The book provides a description of the Standard ML (SML) Basis Library the standard library for the SML language. For programmers using SML it provides a complete description of the modules types and functions composing the library which is supported by all conforming implementations of the language. The book serves as a programmer's reference providing manual pages with concise descriptions. In addition it presents the principles and rationales used in designing the library and relates these to idioms and examples for using the library. A particular emphasis of the library is to encourage the use of SML in serious system programming. Major features of the library include I/O a large collection of primitive types support for internationalization and a portable operating system interface. This manual will be an indispensable reference for students professional programmers and language designers. Language: English