In this tutorial, you’ll learn about Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python and its fundamental concept with the help of examples.
Object Oriented Programming
Python is a multi-paradigm programming language. It supports different programming approaches.
One of the popular approaches to solve a programming problem is by creating objects. This is known as Object-Oriented Programming (OOP).
An object has two characteristics:
Let’s take an example:
A parrot is can be an object,as it has the following properties:
- name, age, color as attributes
- singing, dancing as behavior
The concept of OOP in Python focuses on creating reusable code. This concept is also known as DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself).
In Python, the concept of OOP follows some basic principles:
Class
A class is a blueprint for the object.
We can think of class as a sketch of a parrot with labels. It contains all the details about the name, colors, size etc. Based on these descriptions, we can study about the parrot. Here, a parrot is an object.
The example for class of parrot can be :
class Parrot:
pass
Here, we use the class keyword to define an empty class Parrot. From class, we construct instances. An instance is a specific object created from a particular class.
Object
An object (instance) is an instantiation of a class. When class is defined, only the description for the object is defined. Therefore, no memory or storage is allocated.
The example for object of parrot class can be:
obj = Parrot()
Here, obj is an object of class Parrot.
Suppose we have details of parrots. Now, we are going to show how to build the class and objects of parrots.
Example 1: Creating Class and Object in Python
class Parrot:
# class attribute
species = "bird"
# instance attribute
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self.age = age
# instantiate the Parrot class
blu = Parrot("Blu", 10)
woo = Parrot("Woo", 15)
# access the class attributes
print("Blu is a {}".format(blu.__class__.species))
print("Woo is also a {}".format(woo.__class__.species))
# access the instance attributes
print("{} is {} years old".format( blu.name, blu.age))
print("{} is {} years old".format( woo.name, woo.age))
Output
Blu is a bird
Woo is also a bird
Blu is 10 years old
Woo is 15 years old
In the above program, we created a class with the name Parrot. Then, we define attributes. The attributes are a characteristic of an object.
These attributes are defined inside the __init__ method of the class. It is the initializer method that is first run as soon as the object is created.
Then, we create instances of the Parrot class. Here, blu and woo are references (value) to our new objects.
We can access the class attribute using __class__.species. Class attributes are the same for all instances of a class. Similarly, we access the instance attributes using blu.name and blu.age. However, instance attributes are different for every instance of a class.
Methods
Methods are functions defined inside the body of a class. They are used to define the behaviors of an object.
Example 2 : Creating Methods in Python
class Parrot:
# instance attributes
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self.age = age
# instance method
def sing(self, song):
return "{} sings {}".format(self.name, song)
def dance(self):
return "{} is now dancing".format(self.name)
# instantiate the object
blu = Parrot("Blu", 10)
# call our instance methods
print(blu.sing("'Happy'"))
print(blu.dance())
Output
Blu sings 'Happy'
Blu is now dancing
In the above program, we define two methods i.e sing() and dance(). These are called instance methods because they are called on an instance object i.e blu.
Inheritance
Inheritance is a way of creating a new class for using details of an existing class without modifying it. The newly formed class is a derived class (or child class). Similarly, the existing class is a base class (or parent class).
Example 3: Use of Inheritance in Python
# parent class
class Bird:
def __init__(self):
print("Bird is ready")
def whoisThis(self):
print("Bird")
def swim(self):
print("Swim faster")
# child class
class Penguin(Bird):
def __init__(self):
# call super() function
super().__init__()
print("Penguin is ready")
def whoisThis(self):
print("Penguin")
def run(self):
print("Run faster")
peggy = Penguin()
peggy.whoisThis()
peggy.swim()
peggy.run()
Output
Bird is ready
Penguin is ready
Penguin
Swim faster
Run faster
In the above program, we created two classes i.e. Bird (parent class) and Penguin (child class). The child class inherits the functions of parent class. We can see this from the swim() method.
Again, the child class modified the behavior of the parent class. We can see this from the whoisThis() method. Furthermore, we extend the functions of the parent class, by creating a new run() method.
Additionally, we use the super() function inside the __init__() method. This allows us to run the __init__() method of the parent class inside the child class.
Encapsulation
Using OOP in Python, we can restrict access to methods and variables. This prevents data from direct modification which is called encapsulation. In Python, we denote private attributes using underscore as the prefix i.e single _ or double __.
Example 4: Data Encapsulation in Python
class Computer:
def __init__(self):
self.__maxprice = 900
def sell(self):
print("Selling Price: {}".format(self.__maxprice))
def setMaxPrice(self, price):
self.__maxprice = price
c = Computer()
c.sell()
# change the price
c.__maxprice = 1000
c.sell()
# using setter function
c.setMaxPrice(1000)
c.sell()
Output
Selling Price: 900
Selling Price: 900
Selling Price: 1000
In the above program, we defined a Computer class.
We used __init__() method to store the maximum selling price of Computer. We tried to modify the price. However, we can’t change it because Python treats the __maxprice as private attributes.
As shown, to change the value, we have to use a setter function i.e setMaxPrice() which takes price as a parameter.
Polymorphism
Polymorphism is an ability (in OOP) to use a common interface for multiple forms (data types).
Suppose, we need to color a shape, there are multiple shape options (rectangle, square, circle). However we could use the same method to color any shape. This concept is called Polymorphism.
Example 5: Using Polymorphism in Python
class Parrot:
def fly(self):
print("Parrot can fly")
def swim(self):
print("Parrot can't swim")
class Penguin:
def fly(self):
print("Penguin can't fly")
def swim(self):
print("Penguin can swim")
# common interface
def flying_test(bird):
bird.fly()
#instantiate objects
blu = Parrot()
peggy = Penguin()
# passing the object
flying_test(blu)
flying_test(peggy)
Output
Parrot can fly
Penguin can't fly
In the above program, we defined two classes Parrot and Penguin. Each of them have a common fly() method. However, their functions are different.
To use polymorphism, we created a common interface i.e flying_test() function that takes any object and calls the object’s fly() method. Thus, when we passed the blu and peggy objects in the flying_test() function, it ran effectively.
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