Difference between revisions of "Eiffel Glossary"
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[[Category: General]]
 
[[Category: General]]
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The world of Eiffel tends to adopt very special meanings to certain terms. Please add you own words and definitions. Please try to keep the list sorted alphabetically.
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Eiffel uses a precisely defined terminology. That terminology sometimes sounds strange to programmers used to other languages, but it's only because (1) there has been a systematic effort to classify object-oriented concepts in a logical way; (2) some of the terms predate terminology that is used in other languages. You will see, however, that behind every choice of term there is a carefully devised rationale.
  
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; Attribute : Name/type pair that will lead to a corresponding field in the instances of the class.
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Please try to keep the list sorted alphabetically.
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; Cluster : Group of classes that have something in common. Normally all these classes are stored in one directory.
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; Feature : Common term for routines and attributes that make up the class.
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; Attribute : A property of a class that denotes a field present in each instance of the class.
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; Library : Group of classes that are self-contained, but could also depend on other libraries.
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; Cluster : A group of logically related classes that have something in common. The corresponding class texts are generally stored in files of a single directory.
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; Routine : Piece of code that is associated with a class and may be executed on its instances.
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; Feature : An operation (command or query) applicable to all instances of the class, and specified in the class text. Routines and attributes are examples of fetures.
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; Library : A group of related classes, devised to cover all the facilities needed in a certain application areas. A library is made of a number of clusters.
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; Routine : In a class, a feature with an associated algorithm, so that calling the feature executes that algorithm.

Revision as of 06:53, 18 November 2006

Eiffel uses a precisely defined terminology. That terminology sometimes sounds strange to programmers used to other languages, but it's only because (1) there has been a systematic effort to classify object-oriented concepts in a logical way; (2) some of the terms predate terminology that is used in other languages. You will see, however, that behind every choice of term there is a carefully devised rationale.

Please try to keep the list sorted alphabetically.

Attribute 
A property of a class that denotes a field present in each instance of the class.
Cluster 
A group of logically related classes that have something in common. The corresponding class texts are generally stored in files of a single directory.
Feature 
An operation (command or query) applicable to all instances of the class, and specified in the class text. Routines and attributes are examples of fetures.
Library 
A group of related classes, devised to cover all the facilities needed in a certain application areas. A library is made of a number of clusters.
Routine 
In a class, a feature with an associated algorithm, so that calling the feature executes that algorithm.
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