View source for Field (computer science)

In [[computer science]], data that has several parts, known as a [[Record (computer science)|record]], can be divided into '''fields'''.

== Relational databases ==

[[Relational database|Relational databases]] arrange data as sets of database records, also called rows. 

Each record consists of several fields; the fields of all records form the columns. Examples of fields: name, gender, hair color.

== Object-oriented programming ==

In [[object-oriented programming]], field (also called data member or [[member variable]]) is the data [[Information hiding|encapsulated]] within a class or object.

In the case of a regular field (also called instance variable), for each instance of the object there is an instance variable: for example, an Employee class has a Name field and there is one distinct name per employee.

A static field (also called class variable) is one variable, which is shared by all instances.

Fields are abstracted by properties, which allow them to be read and written as if they were fields, but these can be translated to getter and setter method calls.

== See also ==

* [[Class variable]]
* [[Data hierarchy]]
* [[Instance variable]]
* [[Member variable]]
* [[Mutator method]]
* [[Record (computer science)]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_(computer_science) Field (computer science)] @ Wikipedia



[[Category:Computer science]]