LinearMethodsList-class {methods} | R Documentation

## Class "LinearMethodsList"

### Description

A version of methods lists that has been ‘linearized’ for producing summary information. The actual objects from class `"MethodsList"` used for method dispatch are defined recursively over the arguments involved.

### Objects from the Class

The function `linearizeMlist` converts an ordinary methods list object into the linearized form.

### Slots

`methods`:

  Object of class `"list"`, the method definitions.

`arguments`:

  Object of class `"list"`, the corresponding formal arguments, namely as many of the arguments in the signature of the generic function as are active in the relevant method table.

`classes`:

  Object of class `"list"`, the corresponding classes in the signatures.

`generic`:

  Object of class `"genericFunction"`; the generic function to which the methods correspond.

### Future Note

The current version of `linearizeMlist` does not take advantage of the `MethodDefinition` class, and therefore does more work for less effect than it could. In particular, we may move to redefine both the function and the class to take advantage of the stored signatures. Don't write code depending precisely on the present form, although all the current information will be obtainable in the future.

### See Also

Function `linearizeMlist` for the computation, and class `MethodsList` for the original, recursive form.

[Package methods version 3.4.2 Index]