CBC's concept of branching is based on the idea of an "object". An object has (i) a feasible region, (ii) can be evaluated for infeasibility, (iii) can be branched on, e.g., a method of generating a branching object, which defines an up branch and a down branch, and (iv) allows comparsion of the effect of branching. Instances of objects include.

In Chapter 5, Branching , we give examples of how to use existing branching objects. (The next revision of this Guide should include an example of how to write your own branching object; Contributions of examples are welcome.)