What are the main features of OOPs?
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a fundamental paradigm in software development that emphasizes the use of objects and classes to create modular, reusable, and maintainable code. Understanding the main features of OOP is essential for designing robust applications and performing well in technical interviews. Here are the primary features of OOP:
Encapsulation
Encapsulation is the practice of bundling the data (attributes) and the methods (functions) that operate on that data within a single unit, typically a class. It restricts direct access to some of an object's components, which helps protect the integrity of the data and prevents unintended interference.
Example
Consider a BankAccount class that holds the account balance and provides methods to deposit and withdraw funds. By making the balance attribute private and providing public methods to modify it, you ensure that the balance cannot be altered directly, maintaining data integrity.
Abstraction
Abstraction involves hiding the complex implementation details and exposing only the necessary features of an object. It allows developers to work with high-level concepts without needing to understand the underlying complexities, simplifying the interaction with objects.
Example
A Database class might provide methods like connect(), executeQuery(), and disconnect(). Users of this class can perform database operations without needing to know how the connections are managed or how queries are executed internally.
Inheritance
Inheritance allows a new class to inherit properties and behaviors from an existing class. This promotes code reusability and establishes a hierarchical relationship between classes, enabling the creation of more specialized classes based on general ones.
Example
Imagine a base class Animal with attributes like age and weight, and methods like eat() and sleep(). A subclass Dog can inherit these attributes and methods while adding specific features like breed and behaviors like bark().
Polymorphism
Polymorphism enables objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. It allows methods to perform different functions based on the object they are acting upon, enhancing flexibility and integration within the code.
Example
Suppose you have a method makeSound() in a superclass Animal. Subclasses like Dog and Cat can override this method to provide specific sounds like barking or meowing. When makeSound() is called on an Animal reference, the appropriate subclass method is executed.
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