8.3 Using Language-Level Keywords to Implement Class-Versus Object-Specific Data and Behavior

In some multiparadigm languages such as C++, the implementation is to throw the class- and object-specific data and behavior in one bundle, namely, the class definition. There is no notion of a metaclass. The class-specific data and behavior are distinguished from the object-specific data and behavior via a language keyword. In the case of C++, the keyword is Static . This implementation does not offer the same lexical separation that is apparent in the metaclass solution, yet it serves the necessary purpose of implementing class-specific data and behavior (see Figure 8.2).

Figure 8.2. The Invoice class and metaclass implemented with keyword.