classrather

Classrather is a term used in informal discussions of classification within software design and knowledge organization. It denotes a tendency to organize concepts, data, or code primarily by class or type, rather than by individual instance or by functional role.

Etymology and scope: The word appears to be a portmanteau of class and rather, chosen to signal a preference for class-based organization. There is no formal definition or standard usage; meanings vary across communities, and the term is most common in online forums and pedagogical commentary rather than in formal literature.

Interpretations: In programming, classrather can describe a bias toward deep class hierarchies and inheritance, sometimes at the expense of composition, modular design, or interface-based patterns. In knowledge organization, it may refer to grouping information by predefined categories or types rather than by contexts or relations.

Examples: A classrather approach to modeling might define a single base class for a family of entities and extend it with many specialized subclasses, instead of using a flatter structure with interchangeable components. Critics argue this can add complexity, while proponents say it clarifies abstraction boundaries.

See also: Object-oriented programming; classification; software design principles.