To programmers, an object is a collection of data and methods are a set of operations that MANIPULATE the data. Object-oriented programming provides a way of looking at programs in terms of the objects (things) that make up a system. After you have identified your system's objects, you can determine the operations normally performed on the object. If you have a DOCUMENT object, for example, common operations might include printing, spell-checking, faxing or even discarding.

Object-oriented programming does not REQUIRE a special programming LANGUAGE such as Java.You can write object-oriented programs in such languages as C++ or Java or C#. However, as you will learn, languages described as "object-oriented" normally provide class-based data structures that let your programs group the data and methods into one variable. Objects-oriented programming has many advantages, primarily object reuse and ease of understanding. As it turns out, you can often use the object that you write for one program in another program. Rather than building a collection of function libraries, object-oriented programmers build class libraries. Likewise, by grouping an object's data and methods, object-oriented programs are often more readily understood than their non-object- based COUNTERPARTS.

To programmers, an object is a collection of data and methods are a set of operations that manipulate the data. Object-oriented programming provides a way of looking at programs in terms of the objects (things) that make up a system. After you have identified your system's objects, you can determine the operations normally performed on the object. If you have a document object, for example, common operations might include printing, spell-checking, faxing or even discarding.

Object-oriented programming does not require a special programming language such as Java.You can write object-oriented programs in such languages as C++ or Java or C#. However, as you will learn, languages described as "object-oriented" normally provide class-based data structures that let your programs group the data and methods into one variable. Objects-oriented programming has many advantages, primarily object reuse and ease of understanding. As it turns out, you can often use the object that you write for one program in another program. Rather than building a collection of function libraries, object-oriented programmers build class libraries. Likewise, by grouping an object's data and methods, object-oriented programs are often more readily understood than their non-object- based counterparts.