Call an object method
In object-oriented programming a method is a function associated with a particular class or object. In most forms of object oriented implementations methods can be static, associated with the class itself; or instance, associated with an instance of a class.
You are encouraged to solve this task according to the task description, using any language you may know.
Show how to call a static or class method, and an instance method of a class.
ActionScript
// Static
MyClass.method(someParameter);
// Instance
myInstance.method(someParameter);
Ada
Ada is a language based on strict typing. Nevertheless, since Ada 95 (the first major revision of the language), Ada also includes the concepts of a class. Types may be tagged, and for each tagged type T there is an associated type T'Class. If you define a method as "procedure Primitive(Self: T)", the actual parameter Self must be of type T, exactly, and the method Primitive will be called, well, statically. This may be surprising, if you are used to other object-oriented languages.
If you define a method as "prodedure Dynamic(Self: T'Class)", the actual parameter can be either T or any of its descendents. Now, if you call Self.Primitive within the procedure Dynamic, it will be dispatching, i.e., it will call the primitive function matching the type of Self (i.e., either T or any of its subtype). This is what you would expect in many other object-oriented languages.
Finally, a static method can be defined as a subprogram within the same package that holds the object type and the other methods.
Specify the class My_Class, with one primitive subprogram, one dynamic subprogram and a static subprogram:
package My_Class is
type Object is tagged private;
procedure Primitive(Self: Object); -- primitive subprogram
procedure Dynamic(Self: Object'Class);
procedure Static;
private
type Object is tagged null record;
end My_Class;
Implement the package:
package body My_Class is
procedure Primitive(Self: Object) is
begin
Put_Line("Hello World!");
end Primitive;
procedure Dynamic(Self: Object'Class) is
begin
Put("Hi there! ... ");
Self.Primitive; -- dispatching call: calls different subprograms,
-- depending on the type of Self
end Dynamic;
procedure Static is
begin
Put_Line("Greetings");
end Static;
end My_Class;
Specify and implement a subclass of My_Class:
package Other_Class is
type Object is new My_Class.Object with null record;
overriding procedure Primitive(Self: Object);
end Other_Class;
package body Other_Class is
procedure Primitive(Self: Object) is
begin
Put_Line("Hello Universe!");
end Primitive;
end Other_Class;
The main program, making the dynamic and static calls:
with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure Call_Method is
package My_Class is ... -- see above
package body My_Class is ... -- see above
package Other_Class is ... -- see above
package body Other_Class is ... -- see above
Ob1: My_Class.Object; -- our "root" type
Ob2: Other_Class.Object; -- a type derived from the "root" type
begin
My_Class.Static;
Ob1.Primitive;
Ob2.Primitive;
Ob1.Dynamic;
Ob2.Dynamic;
end Call_Method;
- Output:
Greetings Hello World! Hello Universe! Hi there! ... Hello World! Hi there! ... Hello Universe!
ALGOL 68
Algol 68 doesn't do OO as such, but it has structures, the members of which can be procedures. This allows OO features to be implemented, though without syntactic sugar, "this" pointers must be passed explicitly. In Algol 68, a OF b
is used where most other languages would use b.a
.
This means that a call to an instance method called "print" say of a class instance "a" in Algol 68 would be written ( print OF a )( a )
, - note the explicit "this" parameter - whereas a.print
would be used in most other languages.
Class methods could be members of the structure (as here) without a "this" parameter, or could be procedures defined outside the structure.
In this example, the instance and class methods return VOID, but this is not necessary, any return type could be used.
BEGIN # demonstrate a possible method of simulating class & instance methods #
# declare a "class" #
MODE ANIMAL = STRUCT( STRING species
, PROC( REF ANIMAL )VOID print # instance method #
, PROC VOID cm # class method #
);
# constructor #
PROC new animal = ( STRING species )REF REF ANIMAL:
BEGIN
HEAP ANIMAL newv := ANIMAL( species
, ( REF ANIMAL this )VOID:
print( ( "[animal instance[", species OF this, "]]" ) )
, VOID: print( ( "[animal class method called]" ) )
);
HEAP REF ANIMAL newa := newv;
newa
END # new animal # ;
REF ANIMAL a
:= new animal( "PANTHERA TIGRIS" ); # create an instance of ANIMAL #
cm OF a; # call the class method #
( print OF a )( a ) # call the instance method #
END
- Output:
[animal class method called][animal instance[PANTHERA TIGRIS]]
Apex
// Static
MyClass.method(someParameter);
// Instance
myInstance.method(someParameter);
AutoHotkey
(AutoHotkey Basic does not have classes)
class myClass
{
Method(someParameter){
MsgBox % SomeParameter
}
}
myClass.method("hi")
myInstance := new myClass
myInstance.Method("bye")
Bracmat
Bracmat has no classes. Rather, objects can be created as copies of other objects. In the example below, the variable MyObject
has a copy of variable MyClass
as value. Notice the extra level of reference in (MyObject..Method)$argument
, comparable to MyObject->Method(argument)
in C. Rather than being the object itself, MyObject
points to an object and can be aliased by assigning to another variable.
Inside an object, the object is represented by its
, comparable to this
in other languages.
( ( myClass
= (name=aClass)
( Method
= .out$(str$("Output from " !(its.name) ": " !arg))
)
(new=.!arg:?(its.name))
)
& (myClass.Method)$"Example of calling a 'class' method"
& new$(myClass,object1):?MyObject
& (MyObject..Method)$"Example of calling an instance method"
& !MyObject:?Alias
& (Alias..Method)$"Example of calling an instance method from an alias"
);
Output:
Output from aClass: Example of calling a 'class' method Output from object1: Example of calling an instance method Output from object1: Example of calling an instance method from an alias
C
C has structures and it also has function pointers, which allows C structures to be associated with any function with the same signature as the pointer. Thus, C structures can also have object methods.
#include<stdlib.h>
#include<stdio.h>
typedef struct{
int x;
int (*funcPtr)(int);
}functionPair;
int factorial(int num){
if(num==0||num==1)
return 1;
else
return num*factorial(num-1);
}
int main(int argc,char** argv)
{
functionPair response;
if(argc!=2)
return printf("Usage : %s <non negative integer>",argv[0]);
else{
response = (functionPair){.x = atoi(argv[1]),.funcPtr=&factorial};
printf("\nFactorial of %d is %d\n",response.x,response.funcPtr(response.x));
}
return 0;
}
And yes, it works :
$ ./a.out 10 Factorial of 10 is 3628800
C++
// Static
MyClass::method(someParameter);
// Instance
myInstance.method(someParameter);
// Pointer
MyPointer->method(someParameter);
C_sharp
// Static
MyClass.Method(someParameter);
// Instance
myInstance.Method(someParameter);
ChucK
MyClass myClassObject;
myClassObject.myFunction(some parameter);
Clojure
(Long/toHexString 15) ; use forward slash for static methods
(System/currentTimeMillis)
(.equals 1 2) ; use dot operator to call instance methods
(. 1 (equals 2)) ; alternative style
COBOL
There are two ways to invoke a method: the INVOKE
statement and inline method invocation.
*> INVOKE statements.
INVOKE my-class "some-method" *> Factory object
USING BY REFERENCE some-parameter
RETURNING foo
INVOKE my-instance "another-method" *> Instance object
USING BY REFERENCE some-parameter
RETURNING foo
*> Inline method invocation.
MOVE my-class::"some-method"(some-parameter) TO foo *> Factory object
MOVE my-instance::"another-method"(some-parameter) TO foo *> Instance object
To call factory methods of objects of an unknown type (such as when you may have a subclass of the class wanted), it is necessary to get a reference to the class's factory object by calling the "FactoryObject"
method.
INVOKE some-instance "FactoryObject" RETURNING foo-factory
*> foo-factory can be treated like a normal object reference.
INVOKE foo-factory "someMethod"
CoffeeScript
While CoffeeScript does provide a useful class abstraction around its prototype-based inheritance, there aren't any actual classes.
class Foo
@staticMethod: -> 'Bar'
instanceMethod: -> 'Baz'
foo = new Foo
foo.instanceMethod() #=> 'Baz'
Foo.staticMethod() #=> 'Bar'
Common Lisp
In Common Lisp, classmethods are methods that apply to classes, rather than classes that contain methods.
(defclass my-class ()
((x
:accessor get-x ;; getter function
:initarg :x ;; arg name
:initform 0))) ;; initial value
;; declaring a public class method
(defmethod square-x ((class-instance my-class))
(* (get-x class-instance) (get-x class-instance)))
;; create an instance of my-class
(defvar *instance*
(make-instance 'my-class :x 10))
(format t "Value of x: ~a~%" (get-x *instance*))
(format t "Value of x^2: ~a~%" (square-x *instance*))
Output (CLISP v2.49):
$ clisp object.cl Value of x: 10 Value of x^2: 100
D
struct Cat {
static int staticMethod() {
return 2;
}
string dynamicMethod() { // Never virtual.
return "Mew!";
}
}
class Dog {
static int staticMethod() {
return 5;
}
string dynamicMethod() { // Virtual method.
return "Woof!";
}
}
void main() {
// Static methods calls:
assert(Cat.staticMethod() == 2);
assert(Dog.staticMethod() == 5);
Cat c; // This is a value on the stack.
Dog d; // This is just a reference, set to null.
// Other static method calls, discouraged:
assert(c.staticMethod() == 2);
assert(d.staticMethod() == 5);
// Instance method calls:
assert(c.dynamicMethod() == "Mew!");
d = new Dog;
assert(d.dynamicMethod() == "Woof!");
}
Delphi
This example shows the creation of a simple integer stack object. The object contains "Push" and "Pop" static methods.
{Simple stack interface}
type TSimpleStack = class(TObject)
private
FStack: array of integer;
protected
public
procedure Push(I: integer);
function Pop(var I: integer): boolean;
constructor Create;
end;
{ TSimpleStack implementation }
constructor TSimpleStack.Create;
{Initialize stack by setting size to zero}
begin
SetLength(FStack,0);
end;
function TSimpleStack.Pop(var I: integer): boolean;
{Pop top item off stack into "I" returns False if stack empty}
begin
Result:=Length(FStack)>=1;
if Result then
begin
{Get item from top of stack}
I:=FStack[High(FStack)];
{Delete the top item}
SetLength(FStack,Length(FStack)-1);
end;
end;
procedure TSimpleStack.Push(I: integer);
{Push item on stack by adding to end of array}
begin
{Increase stack size by one}
SetLength(FStack,Length(FStack)+1);
{Insert item}
FStack[High(FStack)]:=I;
end;
procedure ShowStaticMethodCall(Memo: TMemo);
var Stack: TSimpleStack; {Declare stack object}
var I: integer;
begin
{Instanciate stack object}
Stack:=TSimpleStack.Create;
{Push items on stack by calling static method "Push"}
for I:=1 to 10 do Stack.Push(I);
{Call static method "Pop" to retrieve and display stack items}
while Stack.Pop(I) do
begin
Memo.Lines.Add(IntToStr(I));
end;
{release stack memory and delete object}
Stack.Free;
end;
- Output:
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Elapsed Time: 10.571 ms.
Dragon
Making an object of class and then calling it.
r = new run()
r.val()
Dyalect
Dyalect supports both instance and static methods. Instance methods have a special this
reference that returns an instance. Static method are always invoked through the type name.
//Static method on a built-in type Integer
static func Integer.Div(x, y) {
x / y
}
//Instance method
func Integer.Div(n) {
this / n
}
print(Integer.Div(12, 3))
print(12.Div(3))
- Output:
4 4
E
A method call in E has the syntax recipient.verb(arg1, arg2, ...)
, where recipient is an expression, verb is an identifier (or a string literal preceded by ::
), and argN are expressions.
someObject.someMethod(someParameter)
In E, there are no distinguished "static methods". Instead, it is idiomatic to place methods on the maker of the object. This is very similar to methods on constructors in JavaScript, or class methods in Objective-C.
Ecstasy
Calling a method or function in Ecstasy follows roughly the same conventions as in Java and C#, but in order to prevent certain types of bugs, Ecstasy explicitly disallows calling a function as if it were a method.
module CallMethod {
/**
* This is a class with a method and a function.
*/
const Example(String text) {
@Override
String toString() { // <-- this is a method
return $"This is an example with text={text}";
}
static Int oneMoreThan(Int n) { // <-- this is a function
return n+1;
}
}
void run() {
@Inject Console console;
Example example = new Example("hello!");
String methodResult = example.toString(); // <-- call a method
console.print($"Result from calling a method: {methodResult.quoted()}");
// Int funcResult = example.oneMoreThan(12); // <-- compiler error
Int funcResult = Example.oneMoreThan(12); // <-- call a function
console.print($"Results from calling a function: {funcResult}");
// methods and functions are also objects that can be manipulated;
// note that "function String()" === "Function<<>, <String>>"
Method<Example, <>, <String>> method = Example.toString;
function String() func = method.bindTarget(example);
console.print($"Calling a bound method: {func().quoted()}");
// by default, a method with target T converts to a function taking a T;
// Ecstasy refers to this as "Bjarning" (because C++ takes "this" as a param)
val func2 = Example.toString; // <-- type: function String()
console.print($"Calling a Bjarne'd function: {func2(example).quoted()}");
// the function is just an object, and invocation (and in this case, binding,
// as indicated by the '&' operator which requests a reference) is accomplished
// using the "()" operator
val func3 = Example.oneMoreThan; // <-- type: function Int(Int)
val func4 = &func3(13); // <-- type: function Int()
console.print($"Calling a fully bound function: {func4()}");
}
}
- Output:
Result from calling a method: "This is an example with text=hello!" Results from calling a function: 13 Calling a bound method: "This is an example with text=hello!" Calling a Bjarne'd function: "This is an example with text=hello!" Calling a fully bound function: 14
Elena
The message call:
console.printLine("Hello"," ","World!");
Elixir
Elixir doesn't do objects. Instead of calling methods on object you send messages to processes. Here's an example of a process created with spawn_link which knows how to receive a message "concat" and return a result.
defmodule ObjectCall do
def new() do
spawn_link(fn -> loop end)
end
defp loop do
receive do
{:concat, {caller, [str1, str2]}} ->
result = str1 <> str2
send caller, {:ok, result}
loop
end
end
def concat(obj, str1, str2) do
send obj, {:concat, {self(), [str1, str2]}}
receive do
{:ok, result} ->
result
end
end
end
obj = ObjectCall.new()
IO.puts(obj |> ObjectCall.concat("Hello ", "World!"))
EMal
type MyClass ^|we are defining a new data type and entering in its static context|^
fun method = void by block do writeLine("static method called") end
model ^|we enter the instance context|^
fun method = void by block do writeLine("instance method called") end
end
type CallAnObjectMethod
var myInstance = MyClass() ^|creating an instance|^
myInstance.method()
MyClass.method()
- Output:
instance method called static method called
Factor
In Factor, there is no distinction between instance and static methods. Methods are contained in generic words and specialize on a class. Generic words define a method combination so methods know which object(s) to dispatch on. (But most methods dispatch on the object at the top of the data stack.) Under this object model, calling a method is no different than calling any other word.
USING: accessors io kernel literals math sequences ;
IN: rosetta-code.call-a-method
! Define some classes.
SINGLETON: dog
TUPLE: cat sassiness ;
! Define a constructor for cat.
C: <cat> cat
! Define a generic word that dispatches on the object at the top
! of the data stack.
GENERIC: speak ( obj -- )
! Define methods in speak which specialize on various classes.
M: dog speak drop "Woof!" print ;
M: cat speak sassiness>> 0.5 > "Hiss!" "Meow!" ? print ;
M: object speak drop "I don't know how to speak!" print ;
! Call speak on various objects.
! Despite being a method, it's called like any other word.
dog speak
0.75 <cat> speak
0.1 <cat> speak
"bird" speak
- Output:
Woof! Hiss! Meow! I don't know how to speak!
Forth
There are numerous, mutually incompatible object oriented frameworks for Forth. This one works with the FOOS preprocessor extension of 4tH.
include lib/compare.4th
include 4pp/lib/foos.4pp
[ASSERT] \ enable assertions
:: Cat
class
method: dynamicCat \ virtual method
end-class {
:static staticCat { 2 } ; \ static method
:method { s" Mew!" } ; defines dynamicCat
} \ for unrelated classes,
; \ method names have to differ
:: Dog
class
method: dynamicDog \ virtual method
end-class {
:static staticDog { 5 } ;
:method { s" Woof!" } ; defines dynamicDog
} \ for unrelated classes,
; \ method names have to differ
static Cat c \ create two static objects
static Dog d
: main
assert( class -> staticCat 2 = ) \ check for valid method return
assert( class -> staticDog 5 = ) \ of a static method
assert( c -> staticCat 2 = ) \ check for valid method return
assert( d -> staticDog 5 = ) \ of a static method
assert( c => dynamicCat s" Mew!" compare 0= )
assert( d => dynamicDog s" Woof!" compare 0= )
; \ same for dynamic methods
main
Works with any ANS Forth
Needs the FMS-SI (single inheritance) library code located here: http://soton.mpeforth.com/flag/fms/index.html
include FMS-SI.f
:class animal
variable cnt 0 cnt ! \ static instance variable
:m init: 1 cnt +! ;m
:m cnt: cnt @ . ;m
;class
:class cat <super animal
:m speak ." meow" ;m
;class
:class dog <super animal
:m speak ." woof" ;m
;class
cat Frisky \ instantiate a cat object named Frisky
dog Sparky \ instantiate a dog object named Sparky
\ The class method cnt: will return the number of animals instantiated
\ regardless of which animal object is used.
\ The instance method speak will respond differently depending
\ on the class of the instance object.
Frisky cnt: \ => 2 ok
Sparky cnt: \ => 2 ok
Frisky speak \ => meow ok
Sparky speak \ => woof ok
Fortran
In modern Fortran a "derived type" concept corresponds to "class" in OOP. Such types have "type bound procedures", i.e. static methods. Procedure pointer components depend on the value of the object (so they are object-bound), can be redefined runtime and correspond approx to instances.
! type declaration
type my_type
contains
procedure, pass :: method1
procedure, pass, pointer :: method2
end type my_type
! declare object of type my_type
type(my_type) :: mytype_object
!static call
call mytype_object%method1() ! call method1 defined as subroutine
!instance?
mytype_object%method2() ! call method2 defined as function
FreeBASIC
' FB 1.05.0 Win64
Type MyType
Public:
Declare Sub InstanceMethod(s As String)
Declare Static Sub StaticMethod(s As String)
Private:
dummy_ As Integer ' types cannot be empty in FB
End Type
Sub MyType.InstanceMethod(s As String)
Print s
End Sub
Static Sub MyType.StaticMethod(s As String)
Print s
End Sub
Dim t As MyType
t.InstanceMethod("Hello world!")
MyType.Staticmethod("Hello static world!")
Print
Print "Press any key to quit the program"
Sleep
- Output:
Hello world! Hello static world!
FutureBasic
local fn FBClassDemo
// Class
ClassRef class = fn MutableStringClass
// Cocoa base class name as human-readable string
print fn StringFromClass( class )
// Instantiate
CFMutableStringRef mutStr = fn MutableStringNew
// Method with single argument
MutableStringSetString( mutStr, @"Hello, World!" )
print mutStr
// Method with multiple arguments
MutableStringReplaceAllOccurrencesOfString( mutStr, @"World", @"Rosetta Code" )
print mutStr
end fn
fn FBClassDemo
HandleEvents
- Output:
NSMutableString Hello, World! Hello, Rosetta Code!
Go
Go distances itself from the word "object" and from many object oriented concepts. It does however have methods. Any user-defined type in Go can have methods and these work very much like "instance methods" of object oriented languages. The examples below illustrate details of Go methods and thus represent the concept of instance methods.
type Foo int // some custom type
// method on the type itself; can be called on that type or its pointer
func (self Foo) ValueMethod(x int) { }
// method on the pointer to the type; can be called on pointers
func (self *Foo) PointerMethod(x int) { }
var myValue Foo
var myPointer *Foo = new(Foo)
// Calling value method on value
myValue.ValueMethod(someParameter)
// Calling pointer method on pointer
myPointer.PointerMethod(someParameter)
// Value methods can always be called on pointers
// equivalent to (*myPointer).ValueMethod(someParameter)
myPointer.ValueMethod(someParameter)
// In a special case, pointer methods can be called on values that are addressable (i.e. lvalues)
// equivalent to (&myValue).PointerMethod(someParameter)
myValue.PointerMethod(someParameter)
// You can get the method out of the type as a function, and then explicitly call it on the object
Foo.ValueMethod(myValue, someParameter)
(*Foo).PointerMethod(myPointer, someParameter)
(*Foo).ValueMethod(myPointer, someParameter)
Go has no direct equivalent to class methods as long as you think of a Go type as a class. A Go package however can be organized and used much like a class, and in this context, any function exported from the package works much like a class method.
An example package:
package box
import "sync/atomic"
var sn uint32
type box struct {
Contents string
secret uint32
}
func New() (b *box) {
b = &box{secret: atomic.AddUint32(&sn, 1)}
switch sn {
case 1:
b.Contents = "rabbit"
case 2:
b.Contents = "rock"
}
return
}
func (b *box) TellSecret() uint32 {
return b.secret
}
func Count() uint32 {
return atomic.LoadUint32(&sn)
}
Example use:
package main
import "box"
func main() {
// Call constructor. Technically it's just an exported function,
// but it's a Go idiom to naming a function New that serves the purpose
// of a constructor.
b := box.New()
// Call instance method. In Go terms, simply a method.
b.TellSecret()
// Call class method. In Go terms, another exported function.
box.Count()
}
Icon and Unicon
Icon does not have objects or methods; they can be implemented on top of other types such as records.
Unicon has no concept of static methods; all methods are normally invoked using an instance of a class. While it is technically possible to call a method without an instance, it requires knowledge of the underlying implementation, such as the name-mangling conventions, and is non-standard.
procedure main()
bar := foo() # create instance
bar.m2() # call method m2 with self=bar, an implicit first parameter
foo_m1( , "param1", "param2") # equivalent of static class method, first (self) parameter is null
end
class foo(cp1,cp2)
method m1(m1p1,m1p2)
local ml1
static ms1
ml1 := m1p1
# do something
return
end
method m2(m2p1)
# do something else
return
end
initially
L := [cp1]
end
Haskell
Haskell doesn't have objects in OOP sence (i.e. first-class sitizens appearing in runtime with incapsulated state and ability to send messages (methods) to other objects).
Haskell has first-class immutable records with fields of any type, representing abstraction and incapsulation (due to purity). Polymorphism is implemented via type-classes, which are similar to OOP interfaces.
Dummy example:
data Obj = Obj { field :: Int, method :: Int -> Int }
-- smart constructor
mkAdder :: Int -> Obj
mkAdder x = Obj x (+x)
-- adding method from a type class
instanse Show Obj where
show o = "Obj " ++ show (field o)
*Main> let o1 = Obj 1 (*5) *Main> field o1 1 *Main> method o1 6 30 *Main> show o1 Obj 1 *Main> let o2 = mkAdder 5 *Main> field o2 5 *Main> method o2 6 11 *Main> show o2 Obj 5
J
Note: In some languages "everything is an object". This is not the case in J. In J, non-trivial objects will contain arrays. This is a relatively deep issue, beyond the scope of this page, except that: method invocations are relatively rare, in J.
All method invocations must contain two underline characters in J:
Static:
methodName_className_ parameters
and, given an object instance reference:
objectReference=:'' conew 'className'
an instance invocation could be:
methodName__objectReference parameters
Note that J also supports infix notation when using methods. In this case, there will be a second parameter list, on the left of the method reference.
parameters methodName_className_ parameters
or
parameters methodName__objectReference parameters
These variations might be useful when building combining words that need to refer to two different kinds of things. But mostly it's to be consistent with the rest of the language.
Finally, note that static methods can be referred to using the same notation as instance methods -- in this case you must have a reference to the class name:
classReference=: <'className'
methodName__classReference parameters
This might be useful when you are working with a variety of classes which share a common structure.
You can also refer to a dynamic method in the same fashion that you use to refer to a instance method -- in this case you must know the object name (which is a number). For example, to refer to a method on object 123
methodName_123_ parameters
This last case can be useful when debugging.
Java
Static methods in Java are usually called by using the dot operator on a class name:
ClassWithStaticMethod.staticMethodName(argument1, argument2);//for methods with no arguments, use empty parentheses
Instance methods are called by using the dot operator on an instance:
ClassWithMethod varName = new ClassWithMethod();
varName.methodName(argument1, argument2);
//or
new ClassWithMethod().methodName(argument1, argument2);
Instance methods may not be called on references whose value is null
(throws a NullPointerException
).
Note: Static methods can also be called using the dot syntax on a reference to an instance, looking identical to an instance method call, but this is highly discouraged, and compilers usually complain about that (with a warning, not a failed compilation). The reason for this is that such a call is actually equivalent to a static method call on the static (compile-time) type of the reference in the source code. That means the runtime value of that reference is actually irrelevant, and the reference may be null
or be a reference to an instance of a subclass, the compiler will still make it a call to the static method based on the class of the value at compile-time (i.e. inheritance does not apply; the method call is not resolved at runtime).
This means that there is no benefit to making a static method call this way, because one can make the call based on the static type that is already known from looking at the code when it is written. Furthermore, such a call may lead to serious pitfalls, leading one to believe that changing the object that it is called on could change the behavior. For example, a common snippet to sleep the thread for 1 second is the following: Thread.currentThread().sleep(1000);
. However, since .sleep()
is actually a static method, the compiler replaces it with Thread.sleep(1000);
(since Thread.currentThread()
has a return type of Thread
). This makes it clear that the thread that is put to sleep is not under the user's control. However, written as Thread.currentThread().sleep(1000);
, it may lead one to falsely believe it to be possible to sleep another thread by doing someOtherThread.sleep(1000);
when in fact such a statement would also sleep the current thread.
JavaScript
If you have a object called x and a method called y then you can write:
x.y()
Julia
module Animal
abstract type Animal end abstract type Dog <: Animal end abstract type Cat <: Animal end struct Collie <: Dog name::String weight::Float64 end
struct Persian <: Cat name::String weight::Float64 end
# # This function is static: it works on any dog, even on a blank instance, in # the same way, to produce the same output for anything that isa Dog in type. # function soundalert(a::T) where T <: Dog println("Woof!") end
# # This function depends on the class instance's data for its value, so this type # of function is one way to do an instance method in Jula. # masskg(x) = x.weight
Kotlin
Kotlin does not have static methods, but they can be easily simulated by companion object
methods.
class MyClass {
fun instanceMethod(s: String) = println(s)
companion object {
fun staticMethod(s: String) = println(s)
}
}
fun main() {
val mc = MyClass()
mc.instanceMethod("Hello instance world!")
MyClass.staticMethod("Hello static world!")
}
- Output:
Hello instance world! Hello static world!
Latitude
In Latitude, everything is an object. Being prototype-oriented, Latitude does not distinguish between classes and instances. Calling a method on either a class or an instance is done by simple juxtaposition.
myObject someMethod (arg1, arg2, arg3).
MyClass someMethod (arg1, arg2, arg3).
The parentheses on the argument list may be omitted if there is at most one argument and the parse is unambiguous.
myObject someMethod "string constant argument".
myObject someMethod (argument). ;; Parentheses are necessary here
myObject someMethod. ;; No arguments
Finally, a colon may be used instead of parentheses, in which case the rest of the line is considered to be the argument list.
myObject someMethod: arg1, arg2, arg3.
LFE
LFE/Erlang doesn't have an object system. However, since LFE is a Lisp, one can do the same thing in LFE as one did in Lisps before CLOS: use closures to create and work with objects.
Not only that, but one may also use Erlang lightweight process to accomplish something very similar!
Examples for both approaches are given below.
With Closures
(defmodule aquarium
(export all))
(defun fish-class (species)
"
This is the constructor that will be used most often, only requiring that
one pass a 'species' string.
When the children are not defined, simply use an empty list.
"
(fish-class species ()))
(defun fish-class (species children)
"
This contructor is mostly useful as a way of abstracting out the id
generation from the larger constructor. Nothing else uses fish-class/2
besides fish-class/1, so it's not strictly necessary.
When the id isn't know, generate one.
"
(let* (((binary (id (size 128))) (: crypto rand_bytes 16))
(formatted-id (car
(: io_lib format
'"~32.16.0b" (list id)))))
(fish-class species children formatted-id)))
(defun fish-class (species children id)
"
This is the constructor used internally, once the children and fish id are
known.
"
(let ((move-verb '"swam"))
(lambda (method-name)
(case method-name
('id
(lambda (self) id))
('species
(lambda (self) species))
('children
(lambda (self) children))
('info
(lambda (self)
(: io format
'"id: ~p~nspecies: ~p~nchildren: ~p~n"
(list (get-id self)
(get-species self)
(get-children self)))))
('move
(lambda (self distance)
(: io format
'"The ~s ~s ~p feet!~n"
(list species move-verb distance))))
('reproduce
(lambda (self)
(let* ((child (fish-class species))
(child-id (get-id child))
(children-ids (: lists append
(list children (list child-id))))
(parent-id (get-id self))
(parent (fish-class species children-ids parent-id)))
(list parent child))))
('children-count
(lambda (self)
(: erlang length children)))))))
(defun get-method (object method-name)
"
This is a generic function, used to call into the given object (class
instance).
"
(funcall object method-name))
; define object methods
(defun get-id (object)
(funcall (get-method object 'id) object))
(defun get-species (object)
(funcall (get-method object 'species) object))
(defun get-info (object)
(funcall (get-method object 'info) object))
(defun move (object distance)
(funcall (get-method object 'move) object distance))
(defun reproduce (object)
(funcall (get-method object 'reproduce) object))
(defun get-children (object)
(funcall (get-method object 'children) object))
(defun get-children-count (object)
(funcall (get-method object 'children-count) object))
With this done, one can create objects and interact with them. Here is some usage from the LFE REPL:
; Load the file and create a fish-class instance:
> (slurp '"object.lfe")
#(ok object)
> (set mommy-fish (fish-class '"Carp"))
#Fun<lfe_eval.10.91765564>
; Execute some of the basic methods:
> (get-species mommy-fish)
"Carp"
> (move mommy-fish 17)
The Carp swam 17 feet!
ok
> (get-id mommy-fish)
"47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5"
; Now let's look at "modifying" state data (e.g., children counts):
> (get-children mommy-fish)
()
> (get-children-count mommy-fish)
0
> (set (mommy-fish baby-fish-1) (reproduce mommy-fish))
(#Fun<lfe_eval.10.91765564> #Fun<lfe_eval.10.91765564>)
> (get-id mommy-fish)
"47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5"
> (get-id baby-fish-1)
"fdcf35983bb496650e558a82e34c9935"
> (get-children-count mommy-fish)
1
> (set (mommy-fish baby-fish-2) (reproduce mommy-fish))
(#Fun<lfe_eval.10.91765564> #Fun<lfe_eval.10.91765564>)
> (get-id mommy-fish)
"47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5"
> (get-id baby-fish-2)
"3e64e5c20fb742dd88dac1032749c2fd"
> (get-children-count mommy-fish)
2
> (get-info mommy-fish)
id: "47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5"
species: "Carp"
children: ["fdcf35983bb496650e558a82e34c9935",
"3e64e5c20fb742dd88dac1032749c2fd"]
ok
With Lightweight Processes
(defmodule object
(export all))
(defun fish-class (species)
"
This is the constructor that will be used most often, only requiring that
one pass a 'species' string.
When the children are not defined, simply use an empty list.
"
(fish-class species ()))
(defun fish-class (species children)
"
This constructor is useful for two reasons:
1) as a way of abstracting out the id generation from the
larger constructor, and
2) spawning the 'object loop' code (fish-class/3).
"
(let* (((binary (id (size 128))) (: crypto rand_bytes 16))
(formatted-id (car
(: io_lib format
'"~32.16.0b" (list id)))))
(spawn 'object
'fish-class
(list species children formatted-id))))
(defun fish-class (species children id)
"
This function is intended to be spawned as a separate process which is
used to track the state of a fish. In particular, fish-class/2 spawns
this function (which acts as a loop, pattern matching for messages).
"
(let ((move-verb '"swam"))
(receive
((tuple caller 'move distance)
(! caller (list species move-verb distance))
(fish-class species children id))
((tuple caller 'species)
(! caller species)
(fish-class species children id))
((tuple caller 'children)
(! caller children)
(fish-class species children id))
((tuple caller 'children-count)
(! caller (length children))
(fish-class species children id))
((tuple caller 'id)
(! caller id)
(fish-class species children id))
((tuple caller 'info)
(! caller (list id species children))
(fish-class species children id))
((tuple caller 'reproduce)
(let* ((child (fish-class species))
(child-id (get-id child))
(children-ids (: lists append
(list children (list child-id)))))
(! caller child)
(fish-class species children-ids id))))))
(defun call-method (object method-name)
"
This is a generic function, used to call into the given object (class
instance).
"
(! object (tuple (self) method-name))
(receive
(data data)))
(defun call-method (object method-name arg)
"
Same as above, but with an additional argument.
"
(! object (tuple (self) method-name arg))
(receive
(data data)))
; define object methods
(defun get-id (object)
(call-method object 'id))
(defun get-species (object)
(call-method object 'species))
(defun get-info (object)
(let ((data (call-method object 'info)))
(: io format '"id: ~s~nspecies: ~s~nchildren: ~p~n" data)))
(defun move (object distance)
(let ((data (call-method object 'move distance)))
(: io format '"The ~s ~s ~p feet!~n" data)))
(defun reproduce (object)
(call-method object 'reproduce))
(defun get-children (object)
(call-method object 'children))
(defun get-children-count (object)
(call-method object 'children-count))
Here is some usage from the LFE REPL:
; Load the file and create a fish-class instance:
> (slurp '"object.lfe")
#(ok object)
> (set mommy-fish (fish-class '"Carp"))
<0.33.0>
; Execute some of the basic methods:
> (get-species mommy-fish)
"Carp"
> (move mommy-fish 17)
The Carp swam 17 feet!
ok
> (get-id mommy-fish)
"47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5"
; Now let's look at modifying state data:
> (get-children mommy-fish)
()
> (get-children-count mommy-fish)
0
> (set baby-fish-1 (reproduce mommy-fish))
<0.34.0>
> (get-id mommy-fish)
"47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5"
> (get-id baby-fish-1)
"fdcf35983bb496650e558a82e34c9935"
> (get-children-count mommy-fish)
1
> (set baby-fish-2 (reproduce mommy-fish))
<0.35.0>
> (get-id mommy-fish)
"47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5"
> (get-id baby-fish-2)
"3e64e5c20fb742dd88dac1032749c2fd"
> (get-children-count mommy-fish)
2
> (get-info mommy-fish)
id: 47eebe91a648f042fc3fb278df663de5
species: Carp
children: ["fdcf35983bb496650e558a82e34c9935",
"3e64e5c20fb742dd88dac1032749c2fd"]
ok
Lingo
-- call static method
script("MyClass").foo()
-- call instance method
obj = script("MyClass").new()
obj.foo()
Logtalk
In Logtalk, class or instance are roles that an object can play depending on the relations in other objects. Thus, a "class" can be defined by having an object specializing another object and an instance can be defined by having an object instantiating another object. Metaclasses are easily defined and thus a class method is just an instance method defined in the class metaclass.
% avoid infinite metaclass regression by
% making the metaclass an instance of itself
:- object(metaclass,
instantiates(metaclass)).
:- public(me/1).
me(Me) :-
self(Me).
:- end_object.
:- object(class,
instantiates(metaclass)).
:- public(my_class/1).
my_class(Class) :-
self(Self),
instantiates_class(Self, Class).
:- end_object.
:- object(instance,
instantiates(class)).
:- end_object.
Testing:
| ?- class::me(Me).
Me = class
yes
| ?- instance::my_class(Class).
Class = class
yes
Lua
Lua does not provide a specific OO implementation, but its metatable mechanism and sugar for method-like calls does make it easy to implement and use such as system, as evidenced by its multitude of class libraries in particular.
Instance methods, in their most basic form, are simply function calls where the calling object reference is duplicated and passed as the first argument. Lua offers some syntactical sugar to facilitate this, via the colon operator:
local object = { name = "foo", func = function (self) print(self.name) end }
object:func() -- with : sugar
object.func(object) -- without : sugar
Using metatables, and specifically the __index metamethod, it is possible to call a method stored in an entirely different table, while still passing the object used for the actual call:
local methods = { }
function methods:func () -- if a function is declared using :, it is given an implicit 'self' parameter
print(self.name)
end
local object = setmetatable({ name = "foo" }, { __index = methods })
object:func() -- with : sugar
methods.func(object) -- without : sugar
Lua does not have a specific way of handling static methods, but similarly to Go, they could simply be implemented as regular functions inside of a module.
Example module, named box.lua
:
local count = 0
local box = { }
local boxmt = { __index = box }
function box:tellSecret ()
return self.secret
end
local M = { }
function M.new ()
count = count + 1
return setmetatable({ secret = count, contents = count % 2 == 0 and "rabbit" or "rock" }, boxmt)
end
function M.count ()
return count
end
return M
Example use:
local box = require 'box'
local b = box.new()
print(b:tellSecret())
print(box.count())
M2000 Interpreter
In M2000 there are some kinds of objects. Group is an object. We can compose members to groups, with functions, operators, modules, events, and inner groups, among other members of type pointer to object. Another type is the COM type. Here we see the Group object
Module CheckIt {
\\ A class definition is a function which return a Group
\\ We can make groups and we can alter them using Group statement
\\ Groups may have other groups inside
Group Alfa {
Private:
myvalue=100
Public:
Group SetValue {
Set (x) {
Link parent myvalue to m
m<=x
}
}
Module MyMethod {
Read x
Print x*.myvalue
}
}
Alfa.MyMethod 5 '500
Alfa.MyMethod %x=200 ' 20000
\\ we can copy Alfa to Z
Z=Alfa
Z.MyMethod 5
Z.SetValue=300
Z.MyMethod 5 ' 1500
Alfa.MyMethod 5 ' 500
Dim A(10)
A(3)=Z
A(3).MyMethod 5 '1500
A(3).SetValue=200
A(3).MyMethod 5 '1000
\\ get a pointer of group in A(3)
k->A(3)
k=>SetValue=100
A(3).MyMethod 5 '500
\\ k get pointer to Alfa
k->Alfa
k=>SetValue=500
Alfa.MyMethod 5 '2500
k->Z
k=>MyMethod 5 ' 1500
Z.SetValue=100
k=>MyMethod 5 ' 500
}
Checkit
Maple
There is no real difference in how you call a static or instance method.
# Static
Method( obj, other, arg );
# Instance
Method( obj, other, arg );
MiniScript
MiniScript uses prototype-based inheritance, so the only difference between a static method and an instance method is in whether it uses the self
pseudo-keyword.
Dog = {}
Dog.name = ""
Dog.help = function()
print "This class represents dogs."
end function
Dog.speak = function()
print self.name + " says Woof!"
end function
fido = new Dog
fido.name = "Fido"
Dog.help // calling a "class method"
fido.speak // calling an "instance method"
- Output:
This class represents dogs. Fido says Woof!
Nanoquery
class MyClass
declare static id = 5
declare MyName
// constructor
def MyClass(MyName)
this.MyName = MyName
end
// class method
def getName()
return this.MyName
end
// static method
def static getID()
return id
end
end
// call the static method
println MyClass.getID()
// instantiate a new MyClass object with the name "test"
// and call the class method
myclass = new(MyClass, "test")
println myclass.getName()
- Output:
5 test
Nemerle
// Static
MyClass.Method(someParameter);
// Instance
myInstance.Method(someParameter);
NetRexx
Like Java, static methods in NetRexx are called by using the dot operator on a class name:
SomeClass.staticMethod()
Instance methods are called by using the dot operator on an instance:
objectInstance = SomeClass() -- create a new instance of the class
objectInstance.instanceMethod() -- call the instance method
SomeClass().instanceMethod() -- same as above; create a new instance of the class and call the instance method immediately
Nim
In Nim there are no object methods, but regular procedures can be called with method call syntax:
var x = @[1, 2, 3]
add(x, 4)
x.add(5)
OASYS Assembler
The OASYS runtime is strange; all classes share the same methods and properties, there are no static methods and properties, and there are no procedures/functions other than methods on objects. However, the initialization method can be called on a null object (no other method has this possibility).
The following code calls a method called &GO on the current object:
+&GO
Objeck
ClassName->some_function(); # call class function
instance->some_method(); # call instance method
Objeck uses the same syntax for instance and class method calls. In Objeck, functions are the equivalent of public static methods.
Object Pascal
Object Pascal as implemented in Delphi and Free Pascal supports both static (known in Pascal as class method) and instance methods. Free Pascal has two levels of static methods, one using the class keyword and one using both the class and the static keywords. A class method can be called in Pascal, while a static class method could be called even from C, that's the main difference.
// Static (known in Pascal as class method)
MyClass.method(someParameter);
// Instance
myInstance.method(someParameter);
Objective-C
In Objective-C, calling an instance method is sending a message to an instance, and calling a class method is sending a message to a class object. Class methods are inherited through inheritance of classes. All messages (whether sent to a normal object or class object) are resolved dynamically at runtime, hence there are no "static" methods (see also: Smalltalk).
// Class
[MyClass method:someParameter];
// or equivalently:
id foo = [MyClass class];
[foo method:someParameter];
// Instance
[myInstance method:someParameter];
// Method with multiple arguments
[myInstance methodWithRed:arg1 green:arg2 blue:arg3];
// Method with no arguments
[myInstance method];
OCaml
We can only call the method of an instantiated object:
my_obj#my_meth params
Oforth
When a method is called, the top of the stack is used as the object on which the method will be applyed :
1.2 sqrt
For class methods, the top of the stack must be a class (which is also an object of Class class) :
Date now
ooRexx
say "pi:" .circle~pi
c=.circle~new(1)
say "c~area:" c~area
Do r=2 To 10
c.r=.circle~new(r)
End
say .circle~instances('') 'circles were created'
::class circle
::method pi class -- a class method
return 3.14159265358979323
::method instances class -- another class method
expose in
use arg a
If datatype(in)<>'NUM' Then in=0
If a<>'' Then
in+=1
Return in
::method init
expose radius
use arg radius
self~class~instances('x')
::method area -- an instance method
expose radius
Say self~class
Say self
return self~class~pi * radius * radius
Output:
pi: 3.14159265358979323 The CIRCLE class a CIRCLE c~area: 3.14159265 10 circles were created
PascalABC.NET
type
Point = auto class // class with autogenerated constructor
x,y: real;
static function RandomPoint := new Point(Random(-10..10),Random(-10..10));
procedure Print;
begin
Writeln($'{x} {y}');
end;
end;
begin
var p := new Point(2,3);
p.Print; // instance method call
p := Point.RandomPoint; // static method call
p.Print;
end.
Perl
# Class method
MyClass->classMethod($someParameter);
# Equivalently using a class name
my $foo = 'MyClass';
$foo->classMethod($someParameter);
# Instance method
$myInstance->method($someParameter);
# Calling a method with no parameters
$myInstance->anotherMethod;
# Class and instance method calls are made behind the scenes by getting the function from
# the package and calling it on the class name or object reference explicitly
MyClass::classMethod('MyClass', $someParameter);
MyClass::method($myInstance, $someParameter);
Phix
Class methods are only "static" (not really a Phix term) if you don't override them.
Phix does not demand that all routines be inside classes; traditional standalone routines are "static" in every sense.
There is no way to call a class method without an instance, since "this" will typecheck even if not otherwise used.
without js -- (no class in p2js) class test string msg = "this is a test" procedure show() ?this.msg end procedure procedure inst() ?"this is dynamic" end procedure end class test t = new() t.show() -- prints "this is a test" t.inst() -- prints "this is dynamic" t.inst = t.show t.inst() -- prints "this is a test"
PHP
// Static method
MyClass::method($someParameter);
// In PHP 5.3+, static method can be called on a string of the class name
$foo = 'MyClass';
$foo::method($someParameter);
// Instance method
$myInstance->method($someParameter);
PicoLisp
Method invocation is syntactically equivalent to normal function calls. Method names have a trailing '>' by convention.
(foo> MyClass)
(foo> MyObject)
Pike
Pike does not have static methods. (the static
modifier in Pike is similar to protected
in C++).
regular methods can be called in these ways:
obj->method();
obj["method"]();
call_function(obj->method);
call_function(obj["method"]);
call_function()
is rarely used anymore.
because ()
is actually an operator that is applied to a function reference, the following is also possible:
function func = obj->method;
func();
as alternative to static function, modules are used. a module is essentially a static class. a function in a module can be called like this:
module.func();
module["func"]();
it should be noted that module.func
is resolved at compile time while module["func"]
is resolved at runtime.
PL/SQL
create or replace TYPE myClass AS OBJECT (
-- A class needs at least one member even though we don't use it
dummy NUMBER,
STATIC FUNCTION static_method RETURN VARCHAR2,
MEMBER FUNCTION instance_method RETURN VARCHAR2
);
/
CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE BODY myClass AS
STATIC FUNCTION static_method RETURN VARCHAR2 IS
BEGIN
RETURN 'Called myClass.static_method';
END static_method;
MEMBER FUNCTION instance_method RETURN VARCHAR2 IS
BEGIN
RETURN 'Called myClass.instance_method';
END instance_method;
END;
/
DECLARE
myInstance myClass;
BEGIN
myInstance := myClass(null);
DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line( myClass.static_method() );
DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line( myInstance.instance_method() );
END;/
PowerShell
$Date = Get-Date
$Date.AddDays( 1 )
[System.Math]::Sqrt( 2 )
Processing
// define a rudimentary class
class HelloWorld
{
public static void sayHello()
{
println("Hello, world!");
}
public void sayGoodbye()
{
println("Goodbye, cruel world!");
}
}
// call the class method
HelloWorld.sayHello();
// create an instance of the class
HelloWorld hello = new HelloWorld();
// and call the instance method
hello.sayGoodbye();
Python
class MyClass(object):
@classmethod
def myClassMethod(self, x):
pass
@staticmethod
def myStaticMethod(x):
pass
def myMethod(self, x):
return 42 + x
myInstance = MyClass()
# Instance method
myInstance.myMethod(someParameter)
# A method can also be retrieved as an attribute from the class, and then explicitly called on an instance:
MyClass.myMethod(myInstance, someParameter)
# Class or static methods
MyClass.myClassMethod(someParameter)
MyClass.myStaticMethod(someParameter)
# You can also call class or static methods on an instance, which will simply call it on the instance's class
myInstance.myClassMethod(someParameter)
myInstance.myStaticMethod(someParameter)
Quackery
Quackery is not an Object Oriented language. However it is possible to create a zen-like "distilled essence of object-orientation" in just a few lines of code.
Note that Quackery also does not have operator overloading (but see
Modular arithmetic#Quackery for an illustration of how this can be achieved) so there is limited inheritance of methods possible - here only the methods localise
and delocalise
are common to all object types.
(It would be possible to extend this technique to a more fully-fledged object oriented system. See Dick Pountain's slim volume "Object Oriented FORTH: Implementation of Data Structures" (pub. 1987) for an example of doing so in Forth; a language to which Quackery is related, but slightly less amenable to such shenanigans.)
( ---------------- zen object orientation -------------- )
[ immovable
]this[ swap do ]done[ ] is object ( --> )
[ ]'[ ] is method ( --> [ )
[ method
[ dup share
swap put ] ] is localise ( --> [ )
[ method [ release ] ] is delocalise ( --> [ )
( -------------- example: counter methods -------------- )
( to create a counter object, use:
"[ object 0 ] is 'name' ( [ --> )" )
[ method
[ 0 swap replace ] ] is reset-counter ( --> [ )
[ method
[ 1 swap tally ] ] is increment-counter ( --> [ )
[ method [ share ] ] is report-counter ( --> [ )
( -------------------- demonstration ------------------- )
say 'Creating counter object: "mycounter".' cr cr
[ object 0 ] is mycounter ( [ --> )
say "Initial value of mycounter: "
report-counter mycounter echo cr cr
say "Incrementing mycounter three times." cr
3 times [ increment-counter mycounter ]
say "Current value of mycounter: "
report-counter mycounter echo cr cr
say "Localising mycounter." cr cr
localise mycounter
say " Current value of mycounter: "
report-counter mycounter echo cr cr
say " Resetting mycounter." cr
reset-counter mycounter
say " Current value of mycounter: "
report-counter mycounter echo cr cr
say " Incrementing mycounter six times." cr
6 times [ increment-counter mycounter ]
say " Current value of mycounter: "
report-counter mycounter echo cr cr
say "Delocalising mycounter." cr cr
delocalise mycounter
say "Current value of mycounter: "
report-counter mycounter echo cr cr
say "Resetting mycounter." cr
reset-counter mycounter
say "Current value of mycounter: "
report-counter mycounter echo cr cr
- Output:
Creating counter object: "mycounter". Initial value of mycounter: 0 Incrementing mycounter three times. Current value of mycounter: 3 Localising mycounter. Current value of mycounter: 3 Resetting mycounter. Current value of mycounter: 0 Incrementing mycounter six times. Current value of mycounter: 6 Delocalising mycounter. Current value of mycounter: 3 Resetting mycounter. Current value of mycounter: 0
Racket
The following snippet shows a call to the start method of the timer% class.
#lang racket/gui
(define timer (new timer%))
(send timer start 100)
Raku
(formerly Perl 6)
Basic method calls
class Thing {
method regular-example() { say 'I haz a method' }
multi method multi-example() { say 'No arguments given' }
multi method multi-example(Str $foo) { say 'String given' }
multi method multi-example(Int $foo) { say 'Integer given' }
};
# 'new' is actually a method, not a special keyword:
my $thing = Thing.new;
# No arguments: parentheses are optional
$thing.regular-example;
$thing.regular-example();
$thing.multi-example;
$thing.multi-example();
# Arguments: parentheses or colon required
$thing.multi-example("This is a string");
$thing.multi-example: "This is a string";
$thing.multi-example(42);
$thing.multi-example: 42;
# Indirect (reverse order) method call syntax: colon required
my $foo = new Thing: ;
multi-example $thing: 42;
Meta-operators
The .
operator can be decorated with meta-operators.
my @array = <a z c d y>;
@array .= sort; # short for @array = @array.sort;
say @array».uc; # uppercase all the strings: A C D Y Z
Classless methods
A method that is not in a class can be called by using the &
sigil explicitly.
my $object = "a string"; # Everything is an object.
my method example-method {
return "This is { self }.";
}
say $object.&example-method; # Outputs "This is a string."
Ring
new point { print() }
Class Point
x = 10 y = 20 z = 30
func print see x + nl + y + nl + z + nl
o1 = new System.output.console
o1.print("Hello World")
Package System.Output
Class Console
Func Print cText
see cText + nl
Ruby
# Class method
MyClass.some_method(some_parameter)
# Class may be computed at runtime
foo = MyClass
foo.some_method(some_parameter)
# Instance method
my_instance.a_method(some_parameter)
# The parentheses are optional
my_instance.a_method some_parameter
# Calling a method with no parameters
my_instance.another_method
Rust
struct Foo;
impl Foo {
// implementation of an instance method for struct Foo
// returning the answer to life
fn get_the_answer_to_life(&self) -> i32 {
42
}
// implementation of a static method for struct Foo
// returning a new instance object
fn new() -> Foo {
println!("Hello, world!");
Foo // returning the new Foo object
}
}
fn main() {
// create the instance object foo,
// by calling the static method new of struct Foo
let foo = Foo::new();
// get the answer to life
// by calling the instance method of object foo
println!("The answer to life is {}.", foo.get_the_answer_to_life());
// Note that in Rust, methods still work on references to the object.
// Rust will automatically do the appropriate dereferencing to get the method to work:
let lots_of_references = &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&foo;
println!("The answer to life is still {}." lots_of_references.get_the_answer_to_life());
}
Scala
/* This class implicitly includes a constructor which accepts an Int and
* creates "val variable1: Int" with that value.
*/
class MyClass(val memberVal: Int) { // Acts like a getter, getter automatically generated.
var variable2 = "asdf" // Another instance variable; a public mutable this time
def this() = this(0) // An auxilliary constructor that instantiates with a default value
}
object HelloObject {
val s = "Hello" // Not private, so getter auto-generated
}
/** Demonstrate use of our example class.
*/
object Call_an_object_method extends App {
val s = "Hello"
val m = new MyClass
val n = new MyClass(3)
assert(HelloObject.s == "Hello") // "Hello" by object getterHelloObject
assert(m.memberVal == 0)
assert(n.memberVal == 3)
println("Successfully completed without error.")
}
Sidef
class MyClass {
method foo(arg) { say arg }
}
var arg = 42;
# Call a class method
MyClass.foo(arg);
# Alternatively, using an expression for the method name
MyClass.(:foo)(arg);
# Create an instance
var instance = MyClass();
# Instance method
instance.foo(arg);
# Alternatively, by using an expression for the method name
instance.(:foo)(arg);
# Alternatively, by asking for a method
instance.method(:foo)(arg);
Smalltalk
In Smalltalk, calling an instance method is sending a message to an instance, and calling a class method is sending a message to a class object. Class methods are inherited through inheritance of classes. All messages (whether sent to a normal object or class object) are resolved dynamically at runtime, hence strictly speaking, there are no "static" methods. Often in literature, Smalltalk's class messages are described as synonymous to static function calls. This is wrong, because class methods can be overwritten in subclasses just as any other message. Classes are first class objects, meaning that references to them can be passed as argument, stored in other objects or returned as the result of a message send. This makes some of the common design patterns which deal with creation of objects trivial or even superfluous. (see also: ObjectiveC)
" Class "
MyClass selector: someArgument .
" or equivalently "
foo := MyClass .
foo selector: someArgument.
" Instance "
myInstance selector: someArgument.
" Message with multiple arguments "
myInstance fooWithRed:arg1 green:arg2 blue:arg3 .
" Message with no arguments "
myInstance selector.
" Binary (operator) message"
myInstance + argument .
Example for dynamic class determination:
theCar := (someCondition ifTrue:[ Ford ] ifFalse: [ Jaguar ]) new.
Message names (selectors) can be chosen or constructed dynamically at runtime. For example:
whichMessage := #( #'red' #'green' #'blue') at: computedIndex.
foo perform: whichMessage
or:
theMessage := ('handleFileType' , suffix) asSymbol.
foo perform: theMessage.
This is often sometimes used as a dispatch mechanism (also, to implement state machines, for example).
Of course, especially with all that dynamics, a selector for an unimplemented message might be encountered. This raises a MessageNotUnderstood exception (runtime exception).
[
foo perform: theMessage
] on: MessageNotUnderstood do:[
Dialog information: 'sorry'
]
SuperCollider
In SuperCollider, classes are objects. To call a class or object method, a message is passed to the class or the object instance. In the implementation, class method names are prefixed with an asterix, all other methods are instance methods.
SomeClass {
*someClassMethod {
}
someInstanceMethod {
}
}
SomeClass.someClassMethod;
a = SomeClass.new;
a.someInstanceMethod;
Swift
In Swift, instance methods can be declared on structs, enums, and classes. "Type methods", which include static methods for structs and enums, and class methods for classes, can be called on the type. Class methods are inherited through inheritance of classes, and are resolved dynamically at runtime like instance methods. (see also: Smalltalk).
// Class
MyClass.method(someParameter)
// or equivalently:
let foo = MyClass.self
foo.method(someParameter)
// Instance
myInstance.method(someParameter)
// Method with multiple arguments
myInstance.method(red:arg1, green:arg2, blue:arg3)
Tcl
package require Tcl 8.6
# "Static" (on class object)
MyClass mthd someParameter
# Instance
$myInstance mthd someParameter
TXR
TXR Lisp method invocation syntax is obj.(method args...)
.
Static methods are just functions that don't take an object as an argument. The above notation, therefore, normally isn't used, rather the functional square brackets: [obj.function args...]
.
The defstruct
clause :method
is equivalent to :function
except that it requires at least one argument, the leftmost one denoting the object.
The obj.(method args...)
could be used to call a static function; it would pass obj
as the leftmost argument. Vice versa, the square bracket call notation can be used to invoke a method; the object has to be manually inserted: [obj.function obj args...]
.
(defvarl thing-count 0)
(defstruct thing ()
(call-count 0)
(:init (me)
(inc thing-count))
(:function get-thing-count () thing-count)
(:method get-call-count (me) (inc me.call-count)))
(let ((t1 (new thing))
(t2 (new thing)))
(prinl t1.(get-call-count)) ;; prints 1
(prinl t1.(get-call-count)) ;; prints 2
(prinl t1.(get-call-count)) ;; prints 3
(prinl t2.(get-call-count)) ;; prints 1
(prinl t2.(get-call-count)) ;; prints 2
(prinl t2.(get-call-count)) ;; prints 3
(prinl [t1.get-thing-count]) ;; prints 2
(prinl [t2.get-thing-count])) ;; prints 2
- Output:
1 2 3 1 2 3 2 2
Ursa
# create an instance of the built-in file class
decl file f
# call the file.open method
f.open "filename.txt"
VBA
First we have to create a class module named "myObject" :
Option Explicit
Sub Method_1(Optional myStr As String)
Dim strTemp As String
If myStr <> "" Then strTemp = myStr
Debug.Print strTemp
End Sub
Static Sub Method_2(Optional myStr As String)
Dim strTemp As String
If myStr <> "" Then strTemp = myStr
Debug.Print strTemp
End Sub
In a "standard" Module, the call should be :
Option Explicit
Sub test()
Dim Obj As New myObject
Obj.Method_1 "Hello to you"
Obj.Method_2 "What is your name ?"
Obj.Method_1
Obj.Method_2
End Sub
- Output:
Hello to you What is your name ? What is your name ?
V (Vlang)
Vlang uses objects without classes (sometimes known as class-free or classless):
1) Structs can have methods assigned to them or be embedded in other structs.
2) Vlang also uses modules. Functions and structs can be exported from a module, which works somewhat similar to the class method.
// Assigning methods to structs
struct HelloWorld {}
// Method's in Vlang are functions with special receiver arguments at the front (between fn and method name)
fn (sh HelloWorld) say_hello() {
println("Hello, world!")
}
fn (sb HelloWorld) say_bye() {
println("Goodbye, world!")
}
fn main() {
// instantiate object
hw := HelloWorld{}
// call methods of object
hw.say_hello()
hw.say_bye()
}
- Output:
Hello, world! Goodbye, world!
Exporting functions from modules:
Create a module:
// myfile.v
module mymodule
// Use "pub" to export a function
pub fn say_hi() {
println("hello from mymodule!")
}
Import and use the module's function in your code:
import mymodule
fn main() {
mymodule.say_hi()
}
- Output:
hello from mymodule!
Wren
Note that it's possible in Wren for instance and static methods in the same class to share the same name. This is because static methods are considered to belong to a separate meta-class.
class MyClass {
construct new() {}
method() { System.print("instance method called") }
static method() { System.print("static method called") }
}
var mc = MyClass.new()
mc.method()
MyClass.method()
- Output:
instance method called static method called
XBS
You can call object methods using two types of structures. Classes and Objects.
Classes
class MyClass {
construct=func(self,Props){
self:Props=Props;
}{Props={}}
GetProp=func(self,Name){
send self.Props[Name];
}
}
set Class = new MyClass with [{Name="MyClass Name"}];
log(Class::GetProp("Name"));
- Output:
MyClass Name
Objects
set MyObj = {
a=10;
AddA=func(self,x){
send self.a+x;
};
}
log(MyObj::AddA(2));
- Output:
12
XLISP
Class methods and instance methods are defined using DEFINE-CLASS-METHOD and DEFINE-METHOD respectively. They are called by sending a message to the class or to an instance of it: the message consists of (a) the name of the object that will receive it, which may be a class; (b) the name of the method, as a quoted symbol; and (c) the parameters if any.
(DEFINE-CLASS MY-CLASS)
(DEFINE-CLASS-METHOD (MY-CLASS 'DO-SOMETHING-WITH SOME-PARAMETER)
(DISPLAY "I am the class -- ")
(DISPLAY SELF)
(NEWLINE)
(DISPLAY "You sent me the parameter ")
(DISPLAY SOME-PARAMETER)
(NEWLINE))
(DEFINE-METHOD (MY-CLASS 'DO-SOMETHING-WITH SOME-PARAMETER)
(DISPLAY "I am an instance of the class -- ")
(DISPLAY SELF)
(NEWLINE)
(DISPLAY "You sent me the parameter ")
(DISPLAY SOME-PARAMETER)
(NEWLINE))
(MY-CLASS 'DO-SOMETHING-WITH 'FOO)
(DEFINE MY-INSTANCE (MY-CLASS 'NEW))
(MY-INSTANCE 'DO-SOMETHING-WITH 'BAR)
- Output:
I am the class -- #<Class:MY-CLASS #x38994c8> You sent me the parameter FOO I am an instance of the class -- #<Object:MY-CLASS #x39979d0> You sent me the parameter BAR
Zig
Zig does not have classes nor objects. Zig's structs, however, can have methods; but they are not special. They are only namespaced functions that can be called with dot syntax.
const testing = @import("std").testing;
pub const ID = struct {
name: []const u8,
age: u7,
const Self = @This();
pub fn init(name: []const u8, age: u7) Self {
return Self{
.name = name,
.age = age,
};
}
pub fn getAge(self: Self) u7 {
return self.age;
}
};
test "call an object method" {
// Declare an instance of a struct by using a struct method.
const person1 = ID.init("Alice", 18);
// Or by declaring it manually.
const person2 = ID{
.name = "Bob",
.age = 20,
};
// test getAge() method call
try testing.expectEqual(@as(u7, 18), person1.getAge());
try testing.expectEqual(@as(u7, 20), ID.getAge(person2));
}
zkl
In zkl, a class can be static (there will only exist one instance of the class). A function is always a member of some class but will only be static if it does not refer to instance data.
class C{var v; fcn f{v}}
C.f() // call function f in class C
C.v=5; c2:=C(); // create new instance of C
println(C.f()," ",c2.f()) //-->5 Void
C.f.isStatic //--> False
class [static] D{var v=123; fcn f{v}}
D.f(); D().f(); // both return 123
D.f.isStatic //-->False
class E{var v; fcn f{}} E.f.isStatic //-->True