OOPs

OOPs, or object-oriented programming, is a programming paradigm centered on modeling software as a collection of objects. Each object bundles data and the procedures that operate on that data, providing a modular structure and enabling reuse through well-defined interfaces.

The primary building blocks are classes and objects. A class defines a blueprint for objects, specifying data attributes and methods; an object is an instantiation of a class. Encapsulation hides internal state and implementation details, exposing a controlled interface.

Inheritance allows new classes to reuse and extend existing ones, supporting code reuse and hierarchical organization. Polymorphism enables different objects to be treated as instances of a common base type while exhibiting specialized behavior. Abstraction focuses on essential features, omitting unnecessary details.

Design decisions in OOPs emphasize messaging and dynamic behavior. When a method is invoked, the runtime dispatches the call to the appropriate implementation. Concepts such as composition over inheritance, and explicit interfaces or abstract classes, aim to improve flexibility and maintainability. SOLID principles are often cited as guidelines.

Benefits of OOPs include modularity, easier maintenance, and reusable components that can model complex systems. Common languages that support OOPs include Java, C++, Python, C#, and Ruby. Critics argue that OOPs can introduce unnecessary complexity, performance overhead, and over-abstraction when applied inappropriately, and that not all problems benefit from object-centric design.

Originating in the 1960s with Simula and popularized by Smalltalk and later languages such as Java and C++, object-oriented programming has become a dominant approach in software development. It coexists with other paradigms, such as functional and procedural programming, depending on project goals.