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Example:
class Dog: # The constructor method def __init__(self, name, breed): self.name = name # Attribute self.breed = breed # Method (function in the class) def bark(self): print(f"{self.name} says woof!") # Creating an object of the Dog class dog1 = Dog("Buddy", "Golden Retriever") dog1.bark() # Output: Buddy says woof!
Here, Dog is a class (the blueprint), and dog1 is an object created from this blueprint.
Encapsulation is about keeping data safe and only allowing interaction with it through controlled methods. By using private attributes (prefixed with _ or __), we ensure they can’t be accessed directly.
Example:
class BankAccount: def __init__(self, balance): self.__balance = balance # Private attribute def deposit(self, amount): self.__balance += amount def get_balance(self): return self.__balance account = BankAccount(100) account.deposit(50) print(account.get_balance()) # Output: 150
__balance is private, so we interact with it only through deposit() and get_balance() methods.
Inheritance allows a class (child) to derive attributes and methods from another class (parent), enabling code reuse and creating a natural hierarchy.
Example:
class Animal: def __init__(self, name): self.name = name def make_sound(self): pass class Dog(Animal): def make_sound(self): return "Woof!" class Cat(Animal): def make_sound(self): return "Meow!" dog = Dog("Buddy") cat = Cat("Whiskers") print(dog.make_sound()) # Output: Woof! print(cat.make_sound()) # Output: Meow!
Here, Dog and Cat inherit from Animal, meaning they can share common properties and behaviors but also have unique behaviors through method overriding.
Polymorphism allows methods to perform differently depending on the object that calls them. This is useful in cases like overriding methods in child classes, where each subclass can implement a behavior in its own way.
Example:
class Shape: def area(self): pass class Square(Shape): def __init__(self, side): self.side = side def area(self): return self.side * self.side class Circle(Shape): def __init__(self, radius): self.radius = radius def area(self): return 3.14 * self.radius * self.radius shapes = [Square(4), Circle(3)] for shape in shapes: print(shape.area())
Each shape calculates its area differently, even though they share the same method name, area(). This is polymorphism in action.
Abstraction focuses on showing only essential features and hiding complex details. It’s often achieved using abstract classes or interfaces (using the abc module in Python).
Example:
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod class Vehicle(ABC): @abstractmethod def start_engine(self): pass class Car(Vehicle): def start_engine(self): return "Car engine started!" class Motorcycle(Vehicle): def start_engine(self): return "Motorcycle engine started!" car = Car() motorcycle = Motorcycle() print(car.start_engine()) # Output: Car engine started! print(motorcycle.start_engine()) # Output: Motorcycle engine started!
Here, Vehicle is an abstract class that defines start_engine but doesn’t implement it. The Car and Motorcycle classes provide specific implementations, allowing us to focus on just the behavior relevant to each vehicle type.
By mastering these OOP principles—encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction—you’re not just writing code; you’re designing a whole system with structure, clarity, and efficiency.
Welcome to Python’s ‘cool architect’ club. ??"
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