An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming: A Simple Understanding of Python Classes and Objects

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) centers on objects, decomposing problems into independent entities. Each object encapsulates attributes (features) and behaviors (methods), mirroring real-world observations. In Python, a "class" serves as a template for objects (e.g., a Car class), defined using the `class` keyword and containing attributes (variables) and methods (functions). The constructor `__init__` initializes attributes (e.g., color, speed), where the `self` parameter refers to the object itself, ensuring methods operate on the correct instance. Objects are instantiated via the class name (e.g., `my_car = Car("red", "Tesla")`), with each object having independent attributes. Attributes describe an object's characteristics (e.g., a car's color), while methods define its behaviors (e.g., driving). The core principle is encapsulation, which promotes modular and maintainable code.