Introduction to OOPs Concepts

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

• OOP is a programming paradigm centered around classes and objects, incorporating both data and methods.
• Supports organized, modular, and reusable code, essential for complex problem-solving in Data Structures and Algorithms.

Programming Paradigms

• Imperative Programming: Details explicit steps for desired outcomes (e.g., C, Java).
• Declarative Programming: Specifies what the program should accomplish without defining the means (e.g., SQL, HTML).
• Object-Oriented Programming: Structures programs around objects and classes.

Advantages of OOP

• Modularity: Facilitates program organization by dividing it into distinct objects.
• Reusability: Inheritance allows existing code to be reused across multiple classes.
• Scalability: Clear structuring aids in adding new features without significant rework.
• Maintainability: Changes in one object don’t affect others, enhancing program stability.
• Abstraction: Simplifies complexity by hiding implementation details.
• Encapsulation: Restricts direct access to data, providing increased security.

Concepts - Classes and Objects

• Class: A user-defined blueprint for creating objects; encapsulates data and methods.
• Object: An instance of a class, representing a specific entity with attributes and methods.
• All objects from the same class are independent; changes in one do not impact others.

Class vs. Structure

• Class: Can package data and methods together, supports inheritance; members are private by default.
• Structure: Primarily groups data; members are public by default and do not support inheritance.

Basic Features of OOP

• Encapsulation: Bundles data and methods within a single unit, controls access to internal state.
• Abstraction: Shows only essential features, concealing complex details and simplifying interaction.

Access Specifiers

• Public: Accessible everywhere.
• Private: Accessible only within the same class.
• Protected: Accessible within the same package and subclasses.
• Default specifier limits access to within the package.

Inheritance

• Allows a child class to inherit properties and behaviors from a parent class.
• Single Inheritance: One base class, one derived class.
• Hierarchical Inheritance: One base class, multiple derived classes.
• Multi-Level Inheritance: Derived class created from another derived class.
• Multiple Inheritance: One derived class inherits from multiple base classes.

Types of Constructors

• Default Constructor: No parameters; initializes object fields with default values.
• Parameterized Constructor: Accepts parameters to initialize object attributes.
• Copy Constructor: Uses an existing object to create a new one.
• Static Constructor: Called when the first instance is created.
• Private Constructor: Restrains creation of class instances outside of the class scope.

Constructor Overloading

• A class can have multiple constructors with different parameters for varying initializations.

Destructor

• Special method for destroying an object, invoked when an object is out of scope or deleted.

Shallow Copy vs. Deep Copy

• Shallow Copy: Creates a new object pointing to the same memory location as the original's attributes.
• Deep Copy: Duplicates an object along with all nested objects, creating an independent copy. Changes to deep copies do not affect the original.

This quiz explores the fundamentals of Object-Oriented Programming (OOPs), focusing on its core concepts such as classes and objects. Understanding OOPs is essential for creating organized and reusable code, particularly in the realms of Data Structures and Algorithms.