7. General description

This clause is informative.
This International Standard is intended to be used 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 language specification.
This standard is divided into the following subdivisions:
1. Front matter (clauses 1.7);
2. Language overview (clause 8);
3. The language syntax, constraints, and semantics (clauses 9.25);
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.
Annexes provide additional information and summarize the information
contained in this International
Standard.
Clauses 2.5, 9.24, the beginning of 25, and the beginning of D form a
normative part of this standard; all of
clause 25 with the exception of the beginning is conditionally normative;
and Brief history, clauses 1, 6.8,
annexes A, B, C, and most of D, notes, examples, 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 two ways:
1. [Example: The following example . code fragment, possibly with some
narrative . end example]
2. [Note: narrative . end note]
End of informative text.