{"id":3073,"date":"2011-05-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/object-oriented-programming\/"},"modified":"2024-07-04T14:56:04","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T14:56:04","slug":"object-oriented-programming","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3235\/object-oriented-programming-oop","title":{"rendered":"Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span id=\"what_is_object-oriented_programming_oop\">What is Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a style of programming that uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24771\/modular\">modular<\/a> components to build large, complex <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4224\/application-software\">software applications<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The design principles of object-oriented programming allow developers to build a basic version of a self-contained unit of code and then extend its functionality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/25895\/iterative-and-incremental-development\">incrementally and iteratively<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In theory, OOP should be easy to learn. At a fundamental level, this programming style is based on how people organize information and interact with the world around them.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is that OOP uses terms that can be confusing for beginners. Taking time and understanding the vocabulary is important because OOP concepts have become integral to most aspects of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13686\/scrum\">Scrum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13647\/lean-programming\">Lean<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/how-the-agile-methodology-can-improve-time-to-market\/2\/34857\">Agile<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13296\/software-engineering\">software engineering<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-300x190.jpg\" alt=\"What is Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?\" width=\"1200\" height=\"760\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-274112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-768x486.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-1536x973.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-2048x1297.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-1200x760.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/2-Object-Oriented-Programming-OOP-1980x1254.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#dddddd;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#F7F7F7;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<h2><span id=\"key_takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Object-oriented programming can have a high learning curve.<\/li>\n<li>OOP builds software around classes that represent real-world entities or concepts.<\/li>\n<li>Classes act as templates that allow developers to create modular units of code called objects.<\/li>\n<li>Each object contains data and specifies the operations that can manipulate the data.<\/li>\n<li>Software applications that are designed with OOP principles typically conduct operations on objects to ensure data integrity and consistency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"how_oop_works\">How OOP Works<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>OOP developers build software by using templates called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3214\/class-java\">classes<\/a>. Classes are designed to structure code in self-contained modular units called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24339\/java-object\">objects<\/a>. Each class defines what kind of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/807\/data\">data<\/a> an object can hold and what actions the object can perform.<\/p>\n<p>The principles of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3787\/encapsulation-c\">encapsulation<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3736\/abstraction-computer-science\">abstraction<\/a> allow object <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/16325\/instance\">instances<\/a> to be repurposed and reused. Encapsulation bundles data and actions together to create an object. Abstraction hides the object&#8217;s inner workings and provides an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27989\/interface-c\">interface<\/a> that allows objects to interact by <a href=\"https:\/\/atomicobject.com\/oo-programming\/messaging\" target=\"_blank\">sending messages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The principles of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27987\/inheritance-c\">inheritance<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/28106\/polymorphism-general-programming\">polymorphism<\/a> allow classes to be modified so they can be used for different purposes. Essentially, inheritance allows developers to create new classes that are based on existing classes, and polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as if they belong to the same class.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"oop_concepts\">OOP Concepts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>OOP concepts are intended to be understood intuitively because they are modeled after real-world interactions, but the terminology can be confusing. The key is to find simple explanations for each concept. Hopefully, this OOP definition will help.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some very simple explanations of terms you are likely to run into when reading about OOP or listening to a discussion that involves object-oriented programming:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Class<\/strong> is a template that defines the structure and behaviors of modular, self-contained units of code.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Objects<\/strong> are modular, self-contained units of code.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instance<\/strong> is a specific object.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Attribute<\/strong> is data stored inside an object.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Method<\/strong> describes how an object can interact with other data or objects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Constructor<\/strong> is a mechanism that ensures an object is in a valid state before it&#8217;s used.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Method call<\/strong> is an instruction that tells an object what task to perform.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Derived class<\/strong> is a new class based on an existing class.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Base class<\/strong> is the original class that provides common structure and behaviors to subclasses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Subclass<\/strong> is a synonym for derived class.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Message passing<\/strong> is how objects communicate with each other.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"four_main_principles_of_oop\">Four Main Principles of OOP<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The four main principles of OOP that support modular, reusable, and maintainable code are <strong>encapsulation<\/strong>, <strong>abstraction<\/strong>, <strong>inheritance<\/strong>, and <strong>polymorphism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a more technical explanation for each principle:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><div class=\"su-accordion su-u-trim\">\n<p class=\"p1\"><div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Encapsulation<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Defines how attributes and methods are bundled together within an object. One key aspect of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Encapsulation_(computer_programming)\" target=\"_blank\">encapsulation<\/a> is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/14738\/data-hiding\">data hiding<\/a>. By restricting direct access to an object&#8217;s attributes, the class forces any interaction with its data to be performed through its methods. This control mechanism protects the attributes from being accessed or modified directly and ensures that the object&#8217;s methods are consistent. <\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Abstraction<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Simplifies complex code by focusing on essential features and deprecating details that aren&#8217;t essential. Abstract classes and interfaces define a contract that specifies methods an object needs to implement. The contract allows objects to interact at a high level without needing to know about each other&#8217;s inner workings. <\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Inheritance<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Allows programmers to create a derived class that automatically includes all the attributes and methods of its base class and any modifications. Essentially, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codecademy.com\/resources\/blog\/what-is-inheritance\/\" target=\"_blank\">inheritance<\/a> establishes an &#8220;is-a&#8221; relationship between the classes. This relationship allows programmers to write <a href=\"https:\/\/romig.dev\/blog\/c-oop-primer-generics\/\" target=\"_blank\">generic code<\/a> that can work with objects of different classes as long as they share a common base class. <\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Polymorphism<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">Allows objects of different classes to be treated as if they are objects of a common <a href=\"https:\/\/stackoverflow.com\/questions\/13042037\/difference-between-a-parent-class-and-super-class\" target=\"_blank\">superclass<\/a>. This can be accomplished by overriding methods and using dynamic binding (also known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24292\/late-binding\">late binding<\/a>). When an overridden method is called on a derived class object, the derived class&#8217;s implementation is executed instead of the base class&#8217;s implementation. This allows developers to write code that works with related objects without having to duplicate code for each specific type. <\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"popular_oop_languages\">Popular OOP Languages<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Popular languages that support OOP include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.w3schools.com\/java\/java_intro.asp\" target=\"_blank\">Java<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/best-python-certifications\">Python<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26184\/c-plus-plus-programming-language\">C++<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/dotnet\/csharp\/tour-of-csharp\/tutorials\/\" target=\"_blank\">C#<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3301\/ruby\">Ruby<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/backend.turing.edu\/module4\/resources\/intro_to_oojs?ads_cmpid=6451354298&amp;ads_adid=76255849919&amp;ads_matchtype=&amp;ads_network=g&amp;ads_creative=582477081488&amp;utm_term=&amp;ads_targetid=dsa-19959388920&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;ttv=2&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw-O6zBhASEiwAOHeGxXS-ey7r4WCNu5UuMK75dBzoF9HN3kZFRm7yI80pvduNMtTXk25DoBoC02wQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\">JavaScript<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.appsignal.com\/2022\/04\/06\/principles-of-object-oriented-programming-in-typescript.html\" target=\"_blank\">TypeScript<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zend.com\/blog\/object-oriented-programming-php\" target=\"_blank\">PHP<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kodeco.com\/599-object-oriented-programming-in-swift\" target=\"_blank\">Swift<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Each language offers unique features that make it more suitable for certain types of applications or environments. The choice of programming language depends on the specific project requirements, platform compatibility, developer expertise, and the available ecosystem of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3828\/software-library\">software libraries<\/a> and tools.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"object-oriented_programming_examples\">Object-Oriented Programming Examples<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Salesforce <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/crm\/best-crm-software\">CRM software<\/a> is a well-known example of how OOP can be effectively used to build robust, customizable, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/9269\/scalability\">scalable<\/a> enterprise applications. Salesforce CRM data is organized into objects whose attributes and interactions with other objects mirror real-world relationships.<\/p>\n<p>SAP has used OOP principles to support legacy software. SAP&#8217;s primary programming language is <a href=\"https:\/\/help.sap.com\/doc\/abapdocu_751_index_htm\/7.51\/en-us\/abenabap_obj_progr_model_guidl.htm\" target=\"_blank\">ABAP<\/a> (Advanced Business Application Programming). Arguably, ABAP was not specifically designed for OOP, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/16348\/abap-objects\">ABAP Objects<\/a> made it very clear that SAP developers value OOP concepts.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"oop_pros_and_cons\">OOP Pros and Cons<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Object-oriented programming offers powerful modeling tools and methodologies, but it also comes with its own set of challenges, especially as projects grow in complexity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-row\"><div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-2\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<strong>Pros<\/strong><br \/>\n<div class=\"su-list\" style=\"margin-left:0px\">\n<ul>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Improved code organization and readability<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Easier maintenance and debugging<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Increased code reuse and reduced redundancy<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> More accurate modeling of complex systems<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Support for collaborative development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-2 pros_icons_\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<strong>Cons<\/strong><br \/>\n<div class=\"su-list\" style=\"margin-left:0px\">\n<ul>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> High learning curve<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> Requires careful planning<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> Risk of creating unnecessary classes and objects<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> Misuse of inheritance can complicate development<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> Debugging is challenging when behaviors are distributed across classes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"the_bottom_line\">The Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you are considering using OOP, it can be useful to consider object-oriented programming&#8217;s meaning and implications in the context of a specific project and programming language. An OOP approach is useful for managing large enterprise-level projects that will be improved iteratively over a number of years, but it can be overkill for small development projects with tight deadlines.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"man_faq_sec\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><\/time><section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is Object-Oriented Programming in simple terms? <\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">OOP is a style of programming that uses modular templates called classes to build large, complex software applications.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is an example of object-oriented programming?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Adobe Photoshop is an example of a software application that was built with object-oriented programming. <\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What are the four basics of OOP?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">The four basic concepts of OOP are encapsulation, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Abstraction_(computer_science)\" target=\"_blank\">abstraction<\/a>, inheritance, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksforgeeks.org\/polymorphism-in-java\/\" target=\"_blank\">polymorphism<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">Is C++ an object-oriented programming?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Yes. C++ supports encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism. <\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">Is Python an OOP?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Yes. Python supports encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<div class=\"reference-content\">\n<div class=\"reference-heading reference-content-collapsible-heading\">\n<h2><span id=\"references\">References<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"reference-content-body\">\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/atomicobject.com\/oo-programming\/messaging\" target=\"_blank\">Object-Oriented Messaging<\/a> (Atomicobject)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Encapsulation_(computer_programming)\" target=\"_blank\">Encapsulation (computer programming) &#8211; Wikipedia<\/a> (En.wikipedia)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Abstraction_(computer_science)\" target=\"_blank\">Abstraction (computer science) &#8211; Wikipedia<\/a> (En.wikipedia)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.codecademy.com\/resources\/blog\/what-is-inheritance\/\" target=\"_blank\">What is Inheritance in Object-Oriented Programming? &#8211; Codecademy Blog<\/a> (Codecademy)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/romig.dev\/blog\/c-oop-primer-generics\/\" target=\"_blank\">C# OOP Primer: Generics | romig.dev<\/a> (Romig)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksforgeeks.org\/polymorphism-in-java\/\" target=\"_blank\">Polymorphism in Java &#8211; GeeksforGeeks<\/a> (Geeksforgeeks)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/stackoverflow.com\/questions\/13042037\/difference-between-a-parent-class-and-super-class\" target=\"_blank\">Difference between a parent class and super class<\/a> (Stackoverflow)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.w3schools.com\/java\/java_intro.asp\" target=\"_blank\">Java Introduction<\/a> (W3schools)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/dotnet\/csharp\/tour-of-csharp\/tutorials\/\" target=\"_blank\">Interactive tutorials &#8211; A tour of C# | Microsoft Learn<\/a> (Learn.microsoft)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/backend.turing.edu\/module4\/resources\/intro_to_oojs?ads_cmpid=6451354298&amp;ads_adid=76255849919&amp;ads_matchtype=&amp;ads_network=g&amp;ads_creative=582477081488&amp;utm_term=&amp;ads_targetid=dsa-19959388920&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;ttv=2&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw-O6zBhASEiwAOHeGxXS-ey7r4WCNu5UuMK75dBzoF9HN3kZFRm7yI80pvduNMtTXk25DoBoC02wQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\">An Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript &#8211; Back-End Engineering Curriculum &#8211; Turing School of Software and Design<\/a> (Backend.turing)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.appsignal.com\/2022\/04\/06\/principles-of-object-oriented-programming-in-typescript.html\" target=\"_blank\">Principles of Object-oriented Programming in TypeScript | AppSignal Blog<\/a> (Blog.appsignal)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zend.com\/blog\/object-oriented-programming-php\" target=\"_blank\">Object-Oriented Programming Design Basics for PHP Apps | Zend by Perforce<\/a> (Zend)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kodeco.com\/599-object-oriented-programming-in-swift\" target=\"_blank\">Object Oriented Programming in Swift | Kodeco<\/a> (Kodeco)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/help.sap.com\/doc\/abapdocu_751_index_htm\/7.51\/en-us\/abenabap_obj_progr_model_guidl.htm\" target=\"_blank\">ABAP Objects as a Programming Model &#8211; ABAP Keyword Documentation<\/a> (Help.sap)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)? Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a style of programming that uses modular components to build large, complex software applications. The design principles of object-oriented programming allow developers to build a basic version of a self-contained unit of code and then extend its functionality incrementally and iteratively. In theory, OOP should be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7813,"featured_media":274111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"definitioncat":[230,216],"class_list":["post-3073","definition","type-definition","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","definitioncat-privacy-and-compliance","definitioncat-software-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Object-Oriented Programming? OOP Definition &amp; Popular Languages<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Object-oriented programming is a paradigm that supports building complex software apps modularly. Learn the full meaning of OOP.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Object-oriented programming is a paradigm that supports building complex software apps modularly. 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