Unit 2: Object-Oriented Programming
Java is an object-oriented programming language. Object-oriented (OO) programming has proven to be one of the most effective and flexible programming paradigms. This unit will begin with a discussion of what makes OO programming so unique, and why its advantages have made it the industry-standard paradigm for newly designed programs. We then discuss the fundamental concepts of OO and relate them back to Java. By the end of this unit, you will have a strong understanding of what OO programming is, how it relates to Java, and why we use it.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- discuss the differences between object-oriented and procedural languages;
- explain the difference between classes and objects; and
- explain object-oriented concepts such as inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism.
2.1: Fundamental Concepts of OO Programming
Object-oriented approaches to software development are an important expansion of procedural approaches. Java explicitly supports both approaches, but you should focus on the object-oriented approach. This article compares the two approaches and explains the fundamentals of each.
Read this article about object-oriented programming. Every paradigm has its advantages and disadvantages. OO is the same.
2.2: Using Java for OO Programming
This section explains fundamentals of object oriented programming. As you read, focus on the difference between classes and objects.
This section expands the discussion from objects and classes to inheritance, polymorphism, and abstract classes. These facets of OO programming are a natural consequence of the basic concepts behind objects and classes.
Encapsulation facilitates control over access to components of a class. Read this article to get a clear understanding.
A major principle of OO programming is keeping the implementation of an object separate from manipulation. This article explains how that works.
Unit 2 Assessment
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.