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Instantiate vs Initialize - What's the difference?

instantiate | initialize |

As verbs the difference between instantiate and initialize

is that instantiate is to represent (something) by a concrete instance while initialize is to assign initial values to something.

instantiate

English

Verb

(instantiat)
  • To represent (something) by a concrete instance.
  • * 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 195:
  • In the eighteenth century, this was instantiated in writings which developed the view that ‘savages’ exhibited more virtue and moral nobility than their conquerors.
  • Synonyms

    * (represent by a concrete instance) exemplify

    initialize

    English

    Alternative forms

    * initialise

    Verb

  • To assign initial values to something
  • (computing) To assign an initial value to a variable
  • (computing) To format a storage medium prior to use
  • (computing) To prepare any hardware (such as a printer or scanner) for use