6.2 Formal Parameter Modes

1. A parameter_specification declares a formal parameter of mode in, in out, or out.
   Static Semantics
   
2. A parameter is passed either by copy or by reference. When a parameter is passed by copy, the formal parameter denotes a separate object from the actual parameter, and any information transfer between the two occurs only before and after executing the subprogram. When a parameter is passed by reference, the formal parameter denotes (a view of) the object denoted by the actual parameter; reads and updates of the formal parameter directly reference the actual parameter object.
3. A type is a by-copy type if it is an elementary type, or if it is a descendant of a private type whose full type is a by-copy type. A parameter of a by-copy type is passed by copy.
4. A type is a by-reference type if it is a descendant of one of the following:
   1. a tagged type;
   2. a task or protected type;
   3. a nonprivate type with the reserved word limited in its declaration;
   4. a composite type with a subcomponent of a by-reference type;
   5. a private type whose full type is a by-reference type.

1. A parameter of a by-reference type is passed by reference. Each value of a by-reference type has an associated object. For a parenthesized expression, qualified_expression, or type_conversion, this object is the one associated with the operand.
2. For parameters of other types, it is unspecified whether the parameter is passed by copy or by reference.
   Bounded (Run-Time) Errors
   
3. If one name denotes a part of a formal parameter, and a second name denotes a part of a distinct formal parameter or an object that is not part of a formal parameter, then the two names are considered distinct access paths. If an object is of a type for which the parameter passing mechanism is not specified, then it is a bounded error to assign to the object via one access path, and then read the value of the object via a distinct access path, unless the first access path denotes a part of a formal parameter that no longer exists at the point of the second access (due to leaving the corresponding callable construct). The possible consequences are that Program_Error is raised, or the newly assigned value is read, or some old value of the object is read.
   

   NOTES
   

4. (5) A formal parameter of mode in is a constant view, See section 3.3 Objects and Named Numbers, it cannot be updated within the subprogram_body.

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