Python OOP Concepts Made Simple

Explaining Object-Oriented Programming with Simple Examples

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that uses objects and classes to structure and organize code.

In Python, OOP concepts are fundamental, and they allow you to create reusable and organized code.

The key OOP concepts in Python:

(1) Class:

• A class is like a blueprint or template for creating objects.
• It defines the attributes (data) and methods (functions) that the objects of the class will have.

class Car:
    def __init__(self, make, model):
        self.make = make
        self.model = model

    def start_engine(self):
        print(f"{self.make} {self.model}'s engine started.")

(2) Object:

• An object is an instance of a class.
• It is a real, tangible entity created based on the class definition.

my_car = Car("Toyota", "Camry")
my_car.start_engine()

(3) Attributes:

• Attributes are data members (variables) that belong to a class or an object.
• They represent the characteristics or properties of the object.

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

(4) Methods:

• Methods are functions defined within a class.
• They define the behavior or actions that the objects of the class can perform.

class Circle:
    def __init__(self, radius):
        self.radius = radius

    def area(self):
        return 3.14159 * self.radius * self.radius

(5) Inheritance:

• Inheritance is a mechanism that allows a class (subclass or derived class) to inherit attributes and methods from another class (base class or superclass).
• It promotes code reuse and the creation of hierarchical relationships between classes.

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        pass

class Dog(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        return "Woof!"

(6) Encapsulation:

• Encapsulation is the concept of bundling data (attributes) and methods (functions) that operate on that data within a single unit, i.e., a class.
• It provides data hiding and protection by making attributes private or protected.

class BankAccount:
    def __init__(self, account_number, balance):
        self.__account_number = account_number  # Private attribute
        self.balance = balance

    def deposit(self, amount):
        self.balance += amount

(7) Polymorphism:

• Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass.
• It enables method overriding, where subclasses can provide their own implementation of inherited methods.

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        pass

class Cat(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        return "Meow!"

class Dog(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        return "Woof!"

(8) Abstraction:

• Abstraction is the process of simplifying complex reality by modeling classes based on essential attributes and behaviors.
• It hides the unnecessary details and exposes only the relevant parts of an object.

from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Shape(ABC):
    @abstractmethod
    def area(self):
        pass

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