Struct MethodPtr

pub struct MethodPtr {
    pub rid: u32,
    pub token: Token,
    pub offset: usize,
    pub method: u32,
}

Owned MethodPtr table entry with resolved references and indirection mapping.

This structure represents a method pointer entry that provides an additional level of indirection for accessing MethodDef table entries. It enables stable method references during scenarios requiring method table reorganization, runtime method modification, or development environment support.

Indirection Purpose

MethodPtr entries serve specialized scenarios requiring method stability:

• Edit-and-continue: Development environments supporting runtime method modification
• Hot-reload systems: Runtime environments enabling dynamic method updates
• Debugging support: Debuggers requiring method interception capabilities
• Method versioning: Systems supporting method replacement without reference updates
• Table reorganization: Allows MethodDef table modifications without breaking references

Resolution Mechanism

Method pointer resolution follows a two-step process:

• Logical token: This MethodPtr entry’s token serves as the logical method reference
• Physical reference: The method field points to the actual MethodDef table entry
• Stable mapping: Logical tokens remain constant while physical references can change
• Transparent access: Higher-level systems use logical tokens without awareness of indirection

Fields

rid: u32

Row identifier within the MethodPtr table.

Unique identifier for this method pointer entry, used for internal table management and logical method token generation.

token: Token

Metadata token identifying this MethodPtr entry.

This token serves as the logical method reference that remains stable during method table reorganization. Other metadata structures reference methods using this logical token rather than direct MethodDef tokens.

offset: usize

Byte offset of this entry within the raw table data.

Used for efficient table navigation and binary metadata processing.

method: u32

Physical reference to the MethodDef table entry.

1-based index into the MethodDef table specifying the actual method definition that this pointer references. This physical reference can be updated during method table reorganization while keeping the logical token stable.