In JavaScript, inheritance is also known as prototyping. A prototype object acts as a template for another object to inherit properties and behaviors from. There can be multiple prototype object templates, creating a prototype chain. This is the same concept as the parent/child inheritance. Inheritance is from parent to child. In our example all three dogs can bark, but only Maisel and Fluffy can herd. The Rufus is an object instantiated from
the parent class
EncapsulationEncapsulation means containing all important information inside an object, and only exposing selected information to the outside world. Attributes and behaviors are defined by code inside the class template. Then, when an object is instantiated from the class, the data and methods are encapsulated in that object. Encapsulation hides the internal software code implementation inside a class, and hides internal data of inside objects. Encapsulation requires defining some fields as private and some as public.
Let’s use a car as a metaphor for encapsulation. The information the car shares with the outside world, using blinkers to indicate turns, are public interfaces. In contrast, the engine is hidden under the hood. It’s a private, internal interface. When you’re driving a car down the road, other drivers require information to make decisions, like whether you’re turning left or right. However, exposing internal, private data like the engine temperature, would just confuse other drivers. Object oriented programming, also commonly referred to as OOP, is one of the most popular forms of programming. OOP allows developers to build on previously written code and comes with other features and benefits that make it a developer favorite. What are object oriented programming languages? A few examples include Java, Python, C#, and many more. In this post, I’ll break down what object-oriented programming is, why it’s so popular, all the important things you need to know about this programming paradigm, and the top object oriented programming languages you might want to learn. Table of Contents
Disclosure: I’m a proud affiliate for some of the resources mentioned in this article. If you buy a product through my links on this page, I may get a small commission for referring you. Thanks! What Is a Programming Language?Before jumping into what object-oriented programming is, let’s start by clarifying our terms: what exactly is a programming language in general? 👩💻 Here’s the most basic definition: a programming language is a set of rules that converts strings to various kinds of machine code output. Basically, it’s a collection of instructions given to a computer to execute. Each programming language—such as Java, Python, JavaScript, etc—has its own set of rules, syntax, and structure. You write code using a programming language in a text editor or IDE. This source code is then compiled into machine language that can be understood by the computer. Start coding now Stop waiting and start learning! Get my 10 tips on teaching yourself how to code. ☝️ Back to the table of contents Now that you know what a programming language is, what does object oriented programming mean? Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm (aka a certain kind of approach to programming) that relies on classes and objects.
Object Oriented Programming vs. Functional Programming vs. Procedural ProgrammingThere are other kinds of programming languages that are not object-oriented. The two main other types are functional programming and procedural programming.
☝️ Back to the table of contents 4 Principles of Object-Oriented ProgrammingThere are four object oriented programming principles, also sometimes known as the four “pillars” of OOP. Let’s take a look at them!
As you gain familiarity with OOP, you’ll start to better understand the advantages of object oriented programming principles like these. ☝️ Back to the table of contents Pros and Cons of OOPObject oriented programming languages may not be the best option in every single case, but they can be a great choice for a wide variety of projects and use cases. Here are some benefits of object oriented programming—and also a few drawbacks. Benefits of object oriented programming
Cons/limitations of object oriented programmingProgramming complexity: Because OOP is so scalable, it can create a ton of messy, unnecessary code.
☝️ Back to the table of contents 8 Object-Oriented Programming LanguagesSince object oriented programming concepts really just describe a category of coding, let’s dive into more specifics. What are object oriented programming languages? Chances are, you’ll recognize some (or even all) of the names below—even if you never knew they were object oriented programming languages! 1. PythonThe #1 most popular programming language as of April 2022, Python is known for being easy to learn, yet extremely powerful. Since it’s a general purpose language, it can be used for almost anything, making it a great first language for aspiring programmers, data scientists, robotics engineers, web developers, DevOps engineers, and more. Want to master Python? Then download my list of favorite Python learning resources. 2. JavaJava is the third most popular programming language as of April 2022, boasting over 9 million worldwide users. Businesses of all shapes and sizes use Java, including behemoths like Google and Amazon. It’s highly versatile, as well as fast and simple to program. 3. C++Developed as an extension of the C programming language, C++ basically adds object-oriented programming capabilities to C. It’s risen to become the #4 most popular programming language in the world. It’s a general purpose language, so it can be used for coding games, software engineering, developing browsers, operating systems, applications, etc. 4. RubyRuby is an object-oriented scripting language that’s especially common in web development. It’s an interpreted language like Python, rather than a compiled one like C or C++. It can also be used for automation, command line tools, DevOps, and more. Currently, it ranks as the #15 most popular programming language. 5. C#Also developed as an extension to C, C# is an object-oriented programming language that compiles into byte code, rather than machine code. Typically used in internal or enterprise applications, rather than commercial software. #5 most popular programming language. 6. TypeScriptA strongly typed programming language that builds on JavaScript. Not as popular as other languages, ranking as #43 in popularity. Traditionally, JavaScript is dynamically typed (like Python), but TypeScript strictly defines what a given variable can contain. 7. PHPPopular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development. PHP is used by 77.5% of all the websites whose server-side programming language we know, and is currently the #10 most popular language. 8. Objective-CObjective-C is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language used to develop apps for iOS. #17 most popular language. Other object-oriented languages include: R, Swift, Visual Basic.NET, Perl, Scala, Kotlin, and more! ☝️ Back to the table of contents FAQs About Object-Oriented ProgrammingObject oriented programming concepts aren’t always the easiest to wrap your head around, so let’s finish up with a few answers to frequently asked questions. What is object-oriented programming best for?Because OOP allows you to break programs down into bite-sized problems that can be solved easily, it can be used for a wide variety of projects. It’s especially good for large, complex applications that need to be updated frequently, but can also be used for smaller hobby projects you build for just yourself. It’s highly versatile. The only time you may want to use functional programming instead, for example, is if you have to perform lots of different operations on the same set of data (mathematical computations, artificial intelligence, etc). Should I learn an object-oriented programming language?Whether or not you should learn an object oriented language mostly depends on your goals. But learning an OOP language is often a smart move because of how popular and in-demand they are. Many of the most popular programming languages are object-oriented. Which object-oriented programming language should I learn?The great thing about coding is that once you learn one language, it’s often easier to learn another. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself to choose the “right” one immediately. That said, to narrow it down, think about your career goals. For example, if you have a dream company to work at, what is their tech stack? What language is most in-demand in your area? What kinds of projects do you want to work on? 🎧 Listen to this podcast episode for more help on choosing the right programming language for you. Whether the right language for you ends up being object oriented, functional, or procedural (or you mix and match!), check out more of our tech skills guides to point you in the right direction! What are the top 5 objectTop object-oriented programming languages to learn in 2023. C# C# is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language. ... . PHP. PHP is an open-source, server-side scripting language popular for creating dynamic web pages. ... . Java. ... . Ruby. ... . Python.. Is C++ an object oriented language?C++ is widely considered an object-oriented programming language. Stroustrup developed C++ by adding object-oriented capabilities to the C programming language. When we say that a language is an object-oriented programming language, we often mean that it supports object-oriented programming.
Is Java an object oriented language?Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language that is designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.
Which programming languages are OOP?Programming languages designed primarily for OOP include: Java. Python. C++. Visual Basic .NET.. JavaScript.. |