Meanings
- object-oriented programmingcomputingA design guideline for developing particularly object-oriented programs that mandates loose coupling between objects.
According to the Law of Demeter, the second approach is better because the summary screen sends a message only to an object that is returned by one of its methods […]
1998, Scott W. Ambler, Building Object Applications that Work: Your Step-by-Step Handbook for Developing Robust Systems with Object Technology, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 2491 more example
An adaptive program contains only hooks into the class structure and normally does not fully encode the details of the class structure. This idea of not duplicating the class structure is an application of the key idea behind the Law of Demeter.
1996, Karl J. Lieberherr, Adaptive Object-oriented Software: The Demeter Method with Propagation Patterns, Pws Publishing Company, →ISBNSynonyms: LoD, principle of least knowledge
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounA design guideline for developing particularly object-oriented programs that mandates loose coupling between objects.
Origin
Named for its origin in the Demeter Project, an adaptive programming and aspect-oriented programming effort, itself named after the Greek goddess Demeter.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
German Gesetz von Demeter
- Gesetz von Demetersoftware design guideline
Hindi डिमीटर की विधि
- डिमीटर की विधि (ḍimīṭar kī vidhi)software design guideline
Turkish Demeter Yasası
- Demeter Yasasısoftware design guideline
Cite this entry
Law of Demeter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Law%20of%20Demeter
“Law of Demeter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Law%20of%20Demeter. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Law of Demeter,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Law%20of%20Demeter.
Source: Law of Demeter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.