polylithism

<programming>

A property of a data-object that can exist in many shapes and sizes, but not simultaneously; which distinguishes it from a union. It is often implemented as a set of classes (or structs) derived from a common base class (or with a common header, as in the case of structs), typically without any methods.

It has been loosely described as polymorphic data.

[Clarification?]

Last updated: 1996-01-07

Nearby terms:

polygon pusher ♦ POLYGOTH ♦ polylithism ♦ Poly/ML ♦ polymorphic ♦ polymorphic lambda-calculus

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