What is the purpose of the 'native' keyword in OOP?

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What is the purpose of the 'native' keyword in OOP?

In object-oriented programming, the 'native' keyword is used to indicate that a particular method or function is implemented in a language other than the one being used for the current program. It is typically used when integrating code written in a different programming language into the current program.

The purpose of the 'native' keyword is to provide a way to bridge the gap between different programming languages and allow seamless communication and utilization of functionalities provided by external libraries or systems. By marking a method or function as 'native', the programming language's runtime environment understands that the implementation of that method or function is not available within the current program and needs to be accessed from an external source.

When a 'native' method or function is called, the runtime environment will handle the necessary steps to locate and execute the implementation code from the external source. This can involve making system calls, invoking external libraries, or utilizing inter-process communication mechanisms.

The 'native' keyword is commonly used in programming languages like Java, C++, and C# to enable the integration of code written in lower-level languages or to access platform-specific functionalities. It allows developers to leverage the power and capabilities of other languages or systems while still maintaining the overall structure and benefits of the object-oriented programming paradigm.