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From: Simon Kinahan <simonk>
Subject: Re: Types, types: static vs. dynamic -- classification
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David N. Smith <dnsmith@watson.ibm.com> wrote:

>>In which case C++ polymorphism is dynamnic, and the only language
>>with static polymorphism is Standard ML. Is this what you intended ?
>>I have never hear of static and dynamic polymorphism before, I have
>>heard of static and dynamic typing, but that is different.
>
>Me either! That's why I posted these definitions. I hoped for some
>discussion or confirmation from someone who DID know what the terms
>mean. BTW, ignoring virtual functions, I thought C++ was entirely
>static though??  How is it dynamic?

Resolves polmorphic function applications (that is, the use of virtual
functions) at run-time. This is it's sole dynamic feature. It is also
one of two kinds of polymorphism that it implements, the other being
operator overloading, which IMHO is not worth the bother, therfore
I said C++ polymorphism is dynamic, and static polymorphism is very
rare (C++ operator overloading, and standard ML being the only examples
I know of). I think your definitions were quite good, but it is important
to note that typing and polymorphism are different.

Simon.
-- 
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