OOP in Perl. Trying to undestand various things. 3

[garymgordon]

If anyone can help, I have a series of questions that I would like to request some clarification onvregarding OOP in Perl.

I'll spit them out one at a time to try and make it easier to answer and easier for me to try and understand.

STATEMENT: I am reading that OBJECTS are defined within modules. A module can be identified as defining an object by the inclusion of a constructor. A constructor is a special subroutine that defines a data type to maintain the attributes of a class and returns a reference to this variable.

QUESTION:

Are objects ONLY defined within modules? If not, where and how are they 'defined'?

Can you explain the above STATEMENT on a level that a beginner can understand it?

Thanks,
Gary


Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[tsdragon]

Gary, you sure are ambitious! You don't even know perl that well yet and already you're trying to understand object-oriented perl? I've been using perl for years and I still haven't gotten the object-oriented part down completely yet! Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[mbaranski]

Ditto!

is this not about the 3rd time this post has shown up???
Please don't cross-post or post twice.
Disclaimer:
Beware: Studies have shown that research causes cancer in lab rats.

 

[MikeLacey]

Mike,

The fact that Gary has asked the question more than once is probably more to with my inadequate answer on constructors than anything else. <wry smile>

How about this for a definition then:

A constructor:

A procedure or function, often called &quot;new&quot; that creates an object as defined by a module (package, in perl). It must be called before the objects defined by that package are used.

Anyone care to improve that with me?

tsd -- What about writing a &quot;The Care and Feeding of Objects for Beginners&quot; FAQ with me? Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com
Email welcome if you're in a hurry or something -- but post in tek-tips as well please, and I will post my reply here as well.

 

[garymgordon]

Mike,

Thanks.

I guess that I asked a question (either more than once or in a different way) not necessarily due to YOUR previous answer, but just because I needed a slightly more indepth answer - based on the my current level of understanding.

It wasn't you. But I do thank you for understanding that I am sincerely trying to understand this stuff.

So, THANK YOU.

Your current answer regarding CONSTRUCTOR ... was great.

Thanks again,
Gary

PS: If I seem to repeat myself (to some degree) ... please don't get upset with me. Sometimes, ... I think I understand something .. but then when I look even closer at it ... I still end up haveing questions. I hope you'll bear with me as I try to learn.

Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[mbaranski]

I'm not upset, but I monitor several foroums, (as do most of us) and I don't have all the time in the world, so it's easier on everyone if you stick with the most appropriate foroum.

Also, if I post in a thread, I read every follow up in that thread, as I assuem you all do, too) so you can just post things that need clarification in the same thread as the original

These aren't rules, just understandings that I think make things go more efficiently for everyone.

That being said, I'm glad to help, and ask away!!

MWB.
Disclaimer:
Beware: Studies have shown that research causes cancer in lab rats.

 

[garymgordon]

Thanks.

Again, sorry for my 'mis-use'.

I will try to keep things together.

Gary
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/