Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals

Study Notes

A blueprint or template that defines the properties and behavior of an object
Consists of:
- Data members (variables, attributes)
- Member functions (methods, functions)
Classes are essentially user-defined data types

Instances of a class
Each object has its own set of attributes (data members) and methods (member functions)
Objects can be manipulated independently of each other
Objects have their own set of values for their attributes

Mechanism that allows one class to inherit the properties and behavior of another class
The derived class inherits all members (data and functions) of the base class
Types of inheritance:
- Single inheritance: One derived class inherits from one base class
- Multiple inheritance: One derived class inherits from multiple base classes
- Multilevel inheritance: A derived class inherits from a class that is itself derived from another class
- Hybrid inheritance: Combination of multiple and multilevel inheritance

Ability of an object to take on multiple forms
Types of polymorphism:
- Compile-time polymorphism (function overloading, operator overloading)
- Runtime polymorphism (function overriding)
Achieved through:
- Function overloading: Multiple functions with the same name but different parameters
- Function overriding: Derived class provides a specific implementation of a function already defined in the base class
- Operator overloading: Redefining the behavior of operators for user-defined data types

Binding of data and methods that manipulate that data into a single unit (class)
Data hiding: Data members are hidden from the outside world, and can only be accessed through member functions
Benefits:
- Data protection
- Code organization and structure
- Improved code reusability

Define properties and behavior of an object
Composed of data members (variables, attributes) and member functions (methods, functions)
Essentially user-defined data types

Instances of a class
Each object has its own:
- Set of attributes (data members)
- Set of methods (member functions)
Objects can be manipulated independently of each other
Each object has its own set of values for its attributes

Mechanism that allows one class to inherit properties and behavior of another class
The derived class inherits all members (data and functions) of the base class
Types:
- Single inheritance: One derived class inherits from one base class
- Multiple inheritance: One derived class inherits from multiple base classes
- Multilevel inheritance: A derived class inherits from a class that is itself derived from another class
- Hybrid inheritance: Combination of multiple and multilevel inheritance

Ability of an object to take on multiple forms
Types:
- Compile-time polymorphism: Function overloading, operator overloading
- Runtime polymorphism: Function overriding
Achieved through:
- Function overloading: Multiple functions with the same name but different parameters
- Function overriding: Derived class provides a specific implementation of a function already defined in the base class
- Operator overloading: Redefining the behavior of operators for user-defined data types

Binding of data and methods that manipulate that data into a single unit (class)
Data hiding: Data members are hidden from the outside world, and can only be accessed through member functions
Benefits:
- Data protection
- Code organization and structure
- Improved code reusability