Association (object-oriented programming)

In Object-oriented programming, Association defines a relationship between classes of objects which allows one object instance to cause another to perform an action on its behalf.

In generic terms the causation is usually called sending a message , invoking a method or calling a member function to the controlled object. Concrete implementation usually requires the requesting object to invoke a method or member function using a reference or pointer to the memory location of the controlled object.

The objects that are related via the association are considered to act in a role (object-oriented programming) with respect to the association, if object s current state in the active situation allows the other associated objects to use the object in the manner specified by the role. A role describes the public aspects of an object with respect to an association.

=See also=

*Aggregation (object-oriented programming) *Inheritance (object-oriented programming) *File association