Class in Object-Oriented Programming

A class is a blueprint for creating objects in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). It defines the structure and behavior that the objects will have. A class consists of attributes (fields) and methods (functions) that define what an object can do.

Why Are Classes Important?

• Encapsulation of Data: A class groups related data and behavior together.
• Reusability: Once a class is defined, multiple objects can be created from it.
• Modularity: Classes promote clean, organized, and maintainable code.

How Classes Work

In C#, a class is defined using the class keyword and can contain fields, properties, constructors, and methods.

Example:

// Class Definition
class BankAccount
{
    private double balance;
    private string owner;

    public BankAccount(string owner, double initialBalance)
    {
        this.owner = owner;
        balance = initialBalance > 0 ? initialBalance : 0;
    }

    public void Deposit(double amount)
    {
        if (amount > 0)
        {
            balance += amount;
            Console.WriteLine($"{owner} deposited: {amount}");
        }
    }

    public double GetBalance()
    {
        return balance;
    }
}

// Creating Objects from the Class
var account1 = new BankAccount("Alice", 500);
var account2 = new BankAccount("Bob", 1000);

// Using Methods
account1.Deposit(200);
Console.WriteLine($"Balance for Alice: {account1.GetBalance()}");

account2.Deposit(300);
Console.WriteLine($"Balance for Bob: {account2.GetBalance()}");

Key Takeaways:

• A class (BankAccount) defines the structure of objects.
• Objects (account1, account2) are created based on the class blueprint.
• The class includes methods (Deposit, GetBalance) that operate on its attributes.

Conclusion

Classes are the foundation of OOP, providing a structured way to define objects and their behaviors. Understanding classes is essential for writing reusable and scalable code.

In the next articles, we will explore more Object-Oriented Programming principles such as Inheritance and Polymorphism, continuing with our structured examples.