What is Object-Oriented Programming?

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of "objects", which can contain data and code to manipulate that data. In OOP, you define classes that serve as blueprints for creating objects. Each object represents a specific instance of a class, holding its own data and behaviors.

Key Concepts

• Encapsulation: bundling data and methods that operate on that data within one unit (class);
• Abstraction: hiding complex implementation details and showing only the necessary features of an object;
• Inheritance: mechanism for creating new classes from existing ones, enabling code reuse;
• Polymorphism: ability for different classes to be treated as instances of the same class through a common interface.

These concepts help you build programs that are more modular, easier to understand, and simpler to maintain.

Benefits of OOP in PHP

When you apply OOP principles in PHP, you gain several advantages:

• Improved code organization;
• Easier maintenance and scalability;
• Enhanced code reuse and flexibility.

By structuring your PHP code with classes and objects, you can develop larger and more complex applications with less effort and fewer errors.