TAL Reference Manual

Glossary
Glossary—526371.001
Glossary-11
pointer
pointer. A variable that contains the address of another variable. Pointers include:
•
Simple pointers and structure pointers that you declare and manage
•
Implicit pointers (pointers the compiler provides and manages when you declare
indirect arrays and indirect structures)
See also extended pointer
and standard pointer
precedence of operators. The order in which the compiler evaluates operators in
expressions.
primary storage area. The area of the user data segment that can store pointers and
directly addressed variables. Contrast with secondary storage area
PRIV procedure. A procedure you declare using the PRIV keyword; a procedure that can
execute privileged instructions. Normally only operating system procedures are PRIV
procedures.
private data area. The part of the data space that is reserved for the sole use of a
procedure or subprocedure while it is executing.
private data block. A BLOCK declaration that specifies the PRIVATE keyword. Global data
declared within such a BLOCK declaration is accessible only to procedures within the
current compilation unit. Contrast with named data block
procedure. A program unit that can contain the executable parts of a program and that is
callable from anywhere in a program; a named sequence of machine instructions.
procedure declaration. Declaration of a program unit that can contain the executable parts
of a program and that is callable from anywhere in a program. Consists of a procedure
heading and either a procedure body or the keyword FORWARD or EXTERNAL.
process. An instance of execution of a program.
process environment. The software environment that exists when the processor module
is executing instructions that are part of a user process or a system process.
process identification number. See PIN
program. A set of instructions that a computer is capable of executing.
program register. A facility that contains the address of the next instruction to be executed
in the current code segment.
program structure. The order and level at which major components such as data
declarations and statements appear in a source file.
public name. A specification within a procedure declaration of a procedure name to use in
Binder, not within the compiler. Only a D-series EXTERNAL procedure declaration can