What Are OOP Concepts in Java?

How They Work and

More

What is Object Oriented Programming (OOP)?

Object Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that focuses on
the use of objects to represent and manipulate data. In OOP, data is encapsulated
within objects, and objects are defined by their properties (attributes) and behaviors
(methods). OOP provides several key concepts that enable developers to write
modular, reusable, and maintainable code.

Definition of OOP Concepts in Java

The main ideas behind Java’s Object-Oriented Programming, OOP concepts
include abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism. Basically, Java
OOP concepts let us create working methods and variables, then re-use all or part of
them without compromising security. Grasping OOP concepts is key to understanding
how Java works.

Java defines OOP concepts as follows:

• Abstraction. Using simple things to represent complexity. We all know how to

turn the TV on, but we don’t need to know how it works in order to enjoy it. In
Java, abstraction means simple things
like objects, classes and variables represent more complex underlying code
and data. This is important because it lets you avoid repeating the same work
multiple times.
• Encapsulation. The practice of keeping fields within a class private, then
providing access to those fields via public methods. Encapsulation is a protective
barrier that keeps the data and code safe within the class itself. We can then
reuse objects like code components or variables without allowing open access to
the data system-wide.
• Inheritance. A special feature of Object-Oriented Programming in Java,
Inheritance lets programmers create new classes that share some of the
attributes of existing classes. Using Inheritance lets us build on previous work
without reinventing the wheel.
• Polymorphism. Allows programmers to use the same word in Java to mean
different things in different contexts. One form of polymorphism is method
 overloading. That’s when the code itself implies different meanings. The other
form is method overriding. That’s when the values of the supplied variables
imply different meanings. Let’s delve a little further.

How OOP Concepts in Java Work

OOP concepts in Java work by letting programmers create components that are
reusable in different ways while maintaining security.

How Abstraction Works

Abstraction lets programmers create useful and reusable tools. It enables

programmers to create complex systems by breaking them down into smaller, more
manageable components. For example, a programmer can create several different
types of objects, which can be variables, functions or data structures. Programmers
can also create different classes of objects as ways to define the objects.

For instance, a class of variable might be an address. The class might specify that
each address object shall have a name, street, city and zip code. The objects, in this
case, might be employee addresses, customer addresses or supplier addresses. In
addition, abstraction provides a mechanism for hiding the implementation details of a
class or method from the outside world and providing a simplified interface for clients to
interact with. In Java, you can achieve abstraction through two main mechanisms:
abstract classes and interfaces.

1. Abstract Classes: An abstract class is a class that you can’t instantiate and can
only extend by subclasses. Abstract classes can have both abstract and non-
abstract methods. Abstract methods do not have a body and you must implement
them by any subclass that extends the abstract class. Non-abstract methods
have a body and you can directly call them by the subclass.
2. Interfaces: An interface is a collection of methods. You can use it to define a set
of behaviors that a class should implement. A class can implement multiple
interfaces, and all the methods defined in an interface must be implemented by
any class that implements it.

How Encapsulation Works

Encapsulation lets us reuse functionality without jeopardizing security. It’s a

powerful, time-saving OOP concept in Java. For example, we may create a piece of
code that calls specific data from a database. It may be useful to reuse that code with
other databases or processes. Encapsulation lets us do that while keeping our original
data private. It also lets us alter our original code without breaking it for others who have
adopted it in the meantime.

Encapsulation provides several benefits, including:

1. Data hiding: By hiding the implementation details of a class, encapsulation

protects the data from unauthorized access and manipulation.
2. Modularity: Encapsulation helps to break down complex systems into smaller,
more manageable components, making the codebase more modular and easier
to maintain.
3. Flexibility: By providing a controlled interface for interacting with a class,
encapsulation allows for changes to the internal implementation without affecting
the external interface.

Access Modifiers

In Java, encapsulation is implemented using access modifiers, which control the

visibility of variables and methods within a class.

The three access modifiers in Java are:

1. Public: Public variables and methods can be accessed from anywhere, including
outside the class.
2. Private: Private variables and methods can only be accessed within the class
they are defined in.
1. Protected: Protected variables and methods can be accessed within the
same class and its subclasses.

Encapsulation enables developers to write cleaner, more organized, and more secure
code. By controlling access to variables and methods, encapsulation promotes good
software design practices and helps to manage the complexity of large-scale projects.

How Inheritance Works

Inheritance is another labor-saving Java OOP concept that works by letting a

new class adopt the properties of another. We call the inheriting class a subclass or
a child class. The original class is often called the parent or the superclass. We use
the keyword extends to define a new class that inherits properties from an old class.

The subclass inherits all the public and protected variables and methods of the
superclass, and it can also define its own variables and methods. This makes it possible
to create a hierarchy of classes, where each subclass inherits from its superclass and
adds its own unique features.
Benefits of Inheritance

Inheritance provides several benefits, including:

1. Reusability: By inheriting from a superclass, a subclass can reuse the code and
functionality already defined in the superclass, making it easier to write and
maintain code.
2. Polymorphism: Inheritance allows for polymorphism, where objects of different
subclasses can be treated as objects of the same superclass, making it easier to
write generic code.
3. Flexibility: Inheritance provides a way to add new features to an existing class
hierarchy without modifying the existing code.

Inheritance allows developers to create complex class hierarchies with shared

functionality and unique features. By promoting code reuse, polymorphism, and
flexibility, inheritance enables developers to write more efficient and maintainable code.

How Polymorphism Works

Polymorphism in Java works by using a reference to a parent class to affect an

object in the child class. We might create a class called “horse” by extending the
“animal” class. That class might also implement the “professional racing” class. The
“horse” class is “polymorphic,” since it inherits attributes of both the “animal” and
“professional racing” class.

Two more examples of polymorphism in Java are method overriding and method
overloading.

In method overriding, the child class can use the OOP polymorphism concept
to override a method of its parent class. That allows a programmer to use one method
in different ways depending on whether it’s invoked by an object of the parent class or
an object of the child class.

In method overloading, a single method may perform different functions

depending on the context in which it’s called. This means a single method name might
work in different ways depending on what arguments are passed to it.

Benefits of Polymorphism

Polymorphism provides several benefits, including:

1. Flexibility: Polymorphism allows for more flexible and adaptable code by

enabling objects of different classes to be treated as if they are of the same
class.
2. Code reuse: Polymorphism promotes code reuse by allowing classes to inherit
functionality from other classes and to share common methods and properties.
 3. Simplification: Polymorphism simplifies code by enabling the use of generic
code that can handle different types of objects.

Polymorphism allows for more flexible and adaptable code. By enabling objects of
different classes to be treated as if they are of the same class, polymorphism promotes
code reuse, simplification, and flexibility, making it an essential component of Object-
Oriented Programming.

Examples of OOP Concepts in Java

Now that we explained the foundational OOP concepts in Java, let’s look at a few
common examples.

Short Encapsulation Example in Java

In the example below, encapsulation is demonstrated as an OOP concept in Java.

Here, the variable “name” is kept private or “encapsulated.”

//save as Student.java
package com.javatpoint;
public class Student {
private String name;
public String getName() {
return name;
}
public void setName(String name) {
this.name = name
}
}
//save as Test.java
package com.javatpoint;
class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Student s = new Student();
s.setName(“vijay”);
System.out.println(s.getName());
}
}
Compile By: javac -d . Test.java
Run By: java com.javatpoint.Test

Output: vijay
Example of Inheritance in Java

It’s quite simple to achieve inheritance as an OOP concept in Java. Inheritance can be
as easy as using the extends keyword:

class Mammal {

}
class Aardvark extends Mammal {

}
For a full tutorial on the different ways to use inheritance in java, see this blog post.

Short Example of Polymorphism in Java

In the example below of polymorphism as an OOP concept in Java, we have two

classes: Person and Employee. The Employee class inherits from the Person class by
using the keyword extends. Here, the child class overrides the parent class. For the full
example, see this blog post.

class Person {
void walk() {
System.out.println(“Can Run….”);
}
}
class Employee extends Person {
void walk() {
System.out.println(“Running Fast…”);
}
public static void main(String arg[]) {
Person p = new Employee(); //upcasting
p.walk();
}
}
Differences between OOP and other programming styles
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) has become widely popular due to its many
advantages over other programming styles such as Procedural Programming and
Functional Programming.

Procedural Programming

Procedural Programming is a programming style that is based on a set of

procedures or functions, where each function is a sequence of instructions that
performs a specific task. It focuses on the sequence of must-follow steps that to
accomplish a specific task. In contrast, OOP focuses on the objects and their
interactions to solve problems.

Functional Programming

Functional Programming is a programming style that focuses on the use of

functions that produce output based on their input, without modifying any external state.
It is based on mathematical functions and is characterized by immutability and
statelessness. In contrast, OOP is based on objects and their states, and it is designed
to manage complex, stateful systems.

Benefits of OOP over other programming

Here are some key differences between OOP and other programming styles:

1. Data and behavior: OOP is based on the idea of encapsulating data and
behavior within objects, whereas procedural programming separates data and
behavior into different functions or procedures. Functional programming, on the
other hand, treats data and behavior as separate entities altogether.
2. Inheritance and code reuse: OOP uses inheritance to reuse code and build
complex systems. Procedural programming and functional programming do not
have inheritance concepts built into them.
3. Flexibility: OOP is more flexible than procedural programming because it allows
for changes to be made to the underlying data structures and objects without
changing the entire system. In contrast, procedural programming requires a
complete restructuring of the program if any changes are made.

OOP enables encapsulation, inheritance, code reusability, and flexibility, making it a

powerful tool for building complex, stateful systems.

Best Practices for OOP Concepts in Java

 The goal of OOP concepts in Java is to save time without sacrificing security and
ease of use. The following best practices are all oriented toward advancing that main
goal.

• DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself). A core concept in Java, DRY simply means you
should never have two blocks of identical code in two different places. Instead,
have one method you use for different applications.
• If you expect your Java code to change in the future, encapsulate it by making all
variables and methods private at the outset. As the code changes, increase
access to “protected” as needed, but not too public.
• Single Responsibility. This best practice principle for OOP concepts in Java
states that a class should always have only one functionality. That way, the class
can be called and/or extended on its own when new uses arise for it, without
causing coupling between different functionalities.
• Open Closed Design. Make all methods and classes Closed for modification but
Open for an extension. That way, tried and tested code can remain static but can
be modified to perform new tasks as needed.