B. Table of Symbol Descriptors

The symbol descriptor is the character which follows the colon in many stabs, and which tells what kind of stab it is. See section 1.3 The String Field, for more information about their use.

digit

(

-

Variable on the stack; see 4.1 Automatic Variables Allocated on the Stack.

:

C++ nested symbol; see See section 7.2 Defining a Symbol Within Another Type.

a

Parameter passed by reference in register; see 4.7.3 Passing Parameters by Reference.

b

Based variable; see 4.6 Fortran Based Variables.

c

Constant; see 3. Constants.

C

Conformant array bound (Pascal, maybe other languages); 4.7.4 Passing Conformant Array Parameters. Name of a caught exception (GNU C++). These can be distinguished because the latter uses N_CATCH and the former uses another symbol type.

d

Floating point register variable; see 4.3 Register Variables.

D

Parameter in floating point register; see 4.7.1 Passing Parameters in Registers.

f

File scope function; see 2.5 Procedures.

F

Global function; see 2.5 Procedures.

G

Global variable; see 4.2 Global Variables.

i

See section 4.7.1 Passing Parameters in Registers.

I

Internal (nested) procedure; see 2.6 Nested Procedures.

J

Internal (nested) function; see 2.6 Nested Procedures.

L

Label name (documented by AIX, no further information known).

m

Module; see 2.5 Procedures.

p

Argument list parameter; see 4.7 Parameters.

pP

See section 4.7 Parameters.

pF

Fortran Function parameter; see 4.7 Parameters.

P

Unfortunately, three separate meanings have been independently invented for this symbol descriptor. At least the GNU and Sun uses can be distinguished by the symbol type. Global Procedure (AIX) (symbol type used unknown); see 2.5 Procedures. Register parameter (GNU) (symbol type N_PSYM); see 4.7 Parameters. Prototype of function referenced by this file (Sun acc) (symbol type N_FUN).

Q

Static Procedure; see 2.5 Procedures.

R

Register parameter; see 4.7.1 Passing Parameters in Registers.

r

Register variable; see 4.3 Register Variables.

S

File scope variable; see 4.5 Static Variables.

s

Local variable (OS9000).

t

Type name; see 5.9 Giving a Type a Name.

T

Enumeration, structure, or union tag; see 5.9 Giving a Type a Name.

v

Parameter passed by reference; see 4.7.3 Passing Parameters by Reference.

V

Procedure scope static variable; see 4.5 Static Variables.

x

Conformant array; see 4.7.4 Passing Conformant Array Parameters.

X

Function return variable; see 4.7 Parameters.