How to Use Object-Oriented Programming in Python

Python is a universal language that you can use on the backend, frontend, or full stack of a web application.

In this article, we’re going to focus on how to use Python for object-oriented programming (OOP). If you’re new to OOP, don’t worry; we’ll start with the basics.

You’ll learn about what OOP is, why it’s useful, and how to create classes and objects in Python. By the end of this article, you should have a good understanding of how to use Python for OOP.

What Is Object-Oriented Programming?

In Python, everything is an object. Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a style of programming that focuses on using objects to model real-world entities. In OOP, each object is responsible for its own data and behavior.

OOP is a programming style built around the concept of objects. Objects are the basic units of code in an OOP language. An object is a collection of data and instructions for working with that data.

In Python, everything is an object. That means that every value in Python has certain characteristics or attributes. For example, every string has a length attribute:

>>> len(“Hello”)

5

Every list has a sort method:

>>> [1, 2, 3].sort()

[1, 2, 3]

You can think of an object as a “thing” with certain properties and abilities. In Python, we use classes to create new objects. A class is like a template for creating objects. When you create an object from a class, that object is called an instance of the class.

OOP in Python

Python is a programming language with many features that make it an attractive choice for object-oriented programming (OOP). Classes and objects are two important concepts in OOP that allow us to model real-world situations in our code. 

One of the main benefits of using OOP is that it helps us to organize our code better. By creating classes, we can group together related code and data. This makes our code more readable and easier to maintain. 

Objects also give us a way to model complex systems in our code. We can create objects representing different parts of the system and then write code to simulate how they interact.

OOP can help us to write more efficient code as well. For example, when we create a class, we can define methods that operate on the data stored in the class. This lets us encapsulate functionality so we can reuse it later without having to rewrite the code. 

Additionally, inheritance is a powerful tool that allows us to extend existing classes and create new ones that inherit all the functionality of the parent class.

OOP is a powerful programming paradigm that can help us write better-quality code. If you’re new to Python or experienced but not familiar with OOP, I hope this article has been helpful in explaining some of the basics.

What Are The Four Pillars of OOP

In object-oriented programming, the four pillars are abstraction, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation.

1. Abstraction

This is the process of hiding implementation details from the outside world. In Python, this is accomplished by creating interfaces and abstract base classes. 

Interfaces define a class’s public methods, while abstract base classes can provide default implementations for some or all of those methods.

2. Inheritance

This is the ability to create new classes that are derived from existing classes. In Python, a child class can inherit from multiple parent classes. This allows for the reuse of code and flexibility in design.

3. Polymorphism

This is the ability of an object to take on different forms depending on the context in which it is used. In Python, this is accomplished by using duck typing. 

Duck typing means that an object only needs to implement the required interface; there is no need to declare its type explicitly. This makes Python code more flexible and easier to read.

4. Encapsulation

This is the process of hiding information inside an object. In Python, this is accomplished using data members prefixed with an underscore (_). 

Data members with this prefix are considered private and are not accessible from outside the object. This helps to prevent accidental modification of data and promotes code reuse.

How To Define A Class In Python

Classes are essentially templates for creating objects. They’re a blueprint for an object, and you can create a new class by using the class keyword.

When you define a class, you specify the attributes and behavior that will be part of that class. Attributes are data associated with a particular object, and behavior is anything an object can do. 

For instance, both dogs and cats have fur, so fur could be an attribute shared by both classes. And both dogs and cats can make noise, so making noise could be considered a behavior shared by both classes.

To create a class in Python, you use the class keyword followed by the name of the class. For example:

Class Dog: pass

This creates a new class called Dog. The pass keyword indicates that there is no code inside the class definition at this time. You can add attributes and behavior to your classes later on.

How To Create An Object In Python

Python is an object-oriented programming language. It allows you to create objects and interact with them.

First, you need to define a class. A class is like a template for creating objects. It contains the data and methods that represent the object.

Next, you need to create an instance of the class. An instance is a specific object that is created from a class. It has its own data and methods.

Finally, you can use the methods and attributes of the object. Methods are functions that are associated with an object. Attributes are data that is associated with an object.

How To Create Instance Methods In Python

Python is an object-oriented programming language allowing users to create their own objects with their own methods.

The user first needs to create a class to create an instance method. A class is like a template for an object, and it contains all of the variables and methods that will be associated with that object.

Once the class has been created, the user can then create an instance of that class. An instance is a specific occurrence of a class, and it can have its own unique variables and methods.

To create an instance method, the user must first define a method within the class. This method will take the self as its first argument. self refers to the instance itself, and it is used so that the method can access the instance’s variables and other methods.

After the method has been defined, the user can then call it on an instance of the class. When the method is called, it will automatically take self as its first argument. The user can then add any additional arguments after self that are needed by the method.

How To Use Inheritance In Python

In Python, inheritance is a way to define a new class that is based on an existing class. The new class inherits all the attributes and methods of the existing class and can add its own attributes and methods.

Inheritance is useful for creating classes that are variations of other classes. For example, you could create a new class called “Dog” that inherits from the “Animal” class. 

The Dog class would inherit all the attributes and methods of the Animal class but could also add its own attributes and methods (such as “bark” or “fetch”).

To create a new class that inherits from an existing class, use the following syntax:

class NewClass(ExistingClass):

# Add any new attributes and methods here

For example:

class Dog(Animal):

def bark(self):

print(“Woof!”)

def fetch(self):

print(“Fetching…”)

FAQs on Object-Oriented Programming Python

Bottom Line

In this article, we’ve gone over what object-oriented programming is and how you can use it in your Python programs. 

We’ve also taken a look at some of the benefits that come with using object-oriented programming. 

If you’re new to programming, or if you’re just looking for a different way to structure your code, then object-oriented programming in Python might be right for you.

References

• educative.io– How to Use Object-Oriented Programming in Python