Abstract: The mechanism includes three data structures: object data associated with each object O1, O2, O3 ... of a program, a class descriptor associated with the classes to which the objects O1, O2, O3 ... belong, and interface references. For each class C.sub.i, the class descriptor corresponding to the class C.sub.i includes: i) a class method table comprising one or more entries, wherein each entry identifies an implementation of a method inherited or defined by the class C.sub.i ; and ii) for each interface implemented by the class C.sub.i, an interface method table comprising one or more entries, wherein each entry identifies an implementation of a method declared by the particular interface or an implementation of a method declared by an interface extended by the particular interface.

Abstract: The mechanism includes three data structures: object data associated with each object O1, O2, O3 . . . of a program, a class descriptor associated with the classes to which the objects O1, O2, O3 . . . belong, and interface references. For each class C.sub.i, the class descriptor corresponding to the class C.sub.i includes: i) a class method table comprising one or more entries, wherein each entry identifies an implementation of a method inherited or defined by the class C.sub.i ; and ii) for each interface implemented by the class C.sub.i, an interface method table comprising one or more entries, wherein each entry identifies an implementation of a method declared by the particular interface or an implementation of a method declared by an interface extended by the particular interface.