Introduction to OOP

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a paradigm that structures programs around objects, rather than actions and data. It helps manage complexity by modeling real-world entities.

Core OOP Concepts

1. Class: A blueprint or template for creating objects. It defines the properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods) that all objects of that type will have.
2. Object (Instance): A specific entity created from a class. If 'Dog' is the class, 'Fido' is an object.
3. Encapsulation: Bundling data (attributes) and the methods that operate on that data into a single unit (the object), hiding internal details.
4. Inheritance: A mechanism for one class to inherit attributes and methods from another (parent) class, promoting code reuse.
5. Polymorphism: The ability of different objects to respond to the same method call in their own way.

Why Use OOP?

• Modularity: Objects are self-contained units, making development easier.
• Reusability: Inheritance allows code defined once to be used by many subclasses.
• Maintainability: Changes in one area are less likely to affect others.