polymorphic iteration

English

Noun

polymorphic iteration (countable and uncountable, plural polymorphic iterations)

1. (computing, programming) The use of an iterator class or interface to enable traversal over the members of any type of collection for which there is a corresponding descendant of that iterator by code which need not know the type of the collection.
   • 2004, Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Robson, Bert Bates, Head First Design Patterns: A Brain-Friendly Guide, page 347:

     When we write methods that take iterators as parameters, we are using polymorphic iteration.

   • 2007, Sandra Alves, Maribel Fernández, Mário Florido, Ian Mackie, “Linear Recursive Functions”, in Hubert Comon-Lundh, Claude Kirchner, Hélène Kirchner, editor, Rewriting, Computation and Proof, page 184:

     The results described here provide the foundations for a series of results, including the definition of a linear version of Gödel's system Τ with a decidable typing system for polymorphic iteration.

   • 2011, Amnon H. Eden, Codecharts: Roadmaps and blueprints for object-oriented programs, page 145:

     Use the Iterator pattern to provide a uniform interface for traversing different aggregate structures (that is, to support polymorphic iteration).