Virtual Table

Definitions

1. Short for virtual method table (vtable) — the compiler-generated array of function pointers that enables runtime polymorphism in languages like C++ and C#. Also used in SQLite to refer to a module interface that lets custom code present arbitrary data sources as queryable SQL tables.

   In plain English: Either a hidden lookup table the compiler uses to pick the right overridden method at runtime, or in SQLite, a way to query non-database data using SQL.

   Example: "We wrote a SQLite virtual table backed by our CSV parser so analysts can query log files with plain SQL."

Related Terms

• Smalltalk
• Destructor
• Virtual Function
• Late Binding
• Memory Order
• Resource Acquisition Is Initialization
• Virtual Method
• Virtual Method Table