Question

Fill-in-the-Blank __________ binding is when the compiler binds member function calls at compile time.

Short answer

Answer: Static binding

Step-by-step solution

Understand terms and concepts

To solve this question, understanding the following terms is necessary: - Compiler: A compiler is a software program that transforms the source code of high-level programming languages into low-level machine code. - Binding: Binding is the process of associating a function name with its actual implementation in code. - Member function call: Member functions are functions that are declared within a class and use an object to call it.

Learn about the different types of binding

There are two main types of binding: 1. Static binding (also known as Early binding or Compile-time binding) 2. Dynamic binding (also known as Late binding or Run-time binding) Static binding occurs when the compiler binds member function calls during compilation. In static binding, function or method calls are resolved at compile time, which means the compiler determines the memory address of the function or method during compilation. Dynamic binding occurs when the compiler binds member function calls during execution. In dynamic binding, function or method calls are resolved at runtime, which means the compiler determines the memory address of the function or method during program execution.

Identify the type of binding

Given that the exercise states that the compiler binds member function calls at compile time, we can identify the type of binding as Static Binding.

Answer

Static binding is when the compiler binds member function calls at compile time.

Key concepts

Compiler

Imagine the compiler as a translator, whose job is to convert your written code into a language that computers understand—binary code. When you write a program in a high-level programming language like Java or C++, it's full of words and syntax that are easy for humans to read but meaningless to a computer. The compiler analyses your code, optimizes it, and then translates it into machine code during a process known as compilation. This is where your programming ideas come to life and become executable programs that a computer can run.

Here's a simple way to look at it: A compiler is like a chef turning a recipe into a dish. The recipe (your source code) has all the steps and ingredients listed, and the chef (the compiler) has to mix everything together properly to create a tasty dish (the executable program).

Binding

In programming, binding refers to the linking of a function call to the actual code that executes it. Think of it as matching a name in your contact list to the corresponding phone number. When your code calls a function, there's a process behind the scenes that finds the right 'phone number' (memory address) for that function. This process is crucial because it's how your code knows what actions to perform when a function is called.

For example, if you have a function called calculateSum, binding is the process that makes sure the correct instructions to sum numbers are carried out whenever calculateSum is called in your code. It's like telling your assistant to do a task—they need to know exactly what to do and how to do it. Without binding, your code would be a list of task names with no actual tasks associated with them.

Member Function Call

A member function call is when your code tells an object to do something, like telling your digital assistant to schedule an appointment. In object-oriented programming (OOP), objects are the center of action, and member functions (also known as methods) are the actions they can perform. When you create a class, you're defining what an object will be able to do through these member functions.

Let's say you have a class named Robot with a member function called startCleaning. Whenever you tell a Robot object to startCleaning, that's a member function call. The program will look for the instructions that define startCleaning within the Robot class and execute them.

Compile-time Binding

Imagine you're writing a script for a play, and you specifically assign lines to each actor before the play begins. Compile-time binding, also known as static binding, works in a similar way; it assigns functions to their respective calls before the program runs (during compilation). This means the compiler looks through your code and wherever it sees a function call, it immediately decides which instructions to run.

Why Compile-time Binding?

Using compile-time binding can make your program run faster because all the decisions about which code to run are made before your program even starts—kind of like having all your actors ready to go as soon as the curtains open. This type of binding is the go-to for functions that are unlikely to change or for calls that can be resolved early, like overloaded functions and operators in C++.

Dynamic Binding

Now, imagine an improv theater, where actors decide what to say and do in response to the audience—dynamic binding gives your code that same ability to adapt. It happens at runtime, which means that the decisions about which function to execute are made while the program is running, not before.

Why Dynamic Binding?

Dynamic binding comes into play when you're dealing with polymorphism in OOP. This is where an object can take many forms, and you might not know which specific form it will take until the program is actually running. For example, if you have a base class Shape with a function draw(), and subclasses Circle, Square, etc. that override draw(), dynamic binding allows a Shape pointer to call the appropriate draw() method whether it points to a Circle or a Square at runtime. It's like the script adjusting to the actors, rather than the actors to the script.