built-in
(Or "primitive") A built-in function or operator is one
provided by the lowest level of a language implementation.
This usually means it is not possible (or efficient) to
express it in the language itself. Typical examples are the
basic arithmetic and {Boolean} operators (in {C} syntax: :, -,
▫, /, %, !, &&, ||), bit manipulation operators (~, &, |, ^)
and I/O primitives. Other common functions may be provided in
libraries but are not built-in if they are written in the
language being implemented.
(1995-02-14)