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Method call: meaning, definitions and examples

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method call

[ ˈmeθəd kɔːl ]

Noun / Verb

^{Context #1 | Noun}

programming

A method call is an operation in object-oriented programming that invokes a function associated with a particular object. It allows the object to perform certain actions or calculations.

Synonyms

function call, procedure call.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
method call	Used in object-oriented programming to refer to the invocation of a method belonging to an object. Commonly seen in languages like Java, C++, and Python. In Java, you can make a method call using the dot operator: object.methodName(). The method call in Python looks like this: object.method_name().
function call	Used broadly in many programming languages to refer to the invocation of a function, which is a block of code designed to perform a specific task. In C, a function call might look like this: result = addNumbers(5, 10); In JavaScript, you call a function like this: myFunction(param1, param2);
procedure call	Often used in the context of procedural programming languages like Pascal or SQL to refer to the invocation of a procedure, which is similar to a function but may not return a value. In Pascal, you would call a procedure like this: CalculateTotal; In SQL, a procedure call might look like this: EXEC CalculateRevenue;

Word

Description / Examples

method call

Used in object-oriented programming to refer to the invocation of a method belonging to an object. Commonly seen in languages like Java, C++, and Python.

In Java, you can make a method call using the dot operator: object.methodName().
The method call in Python looks like this: object.method_name().

function call

Used broadly in many programming languages to refer to the invocation of a function, which is a block of code designed to perform a specific task.

In C, a function call might look like this: result = addNumbers(5, 10);
In JavaScript, you call a function like this: myFunction(param1, param2);

procedure call

Often used in the context of procedural programming languages like Pascal or SQL to refer to the invocation of a procedure, which is similar to a function but may not return a value.

In Pascal, you would call a procedure like this: CalculateTotal;
In SQL, a procedure call might look like this: EXEC CalculateRevenue;

Examples of usage

An example of a method call is obj.method() in Python.
The method call triggers the execution of the code inside the method.
Method calls are essential for encapsulation and modularity in object-oriented programming.

^{Context #2 | Noun}