Portable object (computing)

{{Short description|Object in distributed programming}}

{{redirect|.po|the extension as used with GNU|GNU gettext|the internationalized top-level domain|.рф}}

In distributed programming, a portable object is an object which can be accessed through a normal method call while possibly residing in memory on another computer.{{Cite patent|number=WO2006136923A1|title=Method and system using a portable object for providing an extension to a server|gdate=2006-12-28|invent1=Castillo|invent2=Siegelin|inventor1-first=Laurent|inventor2-first=Christoph|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2006136923A1/}} It is portable in the sense that it moves from machine to machine, irrespective of operating system or computer architecture. This mobility is the end goal of many remote procedure call systems.

An advantage of portable objects is that they are easy to use and expressive, allowing programmers to be completely unaware that objects reside in other locations. Detractors cite this as a fault, as some programmers will not expect network-related errors or the unbounded nondeterminism associated with large networks.