What is Object Oriented Programming?
Object-oriented programming (OOP) refers to a type of computer programming (software design) in which programmers define the data type of a data structure, and also the types of operations (functions) that can be applied to the data structure.
In this way, the data structure becomes an object that includes both data and functions. In addition, programmers can create relationships between one object and another. For example, objects can inherit characteristics from other objects.
The Basic OOP Concepts
If you are new to object-oriented programming languages, you will need to know a few basics before you can get started with code. The following Webopedia definitions will help you better understand object-oriented programming:
- Abstraction: The process of picking out (abstracting) common features of objects and procedures.
- Class: A category of objects. The class defines all the common properties of the different objects that belong to it.
- Encapsulation: The process of combining elements to create a new entity. A procedure is a type of encapsulation because it combines a series of computer instructions.
- Information hiding: The process of hiding details of an object or function. Information hiding is a powerful programming technique because it reduces complexity.
- Inheritance: a feature that represents the “is a” relationship between different classes.
- Interface: the languages and codes that the applications use to communicate with each other and with the hardware.
- Messaging: Message passing is a form of communication used in parallel programming and object-oriented programming.
- Object: a self-contained entity that consists of both data and procedures to manipulate the data.
- Polymorphism: A programming language’s ability to process objects differently depending on their data type or class.
- Procedure: a section of a program that performs a specific task.
Advantages of Object Oriented Programming
One of the principal advantages of object-oriented programming techniques over procedural programming techniques is that they enable programmers to create modules that do not need to be changed when a new type of object is added. A programmer can simply create a new object that inherits many of its features from existing objects. This makes object-oriented programs easier to modify.
OOPL – Object Oriented Programming Languages
An object-oriented programming language (OOPL) is a high-level programming language based on the object-oriented model. To perform object-oriented programming, one needs an object-oriented programming language. Many modern programming languages are object-oriented, however some older programming languages, such as Pascal, do offer object-oriented versions. Examples of object-oriented programming languages include Java, C++ and Smalltalk.
The First OOPL
Simula, developed in the 1960s at the Norwegian Computing Center in Oslo, is considered to be the first object-oriented programming language. Despite being first, Smaslltalk is considered to be the only true object-oriented programming environment and the one against which all others must be compared. It was first developed for educational use at Xerox Corporation’s Palo Alto Research Center in the late 1960s and released in 1972.
Recommended Reading: Webopedia Study Guides – Java Basics: Variables, Syntax and Conventions and Java Basics Part 2: Operators, Modifiers and Structures.
