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Software Engineering vocabulary · Programming Concepts

Method

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/ˈmeθəd/nounCore term

In software engineering, method means: A function that belongs to a class or object and usually works with that object's data, for example user.save() or list.sort().

In Turkish: metot, yöntem

How it is used

You call a method on an object: 'call the save method on the user'. You also hear 'static method', 'private method' and 'helper method'. In casual talk, many people use 'method' and 'function' as if they meant the same thing.

Example sentences

  1. Move this logic into a private method so the controller stays short.

  2. The getTotal method returns the wrong value when the cart is empty.

Common collocations

  • call a method
  • static method
  • private method
  • helper method
  • override a method
  • functionA named block of code that does one job. It can take input values, and it often returns a result to the code that called it.
  • classIn object-oriented programming, a template that defines the data and behavior of a type of object, such as a User or an Invoice.
  • objectA unit in a program that groups related data and the functions that work on it, for example a user object with a name, an email and a login method.
  • parameterA named input that a function or method accepts, listed in its definition. The actual value you pass in when you call it is called the argument.

More terms: Programming Concepts

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