MEMBER VARIABLE Meaning and
Definition
-
A member variable, also known as an instance variable or an attribute, is a term primarily used in object-oriented programming (OOP) to refer to a variable that is associated with an object of a particular class. It is a data field defined within a class that holds values specific to each instance or object.
In OOP, an object is an instance or occurrence of a class, representing a real-world entity. Member variables are crucial for object-oriented design as they enable objects to have their own unique data. Each object created from a class can have different values assigned to member variables while sharing the same behavior defined by the class.
Member variables are defined within the scope of a class and can have varying data types such as integers, strings, or custom-defined classes themselves. They contribute to the state or characteristics of an object and encapsulate the properties that define an instance. Member variables provide the ability to store and maintain data about an object, allowing the object to remember and modify its state throughout the program's execution.
To access member variables, object methods are utilized. These methods can read and modify the values assigned to the member variables. Member variables can also have different access levels (public, private, protected) to control their visibility and access rights within the class or its subclasses. By manipulating member variables, objects can dynamically respond to changes and perform actions according to the data they hold.
Common Misspellings for MEMBER VARIABLE
- memmber variable
- membrer variable
- membor variable
- mamber variable
- memver variable
- member varriable
- member variabel
- member varible
- membr variable
- membre variable
Etymology of MEMBER VARIABLE
The etymology of the term "member variable" can be traced back to computer programming. The word "member" in this context refers to a variable that is a member or part of a class or structure. It is derived from the concept of object-oriented programming, where classes are used to define objects that can have different attributes or variables. These variables, which are specific to each instance of the class, are referred to as "member variables". The term "member" emphasizes the fact that these variables are associated with a particular class or object.
