method
In object-oriented programming, a function that can be called on an object of a given class. When a method is called (or invoked) on an object, the object is passed as an implicit argument to the method, usually referred to by the special variable "this". If the method is not defined in the object's class, it is looked for in that class's superclass, and so on up the class hierarchy until it is found. A subclass thus inherits {inheritance} all the methods of its superclasses.
Different classes may define methods with the same name (i.e. methods may be polymorphic). Methods are sometimes called "object methods" or "instance methods". "Class methods" are methods that operate on objects of class "class". "Static methods" are not methods but normal functions packaged with the class.Last updated: 2000-03-22
method invocation
In object-oriented programming, the way the program looks up the right code to run when a method with a given name is called ("invoked") on an object. The method is first looked for in the object's class, then that class's superclass and so on up the class hierarchy until a method with the given name is found (the name is "resolved").
Generally, method lookup cannot be performed at compile time because the object's class is not known until run time. This is the case for an object method whereas a class method is just an ordinary function (that is bundled with a given class) and can be resolved at compile time (or load time in the case of a dynamically loaded library).Last updated: 2014-09-06
methodology
1. An organised, documented set of procedures and guidelines for one or more phases of the software life cycle, such as analysis or design. Many methodologies include a diagramming notation for documenting the results of the procedure; a step-by-step "cookbook" approach for carrying out the procedure; and an objective (ideally quantified) set of criteria for determining whether the results of the procedure are of acceptable quality.
An example is The Yourdon methodology. 2. A pretentious way of saying "method".Last updated: 1995-04-10
Methods
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A line-oriented Smalltalk for PC's, produced by Digitalk ca 1985. Methods was the predecessor of Smalltalk/V.
Last updated: 1995-04-16
Nearby terms:
Met-English ♦ METEOR ♦ meter ♦ method ♦ method invocation ♦ methodology ♦ Methods
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