binding time

binding time

(1) In program compilation, the point in time when symbolic references to data are converted into physical machine addresses. See bind.

(2) When a variable is assigned its type (integer, string, etc.) in a programming language. Traditional compilers and assemblers provide early binding and assign types at compilation. Object-oriented languages provide late binding and assign types at runtime when the variable receives a value from the keyboard or other source.

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binding time [′bīn·diŋ ‚tīm]

(computer science)

The instant when a symbolic expression in a computer program is reduced to a form which is directly interpretable by the hardware.

The instant when a variable is assigned its data type, such as integer or string.