor
processor.
1. A functional unit of a computer that reads program instructions, moves data
between processor memory and the input/output controllers, and performs
arithmetic operations. Because a processor is composed of several hardware
components that reside in different enclosures, it is sometimes called a logical
processor . A processor is sometimes called a central processing unit (CPU), but
HP NonStop™ servers have multiple cooperating processors rather than a single
CPU.
2. One or more computer chips, typically mounted on a logic board, that are designed
to perform data processing or to manage a particular aspect of computer
operations.
program. See program file.
program file. An executable object code file containing a program’s main routine plus
related routines statically linked together and combined into the same object file. Other
routines shared with other programs might be located in separately loaded libraries. A
program file can be named on a RUN command; other code files cannot.
pTAL compiler. The compiler that takes pTAL source code as input and generates TNS/R
native object code. Compare to EpTAL compiler and TAL compiler.
public name. A specification within a procedure declaration of a procedure name to use in
Binder or the linker, not within the compiler. Only a D-series EXTERNAL procedure
declaration can include a public name. If you do not specify a public name, the
procedure identifier becomes the public name.
quadrupleword. A 64-bit storage unit for the REAL(64) or FIXED data type.
read-only array. An array that you can read but cannot modify.
redefinition. A declaration, within a structure, that associates a new identifier and
sometimes a new description with a previously declared item in the same structure.
reduced instruction set computing (RISC). A processor architecture based on a relatively
small and simple instruction set, a large number of general-purpose registers, and an
optimized instruction pipeline that supports high-performance instruction execution.
Compare to complex instruction set computing (CISC) and explicitly parallel instruction
set computing (EPIC).
reference parameter. An argument for which a calling procedure or subprocedure passes
an address to a called procedure or subprocedure. The called procedure or
subprocedure can modify the original argument in the caller’s scope. Compare to value
parameter.
referral structure. A declaration that allocates storage for a structure whose layout is the
same as the layout of a specified structure or structure pointer. Compare to definition
structure and template structure.