Object-Oriented Programming: Classes & Objects

The Object-Oriented Paradigm

Instead of writing a chaotic mess of global variables and functions, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) allows you to bundle related data (attributes) and behavior (methods) into a single, cohesive unit called a Class.

The Blueprint and the House

A Class is a blueprint. An Object is the actual house built from that blueprint. You can build thousands of distinct houses (objects) from one single blueprint (class).

The __init__ Method & self

When you create a new object from a class, Python automatically runs a special constructor method called __init__ to set up the object's initial state. The self keyword acts as a nametag, telling the object, "Hey, save this data specifically to ME, not to the other objects."

class Car:
    # The Constructor
    def __init__(self, make, model):
        self.make = make      # Attribute
        self.model = model    # Attribute
        self.is_running = False

    # A Method
    def start_engine(self):
        self.is_running = True
        print(f"The {self.make} engine roars to life!")

# Instantiating Objects
car1 = Car("Toyota", "Corolla")
car2 = Car("Ford", "Mustang")

car1.start_engine()