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Shim vs Wrapper - What's the difference?

shim | wrapper |

In computing|lang=en terms the difference between shim and wrapper

is that shim is (computing) a small library that transparently intercepts and modifies calls to an api, usually for compatibility purposes while wrapper is (computing) a construct, such as a class or module, that serves to mediate access to another.

As nouns the difference between shim and wrapper

is that shim is a wedge or shim can be (informal|often|derogatory) a person characterised by both male and female traits, or by ambiguous male-female traits, also called a he-she; transsexual while wrapper is something that is wrapped around something else as a cover or protection: a wrapping.

As a verb shim

is to fit one or more shims to a piece of machinery.

shim

English

Etymology 1

Originally a piece of iron attached to a plow; sense of “thin piece of wood” from 1723, sense of “thin piece of material used for alignment or support” from 1860.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A wedge.
  • A thin piece of material, sometimes tapered, used for alignment or support.
  • (computing) A small library that transparently intercepts and modifies calls to an API, usually for compatibility purposes.
  • A kind of shallow plow used in tillage to break the ground and clear it of weeds.
  • A small metal device used to pick open a lock.

    • Verb

  • To fit one or more shims to a piece of machinery
  • To adjust something by using shims

    • Etymology 2

    .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (informal, often, derogatory) a person characterised by both male and female traits, or by ambiguous male-female traits, also called a he-she; transsexual.
  • * 1998 , Hobart Student Association, The Seneca review:
    • He — or "Shim " (she/him), as film director John Waters called the actor Divine — was as much a paradoxical as a perverse fellow.
  • * 1995 , The Advocate - May 30, 1995 - Page 11:
    • "We call him shim — short for 'she-him.'
  • (informal, often, derogatory) hermaphrodite.

    • References

    Anagrams

    * ----

    wrapper

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that is wrapped around something else as a cover or protection: a wrapping.
  • An outer garment; a loose robe or dressing gown.
  • *1839 , (Edgar Allan Poe), ‘William Wilson’:
  • *:‘Please to examine, at your leisure, the inner linings of the cuff of his left sleeve, and the several little packages which may be found in the somewhat capacious pockets of his embroidered morning wrapper .’
  • One who, or that which, wraps.
    • He proved to be a remarkably efficient wrapper of parcels.
  • (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) * wrapper class

    Usage notes

    * In the computing sense, 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.