Object-Oriented Programming — A-Level Computer Science Revision
Revise Object-Oriented Programming for A-Level Computer Science. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel and OCR.
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Go to Programming ConceptsWhat is Object-Oriented Programming?
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of 'objects', which can contain data in the form of fields (often known as attributes or properties) and code in the form of procedures (often known as methods). Key principles include encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
Board notes: A major component of the AQA, Edexcel, and OCR specifications. Students are expected to be able to design and implement object-oriented solutions.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
A `Car` class could have attributes like `make` and `model`. An object would be an instance: `myCar = new Car('Ford', 'Focus');`. The class could have a method `display()` that prints the car's details. This encapsulates car data and behavior in one unit.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing classes with objects; a class is a blueprint, an object is an instance of that blueprint.
- 2Incorrectly overriding methods in a subclass, for example, by changing the method signature.
- 3Violating encapsulation by making all class attributes public.
Object-Oriented Programming exam questions
Exam-style questions for Object-Oriented Programming with mark-scheme style solutions and timing practice. Aligned to AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications.
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Object-Oriented Programming
Core concept
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of 'objects', which can contain data in the form of fields (often known as attributes or properties) and code in the fo…
Frequently asked questions
What is polymorphism?
Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. It is often used to create flexible and reusable code, for example, a function that can operate on any shape (circle, square) that inherits from a base `Shape` class.
What is the difference between inheritance and composition?
Inheritance represents an 'is-a' relationship (a `Cat` is an `Animal`), while composition represents a 'has-a' relationship (a `Car` has an `Engine`).