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objects.md

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title: "Objects" image: "images/objects-page.png" description: "In object oriented programming, the object is one of the most basic elements of a computer program. It can represent a thing, an idea or a place, a number or a collection of other things or anything else." keywords:

  • objects
  • object reference
  • nothing
  • null
  • multiplicity
  • circles
  • circular
  • circular language
  • shapes
  • boxes and arrows
  • code visualization
  • visualization
  • visual programming
  • visual programming language
  • VPL
  • diagrammatic programming language
  • diagram notation
  • diagrams
  • code map
  • object oriented programming
  • OO
  • OOP
  • programming
  • coding
  • computer programming
  • programming language
  • software engineering
  • software development
  • software design
  • software architecture
  • layered architecture
  • software
  • computers

Objects

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Contents

Introduction

In object oriented programming, the object is one of the most basic elements of a computer program. An object can represent a thing, an idea or a place, a number or a collection of other things or anything else.

In Circular an object is represented by a circle:

Sub-Objects

One thing can be composed of other things. For that, an object may contain a number of sub-objects. This is drawn out as circles inside other circles:

Object Reference

A sub-object can point to another object, residing elsewhere in the system. It is considered a link, redirecting to another object:

The sub-object A has a line, making it a reference. It connects outward of toward object B.

Reference to Parent

This is an edge-case in object relationships: a child referencing a parent:

The picture shows a child B. It has an object reference in it. It points to the parent A.

It might look a bit unusual compared to the object reference notation introduced earlier, so it seemed to deserve some separate attention here.

Nothing

Sometimes nothing is filled in yet for a related object. To display that in a diagram, a cross is placed inside a shape:

Multiplicity

Multiplicity means the distinction between single and multiple. A related object can be a single object, but sometimes it is part of a list.

The concept of single is primarily displayed as a circle:

But for a list, a spikey nonagon can be used:

List items are then placed inside the nonagon:

A list can be given a name, while its individual items may remain nameless:

Conclusion

So far this description, of different situations of programming with objects, and how they might look in a Circular diagram.

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