11.3.4 String Types

A string type declaration introduces a discrete set of string literals. If a string variable is declared to have this type, its value is restricted to the given set of literals.

Here is an example of a string type declaration:

        type OS is ("NT", "nt", "Unix", "GNU/Linux", "other OS");

Variables of a string type are called typed variables; all other variables are called untyped variables. Typed variables are particularly useful in case constructions, to support conditional attribute declarations. (see case Constructions).

The string literals in the list are case sensitive and must all be different. They may include any graphic characters allowed in Ada, including spaces.

A string type may only be declared at the project level, not inside a package.

A string type may be referenced by its name if it has been declared in the same project file, or by an expanded name whose prefix is the name of the project in which it is declared.