JavaScript Spec, Term “instance” is Not Defined (2017)

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

Jargon “instance” in object oriented programing

the term “instance” needs to be banned. Instead, say: “value of X type”.

the word “instance” has a connotation of action, or process, which involves the concept of time.

while, value of certain type, is a simple, concept of classification.

JavaScript spec says “instance” but no definition

JavaScript spec speaks of “instance”, but nowhere is it defined. Very annoying. For example:

js es2015 jargon instance CYsJv
js es2015 jargon instance CYsJv ECMAScript 2015 §Overview#sec-terms-and-definitions

implicitly, it's understood that “instance” means a value returned by a constructor function, and the type of this value is object.

it's very annoying that most all programing docs and coder idiots speak of “instance”.

the term “instance” has connotation of a process. namely, creation. It's annoying because it's not mathematical.

programing is about how-to, as process, i.e. algorithm. Math is about what-is, as definition.

The term “is-a” relationship, egregious idiocy

the most egregious idiocy of programers is the term “is-a” relationship. Becoming most popular in early 2000s.

the “is-a” jargon is so strange that perfectly simple English and mathematically clear sub-class or sub-type becomes this quasi-English jargon.