somGetClass obtains a pointer to the receiver's class object. The somGetClass method is typically not overridden.
Important Note: For C and C++ programmers, SOM provides a SOM_GetClass macro that performs the same function. This macro should only be used only when absolutely necessary (i.e., when a method call on the object is not possible), since it bypasses whatever semantics may be intended for the somGetClass method by the implementor of the receiver's class. Even class implementors do not know whether a special semantics for this method is inherited from ancestor classes. If you are unsure of whether the method or the macro is appropriate, you should use the method call.