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Python OOPS Concept

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that uses objects to represent and manipulate data. Python is an object-oriented programming language, which means it supports OOP concepts such as:

  • Classes : A class is a blueprint for creating objects. It defines a set of attributes and methods that the objects of that class will have. In Python, you can define a class using the class keyword.
  • Objects : An object is an instance of a class. It represents a particular entity in the real world. You can create an object of a class using the class constructor.
  • Encapsulation : Encapsulation is the process of hiding the internal details of an object and exposing only the necessary information. In Python, you can achieve encapsulation by using private attributes and methods, which are denoted by a double underscore (__) prefix.
  • Inheritance : Inheritance is the process of creating a new class that inherits the properties of an existing class. The new class is called a subclass or a derived class, and the existing class is called the superclass or the base class. In Python, you can define inheritance using the super() function.
  • Polymorphism : Polymorphism is the ability of an object to take on multiple forms. In Python, you can achieve polymorphism through method overloading and method overriding.

Here is an example of a simple class in Python that demonstrates the use of OOP concepts:

class Car:
	def __init__(self, make, model, year):
		self.make = make
		self.model = model
		self.year = year

	def get_make(self):
		return self.make

	def get_model(self):
		return self.model

	def get_year(self):
		return self.year

In this example, we define a class Car that has three attributes (make, model, and year) and three methods (get_make, get_model, and get_year). We also define a constructor method (__init__) that initializes the attributes of the object.

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Object-oriented vs. Procedure-oriented Programming languages

  • Approach to data : In POP, the focus is on procedures or functions that operate on data. Data is typically stored in variables or data structures that can be accessed by the functions. In contrast, in OOP, the focus is on objects that contain both data and methods to manipulate that data.
  • Encapsulation : OOP emphasizes encapsulation, which means that the data and methods that operate on that data are encapsulated together in an object. This provides a higher level of abstraction and makes it easier to manage complexity. In POP, encapsulation is not emphasized, and data and functions can be accessed from anywhere in the code.
  • Inheritance : In OOP, objects can be created by inheriting attributes and methods from existing objects. This allows for code reuse and can make it easier to maintain and extend large codebases. In POP, inheritance is not typically used.
  • Polymorphism : OOP supports polymorphism, which means that objects of different types can be treated as if they were the same type. This allows for more flexible and modular code. POP does not support polymorphism.
  • Code organization : OOP is generally considered to be more organized and easier to maintain than POP. This is because objects can be organized into classes, and related objects and methods can be grouped together. In POP, functions and data are typically organized into modules, but there is no inherent structure for organizing them beyond that.

Languages like Java, Python, and C++ are examples of object-oriented programming languages, while C and Pascal are examples of procedure-oriented programming languages. Both paradigms have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which one to use depends on the requirements of the project and the personal preferences of the developer.

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