Self Reference

SelfReference is a strange thing. Some examples:

• The descriptions of the tables of a RelationalDatabase are themselves stored in a table.
• The descriptions of classes in languages like SmalltalkLanguage or JavaLanguage are instances of themselves.
• Software companies are using DogFood.

So SelfReference is something which goes across the boundaries of distinctions. (table vs row, class vs instance, developer vs customer).

[See MetaPattern for a very similar page.]

Compare RecursionRecursion

See also FeedbackLoop (as in ControlSystem)

Compare SelfModifyingCode.