CLHS: System Class GENERIC-FUNCTION

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System Class GENERIC-FUNCTION

Class Precedence List:

generic-function, function, t

Description:

A generic function is a function whose behavior depends on the classes or identities of the arguments supplied to it. A generic function object contains a set of methods, a lambda list, a method combination type, and other information. The methods define the class-specific behavior and operations of the generic function; a method is said to specialize a generic function. When invoked, a generic function executes a subset of its methods based on the classes or identities of its arguments.

A generic function can be used in the same ways that an ordinary function can be used; specifically, a generic function can be used as an argument to funcall and apply, and can be given a global or a local name.

The following X3J13 cleanup issue, not part of the specification, applies to this section:

- JUN90-TRIVIAL-ISSUES:9

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