General Description

This Standard is intended for use by implementers, academics, and application programmers. As such, it contains a considerable amount of explanatory material that, strictly speaking, is not necessary in a formal specification.

This Part is divided into the following subdivisions:

1. Front matter (clauses 1–7);

2. Overview (clause 8);

3. Main body (clauses 9–14);

4. Annexes

Examples are provided to illustrate possible forms of the constructions described. References are used to refer to related clauses. Notes are provided to give advice or guidance to implementers or programmers. Rationale provides explanatory material as to why something is or is not in this Standard. Annexes provide additional information or summarize the information contained in this Standard.

Clauses 1–5, 7, and 9–14 form a normative part of this Part; and the Introduction, clauses 6 and 8, as well as the annexes, notes, examples, rationale, guidance, and the index, are informative.

Except for whole clauses or annexes that are identified as being informative, informative text that is contained within normative text is indicated in the following ways:

1. example:
2. Note:

3. [ narrative … ]

4. [: narrative … ]