Intro to CS: Lecture 17 - Python Classes

in Intro to CS using Python
#computer-science #python

Topics: Object Oriented Programming: data abstraction, class def, class instances, methods

More review for me. I don’t mind reviewing though. We start by defining an object, along with examples.

Advantages of OOP

  • Bundle data into packages together with procedures that work on them through well-defined interfaces
  • Divide and conquer development
    • Implement and test behavior of each class separately
    • Increased modularity reduces complexity
  • Classes make it easy to reuse code
    • Many python modules define new classes
    • Each class has a separate environment (no collision on function names)
    • Inheritance allows subclasses to redefine or extend a selected subset of a superclass’ behavior

The Power of OOP

  • Bundle together objects that share
    • Common attributes and
    • Procedures that operate on those attributes
  • Use abstraction to make a distinction between how to implement an object vs. how to use an object
  • Build layers of object abstractions that inherit behaviors from other classes of objects
  • Create our own classes of objects on top of python’s basic classes