identifierdepends

identifierdepends is a term used in programming language theory and compiler design to describe the dependency of an identifier’s meaning on contextual information. The concept captures how the binding of a name to a data item, type, or entity can vary according to scope, namespace, or timing of binding.

Bindings can be resolved at different times. Lexical or static binding uses the program text and scope structure to determine the binding, while dynamic binding defers resolution to runtime. In languages with modules or namespaces, an identifier may depend on the module or namespace in which it appears, leading to different bindings across contexts. In macro systems, identifier resolution may depend on the expansion context, which can lead to name capture if not hygienic.

Practical consequences include the need for symbol tables and well-defined scope rules in compilers and interpreters to manage identifierdepends. Programmers must be mindful of shadowing, aliasing, and import conflicts, since the same textual identifier can denote different entities in different blocks, modules, or expansion contexts. The term helps describe why name resolution is sensitive to context and why careful design of scoping rules is important for predictable behavior.

See also: name binding, name resolution, scope, symbol table, hygiene, macro expansion, shadowing.