Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a cornerstone of modern software development. Here's a breakdown of key principles and practical insights:
📌 Core OOP Principles
Encapsulation 📦
Hide implementation details using access modifiers (private
,protected
).
Example:public class Car { private int speed; public void accelerate(int increment) { speed += increment; } }
Inheritance 🧱
Extend classes withextends
to reuse code.
Tip: Use abstract classes for shared functionality.
Learn more about inheritancePolymorphism 🌀
Achieve flexibility with method overriding and interfaces.
Challenge: Implement a polymorphic hierarchy for shapes.Abstraction 🧠
Simplify complex systems using abstract classes and interfaces.
Visualize: Abstract_Class
📊 Practical Examples
- Use UML diagrams to model class relationships
- Explore real-world OOP applications like:
BankAccount
with overdraft protectionAnimal
superclass withDog
,Cat
subclassesShape
interface withCircle
,Rectangle
implementations
📚 Further Learning
🤔 Common Pitfalls
- Overusing inheritance when composition is better
- Violating the Liskov Substitution Principle
- Forgetting to use access modifiers for encapsulation
- Misunderstanding polymorphism's runtime behavior
📝 Pro Tip: Always ask "What is the relationship between these objects?" before designing class hierarchies.