This text serves as the primary technical reference for the Ada 95 programming language standard. John G. P. Barnes, a recognized authority in the development of the Ada language, provides a comprehensive overview of the language's evolution. The book details the transition from the earlier ANSI 83 standard to the more robust Ada 95, focusing on the integration of modern software engineering principles into the language's syntax and runtime environment.

Experts and practitioners regard this work as the foundational text for understanding the Ada 95 standard. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which is intended for professional software engineers and students of computer science.