if I have this test program below:

program testi;
{$INTERFACES CORBA}
uses sysutils;
type
   IInterfaceA = interface
      procedure Increment ;
   end;

  { TObjectA }

   TObjectA = class(IInterfaceA)
     Value : Int64;
     procedure Increment;
   end;
var
   c : int32;
   i : IInterfaceA;
   obj : TObjectA;
   aTime : TDateTime;

{ TObjectA }

procedure TObjectA.Increment;
begin
   Inc(Value);
end;
begin
   obj := TObjectA.Create;
   try
     aTime := now;
     for c := 1 to 100000000 do
         obj.Increment;
     aTime := now - aTime;
     Writeln('Object call Time Taken Seconds:', aTime*24*60*60);
   finally
     FreeAndNil(obj);
   end;
   obj := TObjectA.Create;
   try
     aTime := now;
     i := obj;
     for c := 1 to 100000000 do
         i.Increment;
     aTime := now - aTime;
     Writeln('Interface call Time Taken Seconds:', aTime*24*60*60);
   finally
     FreeAndNil(obj);
   end;
   Readln;
end.

The run results:
Object call Time Taken Seconds: 2.1899964194744825E-001 Interface call Time Taken Seconds: 2.7999999001622200E-001

so, the time difference is about 27%

My question is, where is this extra time spent?

I am assuming an interface variable has a table with entries storing ( pointer to the object instance AND an offset of method address in the Virtual Method Table of that object.)

Am I correct?

What is the memory occupied by the interface variable? I know the sizeof(i) = 8 (in 64 bit windows), but what is the size of the instance?

I cannot find any of this info on the web.

Thanks for your answer in advance.

Dennis

Dennis schrieb am Fr., 24. Aug. 2018, 13:11:

Using an interface is always calling virtual methods.

It's however a table that contains pointers to compiler generated wrappers that adjust the Self Pointer and call the correct method.

What is the memory occupied by the interface variable? I know the sizeof(i) = 8 (in 64 bit windows), but what is the size of the instance?

The instance is essentially only the VMT, cause for interfaces implemented by FPC classes the interface variable points to a shifted Self pointer that is "fixed" c the wrappers mentioned above.

Regards,
Sven