RuntimeObject

RuntimeObject is a concept found in various programming environments and frameworks, particularly those that support late binding or dynamic code execution. It refers to an object whose type and behavior are not fully determined until the program is running, as opposed to statically typed objects whose characteristics are known at compile time.

In systems with RuntimeObject, the exact nature of an object might be inferred from external data, user input, or configurations loaded during execution. This allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in software design. For instance, a program might load a plugin or script at runtime, and the objects provided by that code would be treated as RuntimeObjects until their specific methods and properties are invoked.

This dynamic nature often involves reflection, where the program can inspect and interact with an object's structure and members at runtime. While offering significant advantages in scenarios requiring flexibility, such as scripting engines or plugin architectures, the use of RuntimeObject can also introduce performance overhead and potential runtime errors if not managed carefully, as type checking and error handling are deferred to execution time. The specific implementation and terminology might vary across different platforms, but the core idea of runtime-determined object characteristics remains consistent.