Method (computer programming): Difference between revisions

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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 consists of data and behavior. The data and behavior comprise an interface, which specifies how the object may be utilized by any of various users (such as other programs, computer systems, or computer programmers who wish to utilize the object in their own programs).

Data is represented as [[Property (programming)|properties]] of the object and behaviors are represented as methods of the object. For example, a <code>Window</code> object wouldcould have methods such as <code>open</code> and <code>close</code>, while its state (whether it is opened or closed at any given point in time) would be a property.

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. A method in Java programming sets the behavior of a 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.