-*- Mode: Text; Fonts: Ct18b -*- 2.4 INPUT-OUTPUT The Ada language is defined in such a way that all input and output is performed in terms of other language features. There are no special intrinsic features just for input and output. In fact input-output is just a service required by a program and so is provided by one or more Ada packages. This approach runs the attendant risk that different implementations will provide different packages and program portability will be compromised. In order to avoid this, the Language Reference Manual describes certain standard packages that can be expected to be available. Other, more elaborate, packages may be appropriate to special circumstances and the language does not prevent this. Indeed very simple packages such as our purely illustrative SIMPLE_IO may also be appropriate. Further consideration of input and output is deferred until Chapter 15 when we discuss interfaces between our program and the outside world in general.