Object Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that revolves around the concept of objects. Objects are instances of classes, which encapsulate data and behavior.
In OOP, there are four main concepts that form the foundation of this programming approach. Let’s explore each one in detail:
1. Encapsulation:
Encapsulation is the practice of hiding internal implementation details and exposing only what is necessary to interact with an object.
It allows for data abstraction and provides a clean interface for other parts of the program to interact with the object.
Encapsulation involves bundling properties (data) and methods (behavior) into a single unit known as a class. The class acts as a blueprint for creating objects, defining their structure and behavior.
Example:
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<class>
<properties>
<u>name</u>
<u>age</u>
</properties>
<methods>
<b>tellAge()</b>
<b>tellName()</b>
</methods>
</class>2. Inheritance:
Inheritance is an important concept in OOP that allows classes to inherit properties and methods from other classes.
It promotes code reusability by creating a hierarchy of classes, where subclasses inherit attributes from their parent class.
Inheritance facilitates the creation of specialized classes that inherit common functionality from a base or parent class. This saves developers time by avoiding repetition of code and promoting modular design.
Example:
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<class>
<properties>
<u>name</u>
<u>age</u>
</properties>
<methods>
<b>tellAge()</b>
<b>tellName()</b>
</methods>
</class>
<subclass extends="class">
<properties>
<u>salary</u>
</properties>
<methods>
<b>tellSalary()</b>
</methods>
</subclass>3. Polymorphism:
Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common base class.
It enables flexibility and extensibility by allowing different implementations of methods with the same name.
Polymorphism simplifies code maintenance and promotes code reuse. It allows developers to write generic code that can work with objects of multiple types, as long as they adhere to a shared interface or inheritance hierarchy.
Example:
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<baseClass>
<subclass1 extends="baseClass">
<subclass2 extends="baseClass">4. Abstraction:
Abstraction is the process of simplifying complex systems by breaking them down into manageable and reusable components.
It involves creating abstract classes or interfaces that define common behavior without specifying implementation details.
Abstraction helps in reducing complexity and promoting modular design. It allows developers to focus on high-level concepts and hide unnecessary details, making code more maintainable and adaptable.
Example:
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<abstractClass>
<methods>
<b>abstractMethod()</b>
</methods>
</abstractClass>In conclusion, these four main concepts of Object Oriented Programming – encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction – are fundamental building blocks for creating efficient and modular code. By understanding and applying these concepts, developers can write clean, reusable, and maintainable code.