A system and method for binding software objects to the program code that implements them in accordance with run-time object typing that is independent of the program code typing system. Persistently-stored, run-time object instances ("persistent objects") are maintained by a software-based system across transactions, user sessions, and application executions, and are identified by unique, typed names. Dynamic binding is provided through software constructs that are associated with corresponding persistent objects, and referred to as "Associators". Associators provide links between object types and the program code that implements them.