Metodiset

Metodiset, in Swedish usage, refers to the collection of methods that a type or value exposes for use. In English contexts this is commonly called the method set. The method set consists of the methods that can be invoked on values of that type, subject to language rules about visibility, inheritance, and ownership.

In object-oriented programming, the method set of a class includes instance methods declared by the class and those inherited from base classes or interfaces that are accessible. Private methods are typically not visible to external callers and thus are not part of the external method set. Overloaded methods, which share the same name but different parameters, are counted as separate entries in the set. Static methods may or may not be considered part of the instance method set, depending on whether the language treats them as type-level rather than instance-level capabilities.

The precise definition of a method set varies by language. Some languages separate value types and reference types, causing differences in which methods are callable on certain values. Others distinguish between mutating or non-mutating methods for value types, as the ability to modify self can affect the applicable method set.

Subtyping and polymorphism influence method sets: for a subtype, the method set must remain compatible with the supertype’s method set, ensuring that a value of the subtype can be used wherever the supertype is expected. This concept underpins interface design, API compatibility, and dispatch mechanisms.

Related concepts include dynamic dispatch, virtual methods, interfaces or protocols, and access control. Understanding the method set helps in predicting what operations are available on a type and how changes to a class or interface affect compatibility.