N
 
name
In the C++ language, commonly referred to as an identifier. However, syntactically, a name can be an identifier, an operator function name, a conversion function name, a destructor name, or a qualified name.
namespace
A declarative region of a program, which can be used to access entities declared in that namespace.
namespace scope
That part of a source program not contained in a class or function definition. A name declared outside all blocks and classes has namespace scope. In VisualAge for C++, names with namespace scope in one file are visible from other source files, and need not be declared again. See scope. Formerly called file scope. Contrast with class scope, global scope, local scope.
narrow characters
Elements of type char that, when processed sequentially, can represent text. Some other values can also support narrow characters. See wide characters.
n-ary tree
A tree that has an upper limit, n, imposed on the number of children allowed for a node.
national language
A language or dialect spoken by a group of people.
national language enablement
See internationalization.
national language implementation
See localization.
national language support (NLS)
The features of a product that accommodate a specific region, its language, script, currency, local conventions, and culture. See internationalization, localization.
national language version
A variant of an original product that implements national language support for a particular region of the world.
National Television Standard Committee (NTSC)
(1) A committee that sets the standard for color television broadcasting and video in the United States (also currently in use in Japan). (2) The standard set by the NTSC.
native language
(1) The instructions that a particular processor can execute directly; machine language. (2) The text that an executing program uses to communicate with a user or environment; that is, the natural language of the end user.
native RMF
Pertaining to the rendering mechanism and format (RMF) that best represents an object. Native RMF transfers data more efficiently than other RMFs do.
nested class
A class defined within the scope of another class.
Network File System (NFS)
A distributed file system from SunSoft that allows data to be shared across a network, regardless of the client's operating system.
new
(1) A C++ keyword identifying a free storage allocation operator. (2) A C++ operator used to create class objects.
new-line character
A control character that causes the print or display position to move to the first position on the next line. This control character is represented by \n
NFS
Network File System.
node
(1) In network topology, the point at the end of a branch. T. (2) In a tree structure, a point at which subordinate items of data originate. ANSI. See root, tree, child node, parent node. (3) In database management, data that can be accessed by more than one route.
nonmember function
A function that occurs outside a class. See member function.
nonprinting character
See control character.
nonsignaled
In the Windows operating system, the state that an object is in when it is suspended. For example, when a thread is created and running, its associated thread kernel object is nonsignaled. As soon as the thread terminates, its thread kernel object is signaled. See signaled.
notification event
A notification that identifies a notification type and is passed from a notifier object to an observer object. See notifier, observer.
notifier
An object that issues a notification to other objects of its change of state. A notifier manages a list of observers, defines a list of supported notification events, and notifies registered observers when a relevant event occurs. Contrast with observer.
NULL
In the C and C++ languages, a pointer that does not point to a data object. IBM. The pointer can be converted to any pointer type.
null character (\0)
The ASCII or EBCDIC character with the hex value 00 (all bits turned off). It is used to represent the absence of a printed or displayed character. This character is named <NUL> in the portable character set.
null pointer
The value that is obtained by converting the number 0 into a pointer, for example, (void *) 0. The C and C++ languages guarantee that this value will not match that of any legitimate pointer, so it is used by many functions that return pointers to indicate an error. X/Open.
null statement
(1) In the C language, a statement that consists solely of a semicolon. (2) In the C++ language, an expression statement with the expression missing.
null string
(1) A string whose first byte is a null byte. See empty string. X/Open. (2) A character array whose first element is a null character. I.
null value
A parameter position for which no value is specified. IBM.
number sign
The character #, also known as pound sign and hash sign. This character is named <number-sign> in the portable character set.
 
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