Arithmetic Operators in vhdl

[Altera_Forum]

Hi everyone, 

  Can arithmetic operators(such as '+','-',etc.) only be used within process statement? If yes, why?Thanks.

[Altera_Forum]

No, operators can be used outside process. Then result will not be registered as it is when you use the operators within process.

[Altera_Forum]

you can use them in functions and procedures too. 

 basically, anything in the architecture is a process, just if its placed outside an explicit process it is an implicit process sensitive to all the signals on the RHS:  a <= b * c;  is the same as:  process(b, c) begin  a <= b * c; end process;