object-oriented programming (OOP) | Python Glossary – Real Python

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Overview

• Definition: A programming paradigm that organizes code into "objects," which bundle data (properties) and behavior (methods) to mirror real-world entities.
• Core Components:
  • Objects: Self-contained components representing specific entities.
  • Classes: Blueprints used to create objects.
  • Properties: Data attributes that store details about an object.
  • Methods: Functions that define the behaviors an object can perform.
• Key Principles:
  • Encapsulation: Hiding internal implementation details and exposing only necessary interfaces.
  • Inheritance: Allowing new classes to derive features from existing ones.
  • Polymorphism: Enabling different objects to utilize the same interface.
  • Modularity: Organizing code into independent, manageable, and logical sections.
• Benefits: Improves code reuse, scalability, and maintainability.
• Implementation: In Python, classes are defined using the class keyword, and instances are created by calling the class with specific arguments (e.g., toyota = Car("red", "Toyota", 2010)).