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Tech Glossary

Immutable Object

An Immutable Object is an object whose state cannot be modified after it has been created. In programming, immutability is a concept that provides stability and reliability within an application by ensuring that once an object is instantiated, its properties or data cannot be altered. Immutable objects are commonly used in functional programming and are crucial for designing thread-safe applications where consistency is critical.

Immutability offers several advantages:

Thread Safety: Since immutable objects cannot change state, they are inherently thread-safe. Multiple threads can access an immutable object without risk of conflicting changes, which is particularly useful in concurrent programming environments.
Simplicity in Design: Immutability simplifies code by eliminating unintended side effects. Without state changes, developers avoid complex tracking of changes, making debugging and maintenance easier.
Predictability: Immutable objects make applications more predictable by ensuring that values remain constant, reducing the likelihood of unexpected behavior due to shared mutable state.
Languages such as Java, Python, and JavaScript implement immutable objects through different methods. For example, in Java, the String class is immutable, meaning any modification to a string creates a new object. In functional programming, immutability is a core principle, encouraging the use of functions that operate without altering data, thereby maintaining referential transparency. However, while immutability provides significant benefits, it may require more memory due to constant creation of new objects instead of modifying existing ones. Techniques like object pooling and lazy evaluation can help manage this trade-off effectively.

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