Object-oriented programming is a fundamental programming model. It is used by most software developers at some point in their careers. It is among the most popular programming types used in the development of software.

Today we bring you this blog post to explain to you all about object-oriented programming and its various features and benefits so you can be well-informed about it and how it works. For all this and more, keep reading for more information.

 

What Is Object-Oriented Programming?

Object-oriented programming or OOP for short is a model for computer programming or computer science. It works by organising software design around data, classes or objects that are linked closely with the methods that they are associated with that developers want to manipulate. This is as opposed to functions and logic that are required to manipulate them.

OOP is used to structure software programmes into simple and reusable pieces of code blueprints, which are usually called ‘classes’.

A class is an abstract blueprint that creates objects that are more specific and concrete. Classes share class attributes that often represent broad categories such as the category of ‘colour’ is broad, but it doesn’t have attributes and methods for a singular and specific colour, it is just the category of colour. The same applies to classes, it does not hold value for a specific object.

It is this programming approach that is suitable for large programs of complex actively updated and/or maintained. There are many object-oriented programming languages, some of which include Java, JavaScript, C++ and Python too. Object-oriented programming languages are diverse, but these are the main ones.

Object-oriented programming is so popular amongst developers it is even taught as the standard way to code for most of a programmer’s career. That along with functional programming is another main type of programming.

 

An Example of Object-Oriented Programming

The simplest way of explaining object-oriented programming is by using an example - object-oriented programming can be explained by using the example of a car.

A car will have a brand name, model name, year of manufacturing, colour, engine size and other specifications. Manufacturers can create and then recreate the same car but in a different year, in a different colour and with other different specifications and features.

Each time the car manufacturer creates a new version of the car, they are using the same ways to make it. The car is the object in this instance, and it is here we would reuse the code from the original car-making, or the original object within the object-oriented programming to create new. Therefore reusing the same object code.

 

The Benefits of Object-Oriented Programming

There are many benefits to object-oriented programming for the real world including the following list:

• Productive - being faster and more efficient to execute, developers can construct new programs quicker through the use of reusable code and multiple libraries
  
  
• Modular - objects are self-contained, making troubleshooting developing processes easier, including easier to modify, debugging and maintaining
  
  
• Reusable - code can be reused over again, a team of developers do not have to rewrite the same code over and over, saving a lot of time. Code is easy to reuse
  
  
• Scalability - allows for implementing system functionalities independently
  
  
• Flexible - enables a function to be adapted to the class it is in whilst various objects can also pass through
  
  
• Language - interface descriptions are simple because of the message-passing techniques that are used for object communication.
  
  
• Security - complex code is hidden and software maintenance is easier which means higher levels of protection

 

The 4 Principles of Object-Oriented Programming

There are four principles of object-oriented programming. These are encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance and polymorphism. It is these principles that can help programmers write more flexible, maintainable and testable code.

 

Encapsulation

The encapsulation principle entails that all properties and methods of an object are kept private and safe from interference from other individual objects.

Objects can have private variables which cannot be used by other objects and also public variables and methods, which can.

With the car example from earlier, we give the example of the colour, model and year would be the example of private variables, as they are variables that cannot be changed by other objects.

 

Abstraction

Abstraction helps with programs that are large and have thousands of lines of code. This can be difficult to maintain which is where abstract helps us. Abstraction can be seen as an extension of encapsulation.

It is the abstraction that allows objects to work without it needing to know how the code works, it just needs to work. The extent of how it works is irrelevant to other objects interacting with the object.

An example of a video game would include an ‘attack’ feature for the main character. The enemy in the game does not need to know or be aware of how the attack on them works. The hero and the enemy will just be affected by the attack.

As a driver of your car, you do not need to know how your car is able to start when you put the key into the ignition. The sound of the engine starting up is enough for you to know you are ready to drive away.

 

Inheritance

Inheritance is all about using the same code, but extending it for different purposes. Inheritance relies on the principles of abstraction with which we gain the ability to abstract away.

Some objects can share the same code but they are not exactly the same, inheritance programmers extract the logic from one object (this is called the parent) to another object (this is called the child).

Using inheritance is a lot easier than creating a brand-new object with brand-new code each time, as this would make a program’s code more complex.

 

Polymorphism

The word polymorphism comes from the Greek word, ‘many shapes’ and this is what it is all about within the four principles of object-oriented programming. It allows programmers to use an object exactly the same as its parent whilst keeping its own methods. This is because the child may have a different way of implementing a method.

 

Blacklight Software

At Blacklight Software, we offer bespoke software development from our expert team of in-house software developers. We have experience creating software solutions for all customers and we can help you too.

Along with this we also specialise in Microsoft solutions including Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365 and .NET Development.

Contact us today to discuss your options and learn how we can help you, your business and your team. Our contact details can be found on our website.