A method is procedural code that defines a specific function required by all of the instances of a class. A method may be thought of as a module or subroutine. A class may define as many methods as it needs to manage the data defined for the class. Methods are typically only a few lines of procedural code, but may be as many lines as required to accomplish a specific function.

An instance object is used by invoking one of its methods. This facility is similar to the call facility. With conventional coding techniques, one program activates another program by issuing a call. With object oriented programming techniques, one object activates another object by issuing an invoke.

Methods are distinguished by their name alone. A class cannot define two methods with the same name. If a subclass defines a method with the same name as a method in an inherited class, the method in the inheriting class overrides the inherited method.