Member variable

In object-oriented programming, a member variable (sometimes called a member field) is a variable that is associated with a specific object, and accessible for all its methods (member functions).

Types in class-based language

In class-based languages, these are distinguished into two types:

• If there is only one copy of the variable shared with all instances of the class, it is called a class variable or static member variable
• If each instance of the class has its own copy of the variable, the variable is called an instance variable.

See also

• Attribute (computing) - a specification that defines a property of an object, element, file, etc.
• Class (computer programming)
• Global variable
• Local variable
• Object-oriented programming

External links

• Member variable @ Wikipedia