Glossary

Terms shown in italics indicate glossary items, as well as buttons, file names, and conventions.

access

The degree of privilege to a member of a class: public, private, or protected.

base class

Parent of a class.

class extension

Adding base classes to a class.

data

In C++, data member of a class. A variable that contains state information for a class. A field of a class that is not a method.

database

Compiler-generated static analysis set of data built from a fileset in the static analyzer.

delta-compatible changes

Modifications to a class that may be made without requiring recompilation of any client code.

dynamic classes

Classes whose layout and location are determined at link time.

instantiate

In C++, to declare an object of type classname. The result is an instance or an object.

internal dynamic class

A class that is dynamic because it inherits or contains a dynamic class.

mangle

Encoding a function name to support overloading.

member function

C++ function that is a member of a class or structure data type. Also known as a method.

members

Either or both data and methods belonging to a class (class members).

member extension

Adding member functions and variables to a class.

member promotion

Promoting a member to a non-virtual base class.

member reordering

Reordering members within a class.

method

C++ function that is a member of a class or structure data type. Also known as a member function.

override changing

Adding members that override those provided by base classes (whether or not the classes are virtual).

private

In C++, access to the class member is restricted to the class in which it is defined, friend classes, or friend functions.

protected

In C++, access to the class member is restricted to the class (and all derived classes) in which it is defined, friend classes, and friend functions.

public

In C++, access is open to any method or function.

Smart Build

An option to the compiler where only those files that must be recompiled are recompiled.

specialization

In template instantiation, defining a specific version of a function or static data member.

templates

A description of a class or function that is a model for a family of related classes or functions.