Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of “objects.” An object is an instance of a class, and a class is a blueprint for creating objects. OOP focuses on organizing code around these objects and their interactions, rather than the logic and functions alone
Key concepts in Object-Oriented Programming include:
1. Classes and Objects:Class: A blueprint or template for creating objects, defining the properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods) that the objects of that class will have.Object: An instance of a class. It has specific values for the attributes and can perform the actions defined by the methods of its class
2. Encapsulation:The practice of keeping fields (attributes) private and providing access to them via public methods (getters and setters). This ensures that the internal workings of an object are hidden from the outside, promoting modularity and security.
3. Inheritance:A mechanism by which one class (child or subclass) can inherit attributes and methods from another class (parent or superclass). This allows for code reuse and hierarchical relationships between classes.
4. Polymorphism:
The ability of different classes to be treated as instances of the same class through inheritance. It allows methods to be used interchangeably, meaning a method can behave differently based on the object it is acting upon.
5. Abstraction:
The concept of hiding complex implementation details and showing only the necessary features of an object or method. It helps in reducing complexity and focusing on high-level functionality.
The primary goal of OOP is to make the software easier to manage, extend, and maintain by mimicking real-world entities and interactions. By using these principles, developers can create flexible, modular, and reusable code.