Disclosed is an object oriented netlist database that stores electrical circuit data parsed from a netlist text file that is formatted in HSPICE or Circuit Design Language (CDL) formats. To obtain the netlist text file, an electrical circuit schematic of an electrical circuit is created using a commercially available electrical schematic capture software tool. The electrical schematic capture software tool is then directed to create the netlist text file that is representative of the electrical circuit. A netlist text file parser program first creates the object oriented netlist database structure, then parses the netlist text file, and finally fills the netlist database with objects that represent the electrical circuit data contained in the netlist text file. Analysis software may be written to programmatically access the electrical data stored in the netlist database using netlist database access subroutines that are part of the netlist database objects. The analysis software may be used to locate topological circuit problems within the electrical circuit represented by the electrical circuit data. The analysis software may be run against the electrical circuit prior to laying out the electrical circuit for manufacture as an integrated circuit. This means topological circuit problems associated with manufacturing the electrical circuit as an integrated circuit may be found before time is taken to lay out, or manufacture, the electrical circuit as an integrated circuit.