Initialization List: In the definition of a constructor, the function heading can be followed by a colon and a list of calls to other constructors. This initialization list can contain calls to (1) constructors for base classes and (2) constructors for class members that are themselves class objects.

Inheritance Path: A series of classes that provide a path along which inheritance can take. For example, if class B is derived from A, class C is derived from class B, and class D is derived from class C, then class D inherits from class A via the inheritance path ABCD.

Inheritance: A relationship between classes such that the state and implementation of an object or module should be private to that object or module and only accessible via its public interface.

Information Hiding: The principle which states that the state and implementation of an object or module should be private to that object or module and only accessible via its public interface.

Indirection Operator: The operator *, which is used to access a value referred to by a pointer.

Index: A value, variable or expression that selects a particular element of an array.

Include File: A file that is merged with source code by invocation of the preprocessor directive #include. Also called a header file.

Implementation: The source code that embodies the realization of the design.

I/O Manipulators: Functions that when "output" or "input" cause no I/O, but set various conversion flags or parameters.

Homogeneous List: A list of class objects all of which belong to the same class.

Heterogeneous List: A list of class objects, which can belong to more than one class. Processing heterogeneous lists is an important application of polymorphism.

Heap: A portion of money used by new to get space for the structures and classes returned by new. Space is returned to this pool by using the delete operator.

Header File: A file containing the declarations that are to be used in one or more source files. A header file is normally included in a source file with an #include directive.

Global Variables: Variables that are known throughout an entire program.

Generic Pointer: A pointer that can point to any variable without restriction as to the type of variable. A pointer to storage without regard to content.