objectmethod

An objectmethod is a function that is defined as part of a class or object in object-oriented programming and is invoked through an object or its class. Methods encapsulate behaviour that acts on the object's state or participates in interactions with other objects.

Binding and receiver: Most languages distinguish between instance methods, which require an object instance and can read or modify the instance's fields, and class or static methods, which belong to the type rather than any one instance. When an instance method is accessed via an object, the language typically passes a reference to that object (often called this or self) as the method's first parameter.

Dispatch and inheritance: Methods may be resolved dynamically through the class hierarchy, enabling polymorphism. A subclass can override a method to provide specialized behavior, while callers may be unaware of the exact runtime type. Some languages also support private or protected methods which restrict access.

Language examples: In Python, methods are defined with self as the first parameter and are called on objects; in Java, methods are defined in classes and invoked on instances, with this referring to the current object; in JavaScript, methods are functions assigned to object properties and invoked via the object's reference; in Ruby, instance methods are defined with def and are invoked on objects.

Role and limitations: Objectmethods participate in encapsulation and object interaction, but not all languages treat methods identically; some languages support metaprogramming features that allow methods to be added or modified at runtime. Understanding the objectmethod concept helps in designing interfaces and behavior that align with an object's responsibilities.