View source for method (computer science)

A ''method'' (or a ''member function'') in [[object-oriented programming]] (OOP) is a [[subroutine]] associated with an [[instance of a class|object]] of a [[class (computer science)|class]] that forms its interface through which the outside members of the class (other objects) can access its private members (mainly the encapsulated [[member variable|data]]). Methods define the behaviour of objects at program run time. Methods can be defined both inside and outside a class. When defined inside they are automatically [[Inline function|inline]] and are bound to the class at compile time (''[[compile time|static binding]]'') otherwise they are bound at runtime (''[[Dynamic dispatch|dynamic binding]]'').