Glossary V

variable

A data object (stored in a memory location) whose value can change during program execution. A variable can be a named data object, an array element, an array section, a structure component, or a substring. In FORTRAN 77, a variable was always scalar and named. Contrast with constant.

variable format expression

A numeric expression enclosed in angle brackets (<>) that can be used in a FORMAT statement. If necessary, it is converted to integer type before use.

variable-length record type

A file format in which records may be of different lengths.

vector subscript

A rank-one array of integer values used as a section subscript to select elements from a parent array. Unlike a subscript triplet, a vector subscript specifies values (within the declared bounds for the dimension) in an arbitrary order. Contrast with subscript triplet. See also array section and section subscript.