AL State

The AL maintains considerable state. This documents enumerates each state variable and describes how each variable can be changed. For purposes of discussion, state variables are categorized somewhat arbitrarily by their function. For example, although we describe operations that the AL performs on the implied output buffer, the outbut buffer is not part of the AL state. Certain states of AL objects (e.g. buffer states with respect to queueing) are introduced for discussion purposes, but not exposed through the API.