Technology Fundamentals

Object-Oriented Programming

Definition

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of "objects", which can contain data in the form of fields (often known as attributes or properties), and code, in the form of procedures (often known as methods).

Why It Matters

OOP helps developers structure programs into reusable, modular pieces (objects). This makes code easier to manage, debug, and scale, especially for large and complex applications.

Contextual Example

In a car simulation game, each car could be an "object". The `Car` class would define attributes like `color` and `speed`, and methods like `accelerate()` and `turn()`. You could then create many individual car objects from this class.

Common Misunderstandings

  • The four main principles of OOP are Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance, and Polymorphism.
  • OOP is a paradigm, not a specific language. Many languages support it, including Java, C++, Python, and C#.

Related Terms

Last Updated: December 17, 2025