Object Oriented Programming with C++

Course Overview

• Focus on understanding Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts and techniques.
• Emphasis on C++ programming fundamentals and software engineering principles.
• Enables design and implementation of OOP software to address moderately complex problems.

Course Structure

• The course combines lectures, laboratory practice, and handouts.
• Practical exercises and assignments form an essential part of the learning experience.

Assessment Criteria

• Quizzes: 15% of the total grade, conducted in class.
• Assignments: 15% of the total grade to be submitted as scheduled.
• Attendance: Constitutes 10% of the total grade, taken randomly.
• Final Exam: 60% of total grade, duration of 2 hours.

Class Participation

• Attendance is mandatory; missing more than 50% may prohibit final exam participation.
• Acceptable excuses for absence must be authorized by the Dean of Students.

C++ Programming Highlights

• C++ enhances C by introducing object orientation.
• Classes are the core feature supporting OOP, serving as user-defined data types.

Class Definitions

• Classes are blueprints for defining the structure of objects.
• Syntax: class ClassName { public: MemberType MemberName; };
• Members can be public (accessible outside the class) or private/protected (restricted access).

Objects in C++

• An object is an instance of a class, akin to a variable of a data type.
• Object declaration mirrors variable declaration: ClassName ObjectName;
• Example: Box Box1; and Box Box2; creates two Box objects.

Accessing Class Members

• Public data members are accessed using the member access operator (.).
• Example of accessing and manipulating object data in C++:
  • Define an object and assign values, e.g., Box1.height = 5.0;
  • Calculate and store the volume: volume = Box1.height * Box1.length * Box1.breadth;

Key Terms

• Data Encapsulation: Bundling data with its operations in classes.
• Inheritance: A mechanism for deriving new classes from existing ones.
• Polymorphism: Ability to call the same function in different contexts.
• Abstraction: Hiding complex implementation details while exposing essential features.

Reference Materials

• Essential readings include texts by Bjarne Stroustrup, Deitel, and Malik focused on C++ programming.