OOP Intro

• Most popular languages are OOP
  • Python, C, C++
• It is a method of programming that attempts to model some process or thing in the world as a class or object
• A VERY NICE TO HAVE WAY OF THINKING

Classes/Objects

• Class
  • Blueprints for objects.
  • Contains methods (functions) and attributes (similar to keys in a dict)
• Object
  • Instances of classes
  • Objects constructed from a class blueprint that contain their class’s methods and properties

Example: Deck of cards

• private
  • use underscore in front of variable (convention)
  • python has no strict enforcement of private variables (like other languages such as C#)

Encapsulation

Grouping of public and private attributes/methods into a programmatic class, making abstraction possible

• Key aspects
  • Data hiding - protects an objects data/internal state from outside
    • exposing only what’s necessary
  • public interfaces
    • functions that allow interaction with external code
• Not exposing information as much as possible - the bare minimum, keep it “encapsulated”

Abstraction

Exposing only the relevant data in a class interface, hiding the private attributes and methods (the “inner workings”) from users