Python Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Introduction to object-oriented programming in Python, including classes, objects, methods, and inheritance.

By Kevin McAleer,    2 Minutes

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) in Python. Python is an object-oriented language, and OOP concepts provide a clear structure for writing code which makes it easier to create complex applications.

Learning Objectives

• Understand what classes and objects are.
• Know how to define a class and create an object.
• Understand what methods are and how to define them.
• Understand the concept of inheritance.

Classes and Objects

In Python, almost everything is an object, with its properties and methods. A Class is like an object constructor, or a blueprint for creating objects.

# Define a class
class Car:
    def __init__(self, color, brand):
        self.color = color
        self.brand = brand

# Create an object
my_car = Car('red', 'Toyota')
print(my_car.color)  # Prints 'red'
print(my_car.brand)  # Prints 'Toyota'

Methods

Methods are functions defined inside the body of a class. They are used to perform operations with the attributes of our objects.

class Car:
    def __init__(self, color, brand):
        self.color = color
        self.brand = brand

    # Define a method
    def honk(self):
        return "Beep beep!"

my_car = Car('red', 'Toyota')
print(my_car.honk())  # Prints 'Beep beep!'

Inheritance

Inheritance is a powerful feature in object-oriented programming. It refers to defining a new class with little or no modification to an existing class. The new class is called derived (or child) class and the one from which it inherits is called the base (or parent) class.

class Vehicle:
    def __init__(self, color):
        self.color = color

    def honk(self):
        return "Honk honk!"

# Car class inherits from Vehicle
class Car(Vehicle):
    def __init__(self, color, brand):
        super().__init__(color)
        self.brand = brand

my_car = Car('red', 'Toyota')
print(my_car.honk())  # Prints 'Honk honk!'

Summary

In this lesson, you’ve learned about object-oriented programming in Python. We’ve covered the basic principles of OOP, including classes, objects, methods, and inheritance. These concepts provide a clear structure for writing code and make it easier to develop complex Python applications.