LabVIEW Interface

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The interface icon as it appears in the Project Explorer

LabVIEW Interface is a kind of class library that implements the concept of interfaces in LabVIEW. An interface defines a contract between the caller and the callee. Any class that inherits from an interface declares that it will provide all methods defined by that interface. In LabVIEW a class may have only one class parent and as many interface parents as it wants to have.[1] An interface may also inherit from one or more other interfaces.

Key features

  • Interfaces use the same file extension as classes (*.lvclass).
  • Interfaces have their own unique icon (Interface Icon.png) in the Project Explorer.
  • Interfaces use the same default ("chain") wire appearance as classes.
  • Interfaces are created and changed using the same dialogs as classes.
  • Interfaces can provide default implementations for their methods.
  • Classes do not inherit the interface library icon or wire appearance.
  • Call Parent Class Method cannot invoke interface parent methods.

Best practice

  • Do not use the leading "I" when naming interfaces.[1]
  • Use a Project Library instead of default implementations in an interface to build function libraries.

History

Version Change(s)
LabVIEW 2020 Interfaces were added to LabVIEW

See also

References