Introduction to Programming Concepts

Study Notes

Procedural programming executes a sequence of operations through defined procedures
Variables in procedural programming represent named memory locations for data storage
Object-oriented programming utilizes classes as blueprints to create objects, managing data and behavior together
Key applications for OOP include computer simulations and graphical user interfaces (GUIs)
OOP employs concepts like polymorphism, inheritance, and encapsulation, which vary from procedural programming

A class describes objects sharing common properties and defines their characteristics
Attributes are characteristics that distinguish different objects of the same class and represent their state
Objects are individual instances of a class, encapsulating both data and methods
Encapsulation secures internal data and methods, preventing unauthorized access and inadvertent changes

Methods are self-contained blocks of code that perform specific actions, akin to procedures
Encapsulation enhances security by hiding an object's internal workings from the outside world

Inheritance allows classes to share features from existing classes while adding more specific attributes and methods
Understanding inheritance helps in grasping real-world object representations in programming
Polymorphism permits the same term to exhibit different meanings depending on the context, allowing for flexible coding practices

Every object belongs to a class and can be described with "is-a" relationships; e.g., a shark "is a" fish
Instantiation refers to creating a specific object from a class, like a Shark object from the Fish class
Code reusability encourages efficient programming practices where methods return information to the requesting class or user

Assign a clear name to the class and determine attributes and methods to include
Class header must consist of an optional access modifier, the keyword "class," and a legal identifier for the class name
A public class allows universal access among all objects

Instance variables are non-static fields declared within a class but outside any method, providing specific data to each object
Setting private access for fields limits their visibility to methods within the same class, promoting information hiding

Class methods include mutator methods for changing field values and accessor methods for retrieving them
Instance methods are tied to specific objects and declare non-static data fields, while static variables belong to the class itself

Organize data fields at the beginning of the class for clarity, often listing them vertically
It is common practice to list data fields before methods to provide a clear overview of the class structure before details of its function