A function that belongs to and operates on a specific class or object, defining what actions that object can perform. Methods encapsulate behavior and provide a way for objects to interact with their own data and other objects.
From Greek 'methodos' meaning 'way of proceeding' or systematic approach. Scientific method described systematic procedures. Object-oriented programming adopted the term in the 1960s to distinguish functions that belong to objects from standalone functions, emphasizing the systematic way objects perform actions.
Methods are like the verbs that objects can perform - a 'car' object doesn't just sit there, it can start(), accelerate(), and brake(). It's the difference between knowing what a car IS versus what a car can DO - methods are the 'doing' part!
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