Data Structures and Algorithms in Python

Chapter 2

Object-Oriented Programming

Contents

2.1 Goals, Principles, and Patterns

2.1.1 Object-Oriented Design Goals

2.1.2 Object-Oriented Design Principles

2.1.3 Design Patterns

2.2 Software Development

2.2.1 Design

2.2.2 Pseudo-Code

2.2.3 Coding Style and Documentation

2.2.4 Testing and Debugging

2.3 Class Definitions

2.3.1 Example: CreditCard Class

2.3.2 Operator Overloading and Python's Special Methods

2.3.3 Example: Multidimensional Vector Class

2.3.4 Iterators

2.3.5 Example: Range Class

2.4 Inheritance

2.4.1 Extending the CreditCard Class

2.4.2 Hierarchy of Numeric Progressions

2.4.3 Abstract Base Classes

2.5 Namespaces and Object-Orientation

2.5.1 Instance and Class Namespaces

2.5.2 Name Resolution and Dynamic Dispatch

2.6 Shallow and Deep Copying

2.7 Exercises

2.1 Goals, Principles, and Patterns

As the name implies, the main “actors” in the object-oriented paradigm are called objects. Each object is an instance of a class. Each class presents to the outside world a concise and consistent view of the objects that are instances of this class, without going into too much unnecessary detail or giving others access to the inner workings of the objects. The class definition typically specifies instance variables, also known as data members, that the object contains, as well as the methods, also known as member functions, that the object can execute. This view of computing ...