Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm centered around data, or "objects," rather than just functions and logic. It involves bundling related properties and behaviors into individual objects. An OOP program consists of objects that interact with one another. OOP is well-suited for large, complex software that requires active updating and maintenance, such as programs for manufacturing and mobile applications.
OOP is based on principles like encapsulation, where important information is contained within an object and only select data is exposed, offering greater program security. Abstraction is another key principle. Many popular languages like C++, Java, and Python utilize OOP. In OOP, a class serves as a blueprint for creating objects, defining the data (variables) and methods (logic) that the object will contain. Each object is then created as an instance of its class via a constructor.