Java Object-oriented Programming

Encapsulation

Gain hands-on knowledge of encapsulation, the OOP principle that promotes data hiding and controlled access. You'll learn to secure internal object states by restricting direct access using access modifiers and controlled data exposure through public methods.

Topics Covered

• Private Access Modifier
  Discover how the private keyword protects internal class members from outside interference. This ensures that only the class itself can modify its fields, enhancing security, robustness, and adherence to clean code principles.
  
  
• Getter Methods
  Learn how getter methods expose private variables in a read-only manner. You’ll implement controlled data access mechanisms that help external classes retrieve object information without compromising encapsulation.
  
  
• Setter Methods
  Explore how setter methods allow you to modify object data securely. You’ll use validation checks within setters to ensure that only valid data enters your objects, reinforcing object integrity and stability.
  
  
• Constructors and Setter Methods
  Understand the differences and complementary roles of constructors and setter methods in object initialization and modification. You’ll build examples demonstrating scenarios where using both is beneficial for code clarity and flexibility.

• Private Methods
  Learn to encapsulate logic further with private methods—these are utility functions that serve internal class operations. You’ll understand their purpose in maintaining internal consistency and reducing unnecessary exposure of implementation details.

Inheritance

Explore inheritance—the OOP mechanism that allows classes to inherit properties and behaviors from other classes. You'll learn how this promotes code reuse, simplifies maintenance, and models real-world hierarchical relationships effectively.

Topics Covered

• What is Inheritance?
  Grasp the basic concept of inheritance in object-oriented design, where child classes derive functionalities from parent classes. This enables cleaner code architecture and eliminates redundancy by reusing logic across multiple classes.
  
  
• Inheritance in Java
  Learn how inheritance is implemented in Java using the extends keyword. You’ll practice building base and derived classes, observing how methods and fields are inherited and customized.
  
  
• Inheriting from Subclasses
  Understand how child classes can not only inherit from parents but also add or override behaviors. This subtopic focuses on real-world examples where extended functionality is essential without rewriting parent code.
  
  
• Protected Access Modifier
  Explore the protected keyword, which allows subclass access while keeping variables hidden from the outside world. You’ll see how it plays a crucial role in inheritance hierarchies to maintain encapsulation.

• Inheritance vs. Composition
  Examine the trade-offs between inheritance and composition. You’ll understand when to favor inheritance for hierarchical models and when to use composition for greater flexibility and reduced coupling.

Polymorphism

Master polymorphism—an advanced OOP concept that allows one interface to serve multiple implementations. You’ll learn how polymorphism enables flexibility, extensibility, and simplified code evolution in Java.

Topics Covered

• Method Overriding
  Learn how subclasses redefine parent class methods to provide specific behavior. This reinforces the principle of dynamic behavior and makes code more adaptable to future changes.
  
  
• Method Overloading
  Explore method overloading to use the same method name with different argument types or counts. This promotes code clarity and reduces redundancy when implementing multiple behaviors with similar logic.
  
  
• Dynamic Polymorphism
  Understand runtime polymorphism, where method calls are resolved dynamically at execution. You'll work with references of the parent class holding child class objects to see how Java determines which method to invoke.
  
  
• Abstract Classes
  Discover how abstract classes allow partial implementation. You'll define common attributes or methods and leave specific behavior for subclasses, promoting a contract-driven design approach.
  
• Interfaces
  Dive into interfaces, which define what a class must do but not how. You'll learn to build decoupled systems where classes can implement multiple interfaces to support diverse behaviors.