Pragma Volatile_Full_Access (GNAT Reference Manual)

### 2.206 Pragma Volatile_Full_Access ¶

Syntax:

    pragma Volatile_Full_Access (LOCAL_NAME);

This is similar in effect to pragma Volatile, except that any reference to the object is guaranteed to be done only with instructions that read or write all the bits of the object. Furthermore, if the object is of a composite type, then any reference to a subcomponent of the object is guaranteed to read and/or write all the bits of the object.

The intention is that this be suitable for use with memory-mapped I/O devices on some machines. Note that there are two important respects in which this is different from `pragma Atomic`. First a reference to a `Volatile_Full_Access` object is not a sequential action in the RM 9.10 sense and, therefore, does not create a synchronization point. Second, in the case of `pragma Atomic`, there is no guarantee that all the bits will be accessed if the reference is not to the whole object; the compiler is allowed (and generally will) access only part of the object in this case.