Key Terms

• attribute
  • Data encapsulated within a class or object.
• class
  • An extensible program-code-template for creating objects, providing initial values for state (member variables) and implementations of behavior (member functions or methods).
• constructor
  • A special type of procedure called to create an object which prepares the new object for use, often accepting arguments that the constructor uses to set required member variables.
• inheritance
  • When an object or class is based on another object or class using the same implementation to maintain the same behavior.
• instance
  • A concrete occurrence of an object.
• instantiate
  • To create an occurrence of an object, typically by calling its constructor.
• method
  • A procedure associated with an object.
• object
  • A particular instance of a class.
• subclass
  • A modular, derivative class that inherits one or more language entities from one or more other classes (called superclasses, base classes, or parent classes).