With the caliber of products being built, software programming, development, and maintenance are evolving from what they used to be. This change also spreads to the programming languages being used to write the code for these software projects.
There are three major types of programming languages, namely procedural, functional, and object-oriented programming languages. Each type of programming language has its uses and where they shine. But of this list, the languages under object-oriented programming are beginning to hold sway in the industry for their numerous benefits.
In this article, we will examine object-oriented programming and provide a list of object-oriented programming languages that have become favorites of software programmers and developers worldwide. In the end, you will have the basic knowledge required to decide the best oop language for you.
Table of Content
- What is Object-Oriented Programming?
- List of Object-Oriented Programming Languages – Top 5
- How to Choose The Best Object-Oriented Programming Language
What is Object-Oriented Programming?
Also referred to as OOP, object-oriented programming is a software development technique that organizes software design code into objects, as opposed to logic and functions. It divides programs into self-contained, discrete objects, an independently constructed executable unit of code, and data structure.
Object-oriented programming languages allow programmers to create self-contained objects that model real-life objects. These include pets, cars, people, or businesses. This makes software development and maintenance more efficient.
A close opposite of OOP is procedural programming, but what’s the difference? Procedural programming involves describing instructions to the computer in painstaking detail.
On the other hand, object-oriented programming organizes code into objects with specific properties and functions, allowing the objects to be reused in context. Comparing both of them, it’s no surprise that object-oriented programming languages have become the go-to technique for building remote softwareю
Principles of Object-Oriented Programming
Every programming technique has its guiding principles, and OOP is no different. Object-oriented programming operates under the following principles:
- Encapsulation: refers to packaging or bundling data members and their functions inside a single class, allowing it to keep its state private.
- Polymorphism: Ability of an object to take on more than one form or meaning based on the contact used.
- Inheritance: refers to when a subclass can inherit the use and definition of a parent class. The subclass reuses the code of the parent class.
- Abstraction: It’s a relative of encapsulation that enables objects to only reveal operations relevant to other objects.
Benefits of Object-Oriented Programming
Reduces repetition of mundane tasks: Data redundancy allows programmers to create classes with similar functionalities and inherit them when needed later. Object-oriented programming reduces the repetition of mundane tasks by having an object or class inherit the functionary of another instead of writing new code.
Flexibility and code reusability: Thanks to the polymorphism principle, object-oriented programming languages allow programmers to use one object multiple times as it can shapeshift depending on the contact in which it’s used. This makes object-oriented programming incredibly flexible.
Easier problem solving: OOP breaks down complex code into smaller components or pieces. When a complex code with a problem is broken down, developers can use the smaller pieces to solve other problems. They can also replace the smaller pieces with modules having the same interface and implementation details.
List of Object-Oriented Programming Languages – Top 5
OOP languages in use are numerous, but of the many, few stand out by seamlessly meeting developer needs. Below is a list of the top object-oriented programming languages:
- Java
- Python
- PHP
- C#
- Ruby
1. Java
Java is easily one of the top object-oriented programming languages and is more widely used than the others. That’s partly because it’s an official language for android development, and if you’re thinking of building mobile apps, you may need to learn Java seeing as Android is the most used smartphone universally.
It is a high-level object-oriented programming language used widely for distributed computing, mobile app development, enterprise applications, and web development. It is designed in a way that allows you to write the code once and have it run anywhere you wish. Hence, Java works for development across platforms, including Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows.
2. Python
Python is seen as an all-purpose programming language that is especially useful for programming in data science and machine learning. Business intelligence analysts and data scientists use high amounts of data; they also require the use and knowledge of Python to assess the information.
One of the many benefits of Python is that it doesn’t require compiling before code executions. In addition, software developers use this object-oriented programming language together with Scala, Clojure, and Haskell. Hence, Python can help developers to build one or multiple parts of a system that can be implemented or integrated smoothly into the new.
3. PHP
PHP stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, with the PHP referring to Personal Home Page. And it is an open-source scripting language that’s widely used among web developers to build dynamic or static web pages and web applications. It is used for server-side scripting, command-line scripting, and writing desktop applications.
A major advantage of building with PHP object-oriented programming language is that it can run on any major platform. Hence, you wouldn’t need to worry about compatibility. It’s simple to learn and understood by many, allowing you to learn quickly and reach out to other developers within the community when you require help.
Top websites around the world use PHP in their code. These include Slack, Etsy, WordPress, Wikipedia, and Facebook. Despite its wide use, it seems to be declining in popularity as more alternatives spring up within the development space.
4. C#
Pronounced as “See Sharp,” C# is a modern, type-face, general-purpose object-oriented programming language. Similar to other general-purpose programming languages, C# is used to create variable numbers of applications, from mobile apps to games, enterprise software, website, cloud-based services, and desktop apps.
C# is compatible with web and mobile applications requiring GUIs (graphical user interfaces), and has outstanding developer tools, automatic garbage collection, and OOP features, all of which give it a major foothold in the gaming industry. With C#, developers don’t need to worry about explicitly declaring types in their program, allowing them to write more precise and compact code.
5. Ruby
Ruby is another object-oriented programming language that comes in handy for building dynamic, web-based applications. Similar to Python, it’s a general-purpose yet high-level programming language. It supports object-oriented programming and functional programming paradigms. Devoid of complex rules and built for programming simplicity and productivity, Ruby is easy to use by any developer who has experience with modern programming languages. Aside from its simplicity, Ruby has additional features such as portability, extensibility, and completeness.
How to Choose The Best Object-Oriented Programming Language to Use
When choosing a tool to work with, the first step is to consider what you’re trying to build. This is especially the case in software development, where you must choose the best object-oriented programming language. Consider what type of product you want to build, the problem you want to solve, and its functionality. For example, will it be a web-based application or a mobile game? Every option comes with its own set of skills and programming needs. Another factor to consider is the skill level of the developer. Highly skilled developers with ample years of experience coding products might be able to work with intricate object-oriented programming languages. But a beginner should consider simpler languages that a quick to learn.
Conclusion
Object-oriented programming languages make for efficient coding by organizing code into reusable and flexible objects. They’re used to build web applications, mobile games, web pages, and other projects.
Java, Python, PHP, C#, and Ruby are the top OOP languages in the development space. Before you choose either one for your project, consider your skills and knowledge of each language. Also, conduct more research by reading books and consulting with other programmers before making your choice.
