OOP Principles

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Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that organizes code into objects, which are instances of classes.

Encapsulation is the practice of hiding internal details of a class and exposing only necessary functionality.
Achieved using private fields and public methods (getters/setters).
Ensures data integrity and prevents direct modification of variables.

Inheritance allows a class (child/subclass) to acquire properties and behaviors from another class (parent/superclass).
Promotes code reusability and hierarchical relationships.
Java uses the extends keyword to implement inheritance.

Polymorphism allows objects to take multiple forms, enabling flexibility and dynamic behavior.
Two types:
- Method Overloading (Compile-time polymorphism) – Same method name, different parameters.
- Method Overriding (Runtime polymorphism) – Child class provides a specific implementation of a parent class method.

Abstraction simplifies complex systems by showing only essential features and hiding unnecessary details.
Achieved using abstract classes (abstract keyword) and interfaces.
Improves modularity and reduces code complexity.

OOP is crucial in software development because it:

Enhances Code Reusability – Inheritance enables sharing of code, reducing duplication.
Improves Maintainability – Encapsulation helps in keeping code modular and well-organized.
Supports Scalability – OOP makes it easier to expand applications without breaking existing code.
Encourages Code Reusability – Objects and classes allow efficient code sharing across projects.
Enhances Security – Data hiding through encapsulation prevents unauthorized modifications.

Even small projects benefit from code organization and reusability.

Last updated 2 months ago

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Java follows four key OOP principles

1. Encapsulation 🔒

Encapsulation is the practice of hiding internal details of a class and exposing only necessary functionality.

Achieved using private fields and public methods (getters/setters).

Ensures data integrity and prevents direct modification of variables.

2. Inheritance 🔄

Inheritance allows a class (child/subclass) to acquire properties and behaviors from another class (parent/superclass).

Promotes code reusability and hierarchical relationships.

Java uses the extends keyword to implement inheritance.

3. Polymorphism 🎭

Polymorphism allows objects to take multiple forms, enabling flexibility and dynamic behavior.

Two types:

Method Overloading (Compile-time polymorphism) – Same method name, different parameters.
Method Overriding (Runtime polymorphism) – Child class provides a specific implementation of a parent class method.

4. Abstraction 🎨

Abstraction simplifies complex systems by showing only essential features and hiding unnecessary details.

Achieved using abstract classes (abstract keyword) and interfaces.

Improves modularity and reduces code complexity.

Importance of OOP Concepts

OOP is crucial in software development because it:

Enhances Code Reusability – Inheritance enables sharing of code, reducing duplication.

Improves Maintainability – Encapsulation helps in keeping code modular and well-organized.

Supports Scalability – OOP makes it easier to expand applications without breaking existing code.

Encourages Code Reusability – Objects and classes allow efficient code sharing across projects.

Enhances Security – Data hiding through encapsulation prevents unauthorized modifications.

Even small projects benefit from code organization and reusability.