objectslike

Objectslike is an informal term used in computer science, information design, and related fields to describe data structures, interfaces, or representations that resemble objects in object-oriented programming without necessarily being formal objects themselves. The term is not standardized, and its meaning varies by context; it is often invoked when discussing mechanisms that mimic object-like behavior in environments that do not enforce object orientation.

In computing, objectslike forms typically organize state and behavior in a way inspired by objects: discrete units with identifiable identity, encapsulated data, and operations that act on that data. They may be implemented with records or structures in languages that do not enforce strict object-oriented rules. Objectslike data can be serialized into object-like structures such as JSON or XML, preserving a hierarchy of fields and associated operations or callbacks, depending on the language’s capabilities.

In user interface design, objectslike describes items that behave as discrete, manipulable objects—draggable, resizable, groupable—often used to convey mental models of real-world objects. This usage emphasizes modularity and reusability and is common in editors, dashboards, and design systems, where components are designed to be composed like tangible objects.

In linguistics or cognitive science, objectslike representations refer to mental or symbolic constructs that function like objects in understanding and action, even though they are not tangible objects themselves. The term remains relatively broad and context-dependent, and some scholars favor more precise terminology such as object-oriented patterns, object-like data structures, or object-based interfaces.

See also: object-oriented programming, object-like patterns, data modeling, user interface components.