Basic Terminology
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Chapter 15 Classes and objects
15.8 Glossary
class:
A programmer-defined type. A class definition creates a new class object.
class object:
An object that contains information about a programmer-defined type. The class object can be used to create instances of the type.
instance:
An object that belongs to a class.
instantiate:
To create a new object.
attribute:
One of the named values associated with an object.
embedded object:
An object that is stored as an attribute of another object.
shallow copy:
To copy the contents of an object, including any references to embedded objects; implemented by the copy function in the copy module.
deep copy:
To copy the contents of an object as well as any embedded objects, and any objects embedded in them, and so on; implemented by the deepcopy function in the copy module.
object diagram:
A diagram that shows objects, their attributes, and the values of the attributes.