Method (computer programming): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:38, 28 November 2016

Revision as of 13:42, 28 November 2016

Line 1:

A '''method''' in [[object-oriented programming]] (OOP) is a [[Procedure (computer science)|procedure]] associated with a [[Message passing|message]] and an [[Object (computer science)|object]]. An object is made up of data and behavior, which form the interface that an object presents to the outside world. Data is represented as [[Property (programming)|properties]] of the object and behavior as methods. For example, a <code>Window</code> object would have methods such as <code>open</code> and <code>close</code>, while its state (whether it is opened or closed) would be a property.

A '''method''' in [[object-oriented programming]] is a member of class or object that implements computation.

In [[class-based programming]], methods are defined in a [[class (computer science)|class]], and objects are instances of a given class. One of the most important capabilities that a method provides is method overriding. The same name (e.g., <code>area</code>) can be used for multiple different kinds of classes. This allows the sending objects to invoke behaviors and to delegate the implementation of those behaviors to the receiving object. Method in Java programming sets the behaviour of class object. For example, an object can send an <code>area</code> message to another object and the appropriate formula is invoked whether the receiving object is a <code>rectangle</code>, <code>circle</code>, <code>triangle</code>, etc.

Can be compared to procedure or function in [[structured programming]], the difference is that in object-oriented programming it is associated with class or object and has additional functionalities.

Methods also provide the interface that other classes use to access and modify the data [[Property (programming)|properties]] of an object. This is known as encapsulation. Encapsulation and overriding are the two primary distinguishing features between methods and procedure calls.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is an Object?|url=http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/concepts/object.html|work=oracle.com|publisher=Oracle Corporation|accessdate=13 December 2013}}</ref>

The purpose of a method is to do computation, optionally can get parameters and return result.

Method consist of modifiers, return type, identifier, parameters and statements enclosed in block.

<br />

Method definition and functionalities can be different in various programming languages.

<source lang="csharp">

// Method example in CSharp

class Class1

{

// Method defined with access modifier, return type, identifier, parameters, and statements

public int Method1(int parameter1, int parameter2)

{

return parameter1 + parameter2; // Do computation and return result.

}

}

</source>

==Overriding and overloading==