Sink (computing)
Encyclopedia
In computing
, a sink or event sink is a class
or function designed to receive incoming events from another object
or function. This is commonly implemented in C++
as callbacks
. Object-oriented languages, such as Java
and C#, have built-in support for sinks by allowing events to be fired to delegate functions.
It can also be considered the end-point or output point. For example, a buffer stream would often have a source (where you put the data into) and a sink (where the data gets written out to). Another way of thinking about it could be like a black hole - the source is where everything gets sucked in and the sink is where it all gets spit out at the other end. You will often see this in C++ and hardware related programming.
The word sink has been used for both input and output in the industry.
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, a sink or event sink is a class
Class (computer science)
In object-oriented programming, a class is a construct that is used as a blueprint to create instances of itself – referred to as class instances, class objects, instance objects or simply objects. A class defines constituent members which enable these class instances to have state and behavior...
or function designed to receive incoming events from another object
Object (computer science)
In computer science, an object is any entity that can be manipulated by the commands of a programming language, such as a value, variable, function, or data structure...
or function. This is commonly implemented in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
as callbacks
Callback (computer science)
In computer programming, a callback is a reference to executable code, or a piece of executable code, that is passed as an argument to other code. This allows a lower-level software layer to call a subroutine defined in a higher-level layer....
. Object-oriented languages, such as Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
and C#, have built-in support for sinks by allowing events to be fired to delegate functions.
It can also be considered the end-point or output point. For example, a buffer stream would often have a source (where you put the data into) and a sink (where the data gets written out to). Another way of thinking about it could be like a black hole - the source is where everything gets sucked in and the sink is where it all gets spit out at the other end. You will often see this in C++ and hardware related programming.
The word sink has been used for both input and output in the industry.