<object-oriented> In {object-oriented programming}, an
	instance of the data structure and behaviour defined by the
	object's {class}.  Each object has its own values for the
	{instance variables} of its class and can respond to the
	{methods} defined by its class.

	For example, an object of the "Point" class might have
	instance variables "x" and "y" and might respond to the "plot"
	method by drawing a dot on the screen at those coordinates.

	(2004-01-26)

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 {class
	variables} 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)

1. <programming> A collection of identically typed data items
	distinguished by their indices (or "subscripts").  The number
	of dimensions an array can have depends on the language but is
	usually unlimited.

	An array is a kind of {aggregate} data type.  A single
	ordinary variable (a "{scalar}") could be considered as a
	zero-dimensional array.  A one-dimensional array is also known
	as a "{vector}".

	A reference to an array element is written something like
	A[i,j,k] where A is the array name and i, j and k are the
	indices.  The {C} language is peculiar in that each index is
	written in separate brackets, e.g. A[i][j][k].  This expresses
	the fact that, in C, an N-dimensional array is actually a
	vector, each of whose elements is an N-1 dimensional array.

	Elements of an array are usually stored contiguously.
	Languages differ as to whether the leftmost or rightmost index
	varies most rapidly, i.e. whether each row is stored
	contiguously or each column (for a 2D array).

	Arrays are appropriate for storing data which must be accessed
	in an unpredictable order, in contrast to {lists} which are
	best when accessed sequentially.

	See also {associative array}.

	2. <architecture> A {processor array}, not to be confused with
	an {array processor}.

	(1995-01-25)

<artificial intelligence, information science> The objects,
	concepts and relationships that are assumed to exist in some
	area of interest.  A collection of {knowledge}, represented
	using some {knowledge representation} language is known as a
	{knowledge base} and a program for extending and/or querying a
	knowledge base is a {knowledge-based system}.

	Knowledge differs from {data} or {information} in that new
	knowledge may be created from existing knowledge using logical
	{inference}.  If information is data plus meaning then
	knowledge is information plus processing.

	A common form of knowledge, e.g. in a {Prolog} program, is a
	collection of {facts} and {rules} about some subject.

	For example, a {knowledge base} about a family might contain
	the facts that John is David's son and Tom is John's son and
	the rule that the son of someone's son is their grandson.
	From this knowledge it could infer the new fact that Tom is
	David's grandson.

	See also {Knowledge Level}.

	(1994-10-19)

In {object-oriented programming} sending a message to an
	{object} (to invoke a {method}) is equivalent to calling a
	{procedure} in traditional programming languages, except that
	the actual code executed may only be selected at run time
	depending on the {class} of the object.  Thus, in response to
	the message "drawSelf", the method code invoked would be
	different if the target object were a circle or a square.

	(1995-02-16)