Python OOP Fundamentals

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python

Classes and Objects

• A class is a blueprint for creating objects.
• An object is an instance of a class.
• Classes define properties and behaviors of objects.

Key Concepts

• Inheritance: A child class inherits properties and behaviors from a parent class.
• Polymorphism: Objects of different classes can be treated as objects of a common superclass.
• Encapsulation: Objects hide their internal state and expose only necessary information.
• Abstraction: Objects represent complex systems in a simplified way.

Class Syntax

• class ClassName: defines a class.
• self is a conventionally used parameter to refer to the current object.

Constructors

• __init__ is a special method called when an object is created.
• Initializes object's attributes with default values.

Attributes and Methods

• Attributes: Data associated with objects, defined inside __init__.
• Methods: Functions defined inside a class, operate on objects.

Inheritance in Python

• class ChildClass(ParentClass): inherits from ParentClass.
• super() function is used to access parent class methods.

Method Types

• Instance methods: Operate on object instances.
• Class methods: Operate on the class itself.
• Static methods: Not bound to the class or instance, just a function inside a class.

Access Modifiers

• Public: No access restrictions.
• Private: Prefix with double underscore (__), not accessible from outside the class.
• Protected: Prefix with single underscore (_), should not be accessed from outside the class.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python

• A class is a blueprint or template for creating objects.
• An object is an instance of a class, and multiple objects can be created from a single class.

Key Concepts

• Inheritance: A child class inherits properties and behaviors from a parent class.
• Polymorphism: Objects of different classes can be treated as objects of a common superclass.
• Encapsulation: Objects hide their internal state and expose only necessary information.
• Abstraction: Objects represent complex systems in a simplified way.

Class Syntax

• A class is defined using the class keyword followed by the class name, for example: class ClassName:.
• The self parameter is used to refer to the current object.

Constructors

• The __init__ method is a special method called when an object is created.
• __init__ initializes an object's attributes with default values.

Attributes and Methods

• Attributes are data associated with objects, defined inside the __init__ method.
• Methods are functions defined inside a class, which operate on objects.

Inheritance in Python

• A child class inherits from a parent class using the syntax class ChildClass(ParentClass):.
• The super() function is used to access parent class methods.

Method Types

• Instance methods operate on object instances.
• Class methods operate on the class itself.
• Static methods are not bound to the class or instance, and are just a function inside a class.

Access Modifiers

• Public attributes have no access restrictions.
• Private attributes are prefixed with double underscore (__) and are not accessible from outside the class.
• Protected attributes are prefixed with single underscore (_) and should not be accessed from outside the class.