Wrapper

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈrapÉ™/
• Homophones: rapper
• Hyphenation: wrap + per
• Rhymes: -æpÉ™(r)

Origin

{1} + -er

Full definition of wrapper

Noun

1. Something that is wrapped around something else as a cover or protection: a wrapping.
2. A negligée or loose dressing gown.
3. One who, or that which, wraps.He proved to be a remarkably efficient wrapper of parcels.
4. (computing) A construct, such as a class or module, that serves to mediate access to another.We need a Perl wrapper for this C++ library.

Synonyms

• (construct that mediates access) adapter
• wrapper class

Usage notes

In the computing sense, wrapper is often used attributively: one can speak of a “wrapper class”, a “wrapper object”, a “wrapper function”, and so on. More broadly, one can speak of the “wrapper pattern”, which is a general term for the creation and use of such wrappers.