Terminology - Reflection

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  • DesCF
    #1

    Terminology - Reflection


    What exactly is Reflection ? I've looked at the definition in Help but I
    don't find it very helpful! I just stare at it blankly and can't quite
    seem to grasp its meaning conceptually. Reflection implies something
    reflected. Does anyone have a good cogent description of its meaning ?





    Des



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    Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
    Tags: None
    • Lloyd Sheen
      #2
      Re: Terminology - Reflection


      "DesCF" <descf@aol.comw rote in message news:op.twbk16f bupgxg0@descsta r...
      >
      What exactly is Reflection ? I've looked at the definition in Help but I
      don't find it very helpful! I just stare at it blankly and can't quite
      seem to grasp its meaning conceptually. Reflection implies something
      reflected. Does anyone have a good cogent description of its meaning ?
      >
      You are on the right track. Reflection is a set of classes that allow you
      to examine the details of those classes. You can obtain all the information
      about properties, methods etc. There are also methods which allow you to
      create an object using reflection and call the methods of the object without
      having compiled code to access the object (actually there is compiled code
      but that code is the reflection code not the object code).

      It can be used to dynamically load assemblies for things like application
      plug-ins.

      To illustrate what reflection can do, I created a navigator control which
      shows the contents of a SQL Server. It uses the classes from SMO and
      reflection. There is only one entry which is required for SMO to work and
      that is a connection. After that I use reflection to enumerate the
      properties such that I can determine collections etc.

      Hope this helps
      Lloyd Sheen

        Comment

        • tommaso.gastaldi@uniroma1.it
          #3
          Re: Terminology - Reflection

          On 31 Lug, 10:11, DesCF <de...@aol.comw rote:
          What exactly is Reflection ? I've looked at the definition in Help but I
          don't find it very helpful! I just stare at it blankly and can't quite
          seem to grasp its meaning conceptually. Reflection implies something
          reflected. Does anyone have a good cogent description of its meaning ?
          >
          Des
          >
          --
          Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client:http://www.opera.com/mail/
          I think this can be understood well, just like all the programming
          concepts, only by practice,
          especially on some meaningful project.

          I could tell you I could not live without reflection ! :-)))

          Anyway, to start with here is an excercise which will make you
          understand it better.


          Homework :-)
          ===========

          Take o write a program where you have a serializable class with a
          some
          <non serializedfield s and some "reference" type fields (not only
          value type fields).

          Create a dialog form to allow an user editing the field and the
          properties of an instance of this class
          with a "CANCEL" feature. In other words, if the user "cancels" the
          dialog, the object must be
          "restored" completely and perfectly to its original state [careful
          with non serialized reference values].

          Post here your solution for discussion and grade :-))

          Tommaso






            Comment

            • Armin Zingler
              #4
              Re: Terminology - Reflection

              "DesCF" <descf@aol.coms chrieb
              >
              What exactly is Reflection ? I've looked at the definition in Help
              but I don't find it very helpful! I just stare at it blankly and
              can't quite seem to grasp its meaning conceptually. Reflection
              implies something reflected. Does anyone have a good cogent
              description of its meaning ?

              Reflection means that the code can reflect about itself. Code can examine
              and get information about itself. This is possible by additionally having
              meta data in the assemblies that describes the code
              (classes/types/methods/parameters...).


              Armin

                Comment

                • DesCF
                  #5
                  Re: Terminology - Reflection

                  This is the conceptually most intesting reply. It suggests that the
                  correct understanding of the term Reflection is not 'reflection in a
                  mirror' but reflection upon something (ones life for example) ?



                  On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:54:59 +0100, Armin Zingler <az.nospam@free net.de>
                  wrote:
                  "DesCF" <descf@aol.coms chrieb
                  >>
                  >What exactly is Reflection ? I've looked at the definition in Help
                  >but I don't find it very helpful! I just stare at it blankly and
                  >can't quite seem to grasp its meaning conceptually. Reflection
                  >implies something reflected. Does anyone have a good cogent
                  >description of its meaning ?
                  >
                  >
                  Reflection means that the code can reflect about itself. Code can
                  examine and get information about itself. This is possible by
                  additionally having meta data in the assemblies that describes the code
                  (classes/types/methods/parameters...).
                  >
                  >
                  Armin


                  --
                  Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

                    Comment

                    • Armin Zingler
                      #6
                      Re: Terminology - Reflection

                      "DesCF" <descf@aol.coms chrieb
                      This is the conceptually most intesting reply. It suggests that the
                      correct understanding of the term Reflection is not 'reflection in a
                      mirror' but reflection upon something (ones life for example) ?

                      Hmmm...
                      Isn't a mirror a mean to reflect yourself reflecting your own life. :-)


                      Armin

                        Comment

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