Object Oriented Programming

Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of Python Programming!

In this episode, we'll introduce you to the world of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and its key features using everyday examples to help you grasp these basic concepts.

Let's get started!

Abstraction: Simplifying Things

In the world of OOP, we solve problems in a unique way. First, we figure out what things are involved in the problem, what those things can do, and how they affect each other.

If this sounds a bit complicated, don't worry! We'll soon look at an example to make it clear.

Imagine you're on a road trip in your car, enjoying the ride. Suddenly, you hear a strange noise coming from the engine, and you pull over to check. But here's the thing: you don't need to understand how the engine works to drive your car. You know about the steering wheel, gears, brakes, and wheels, but you don't need to know the details of how they function. The same goes for your TV; you use the remote to watch shows without knowing how it all works inside.

This simplification, where we hide the complicated stuff and show only what's necessary, is called "Abstraction." When you drive, you focus on actions like turning the steering wheel or pressing the brakes. These actions are like buttons you press to interact with your car's inner workings. You don't need to worry about the complex stuff going on behind the scenes. It's the same with your TV; you use the remote to control it because it's simpler than opening up the TV to make changes.

Encapsulation: Keeping Things Together

Now, let's talk about "Encapsulation," the second pillar of OOP.

Imagine you're watching TV, and you want to turn up the volume. You use the TV remote control, and guess what? It only affects the TV, not your phone or anything else. The remote control is designed to work with the TV, and it knows how to deal with the TV's volume, channels, and other things.

Encapsulation is like putting your things in a box. Your TV's volume control is inside the TV, and only the TV remote knows how to use it. It's a way to keep everything organized and protected. Encapsulation bundles together the data (like volume or channel) and the actions (like changing the volume) into a single package. This keeps things tidy and prevents you from accidentally changing something you shouldn't.

Inheritance: Building on the Basics

Let's move on to the third pillar of OOP, "Inheritance."

Think about cars and TVs again. There are many different car models and TV brands out there, each with unique features. But no matter which car you have, it has basic things like wheels, doors, and a steering wheel. These are the essential parts of any car.

Car manufacturers add special features to make their cars unique. TV makers do the same with their products. This is where "Inheritance" comes in. Inheritance lets you start with the basics and then add or change things to create something new.

Polymorphism: One Size Fits Many

Finally, let's talk about "Polymorphism."

Imagine you have a magic remote control. It doesn't have buttons for "Car" or "TV." Instead, it has one button that does the right thing no matter what you point it at. Point it at your car, and it starts the engine. Point it at your TV, and it turns on the screen. It's like magic!

This is what we call "Polymorphism." It makes things easy because you don't have to worry about what type of thing you're dealing with. You press the button, and it works its magic.

In the programming world, polymorphism lets you write code that works with different things in a similar way. You don't need to know all the technical details of each thing; you just use them in a straightforward manner.

With these four pillars of Object-Oriented Programming—Abstraction, Encapsulation, Inheritance, and Polymorphism—you have a solid foundation to explore the exciting world of programming with Python.

In the upcoming editions we shall discuss how to create object oriented programs.

Happy coding!