instance methods - separate copies?

[Iris Rawleigh]

Clearly every instance of a class has its own copy of an instance variable. But when it comes to methods, does every instance actually have a separate copy of the code of a non-static method?

Thanks

[Henry Wong]

Iris Rawleigh wrote:Clearly every instance of a class has its own copy of an instance variable. But when it comes to methods, does every instance actually have a separate copy of the code of a non-static method?

Thanks

No. The main difference between an instance method and a static method is that an instance method gets a reference to the object that calls it (the "this" instance). The actual location of the methods are not stored with the instances.

Henry

[Iris Rawleigh]

Henry Wong wrote:
No. The main difference between an instance method and a static method is that an instance method gets a reference to the object that calls it (the "this" instance). The actual location of the methods are not stored with the instances.

Henry

Ah, ok that makes more sense. Are these references stored on the stack?

Iris

[Henry Wong]

Iris Rawleigh wrote:
Ah, ok that makes more sense. Are these references stored on the stack?

Iris

EDIT >>>> Sorry, mis-read you question.... Yes, the "this" reference is one of the parameters to the method, so yes, it is pushed onto the stack during the call.

Henry