Glossary

Class method

A method that is attached to a class as opposed to the objects of a class. Class methods cannot operate on object-specific data or invoke object-specific methods.

Class variable

A piece of class-specific data.

Metaclass

A class whose instances are classes.

Namespace pollution

The collision of names in the global name space of an executable file, often resulting in link errors.

Object data

The data of a class of which each object is to receive a unique copy.

Object method

A method that is attached to the objects of a class, that is, it requires an object of the associated class in order to execute.

Template

A C++ language mechanism that allows for the encapsulation of common code where the only distinction between the code modules is the name of a data or function member. Also called a generic or a parameterized class.