Programmer-defined names

In a PL/I program, names are given to variables and program-control data. There are also built-in names, condition names, and generic names.

Any identifier can be used as a name. A name can have only one meaning in a program block; the same name cannot be used for both a file and a floating-point variable in the same block.

To improve readability, the break character (_) can be used in a name, such as Gross_Pay.

These are some examples of names:

  A                   Rate_of_pay

  Record              Loop_3

For additional requirements for programmer-defined external names, see INTERNAL and EXTERNAL attributes.

An asterisk (*) can be used as an identifier name in situations where a name is required but you do not otherwise refer to that identifier. For more information, see the example in ENTRY attribute.