Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that organizes software design around data, or objects, rather than functions and logic. In OOP, objects contain data in the form of fields (also known as attributes or properties) and code in the form of procedures, or methods. OOP focuses on the objects that developers want to manipulate rather than the logic required to manipulate them.
Some key features of OOP include:
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Classes: A class is a blueprint for creating objects. It defines a set of attributes and methods that the objects will have.
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Objects: An object is an instance of a class. It has its own set of values for the attributes defined in the class and can call the methods defined in the class.
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Inheritance: Inheritance is the ability of a class to derive properties and characteristics from another class. It allows for the creation of new classes that are a modified version of an existing class.
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Encapsulation: Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data with the methods that operate on that data, or the restricting of direct access to some of an objects components. It is used to hide the values or state of a structured data object inside a class, preventing direct access to them by clients in a way that could expose hidden implementation details or violate state invariance maintained by the methods.
OOP is well-suited for programs that are large, complex, and actively updated or maintained, such as manufacturing and design programs, as well as mobile applications. It allows for easier development and maintenance of projects by providing a more organized and modular approach to programming.
