A data embodying object is programmed in accordance with object oriented techniques, and implements data retrieval methods without access to an external database, but rather using code in the object that includes immediate values which themselves embody the data to be retrieved in response to an invocation of the method. As a consequence, the data retrieval method is executed without external access to a DASD or other external data source and without the resulting delays or unavailabilities. The data-embodying object takes the form of a class, and can have one or more methods returning data. The class is automatically generated and can be compiled into its own library file, or added to an existing project and compiled into the executable file. Like a typical class and source code, the code and data of an object can be obfuscated, and/or the data encrypted, and afforded all the other protections available to program source code.