class

1. programming The prototype for an object in an

object-oriented language; analogous to a derived type in a

procedural language. A class may also be considered to be a

set of objects which share a common structure and behaviour.

The structure of a class is determined by the classvariables which represent the state of an object of that

class and the behaviour is given by a set of methods

associated with the class.

Classes are related in a class hierarchy. One class may be

a specialisation (a "subclass") of another (one of its

"superclasses") or it may be composed of other classes or it

may use other classes in a client-server relationship. A

class may be an abstract class or a concrete class.

See also signature.

2. programming See type class.

3. networking One of three types of Internet addresses

distinguished by their most significant bits.

3. language A language developed by the Andrew Project.

It was one of the first attempts to add object-oriented

features to C.

(1995-05-01)