Reflection

Kind: mechanism

Layer: Declarative Core

Record: architecture:reflection

Severity: contextual

Scope: runtime, metadata, framework

Canonical: Ontology

A mechanism that lets a program read and act on type metadata about its own structure at runtime.

Listed in Architecture principles, after Metaprogramming and before Introspection.

Requires

• Runtime Type Metadata

Reinforces

• Introspection
• Runtime Discovery

Enables

• Dynamic Binding

In tension with

• Performance/Safety
• Static Analysis

Tensions

• Reflection / Performance/Safety
• Reflection / Static Analysis

Violated by

• Reflective Contract Bypass

Refactored by

• Declare Capability

Severity

• contextual

Category

• Metaprogramming / Language-Oriented Architecture

Concept

• Reflection

Linked from

• Runtime Discovery / Dynamic Binding
• Correctness / Determinism / Verification
• Metaprogramming / Language-Oriented Architecture
• Metadata / Self-Description / Declarative Systems
• Metaprogramming / Language-Oriented Architecture
• Severity levels
• The resolutions