Generic Programming
Appendices

Appendix A: Glossary

Last updated 23 March 1998


Algorithm
A precise procedure for performing a calculation -- computing a function or performing an action -- relative to a set of concepts. It is written in terms of some fundamental algorithmic language, together with the set of operations provided by the concepts that are part of its interface, which terminates for all valid inputs.

Allocator
A concept which describes memory, via affiliated pointer and reference types, their affiliated size and difference types, and operations for allocating and freeing memory.

Concept
An interface between algorithms and types, describing a base type, affiliated types, operations on the types, and properties of the types and operations.

Container
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Data Structure
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Function
The programming language interface to an algorithm, specifying parameter and result concepts (generic) or types (concrete).

Function Object
A component object (or its type) which combines the code of a function with state used by the function and persisting between calls.

Iterator
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Object
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Ordering
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Part
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Predicate
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Regular Type
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Relation
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Tuple
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Type
An interpretation of a set of values, comprising their representation in memory and the set of operations defined on them.

Type Association
A function mapping types to related types, e.g. from a pointer type to the type to which it points.


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