"Ashwini Oruganti" <msg.ashw...@gmail.com> wrote
I'm trying to learn Python, and know C++. I have a slight confusion
regarding the meaning of "object" in python. Here's what I've
concluded so
far:
When we say "object" in C++, it means an instance of a class.
No, although its a common misconception.
An object in OOP, in any language is the encapsulation of data
and the operations that act on that data. It is first and foremost
a conceptuial entity. It just so happens that the normal way of
producing objects in C++ is by instantiating classes.
[But you can create objects in C++ without (explicitly) instantiating
a class, for example when passing arguments to functions/methods
temporary objects are frequently created. Also when using
templated classes there is no explicit class for a List<int> or a
List<float>
we are using an implied class produced by the template at
compile/runtime.]
int x; // x is NOT an object, it is a *variable*
C++ grew out of C so it has a lot of non OOP features. It is no
surprise to find therefore that its primitive types are related to
memory allocation and raw data rather than objects.
while in python, from what i've understood so far,
x=5
implies that there's a memory allocation (called object) that holds
the
value 3, and "x" is the variable (or name) that is used to refer to
it.
There is an object created (the integer 5) that is associated with
a name(x), yes. But forget about memory allocation because,
depending on implementation, no new memory may be required.
Further, in python, *everything *is an object, while in C++,
only*instances of a class * are called objects.
Yes, because thats how objects are created in C++, its one
of the limitations of C++ as a hybrid OOP language.
So does the term *Object * change its meaning when we
shift the context from C++ to python?? This is a little confusing,
No object is standard in OOP. It is a concept. It is the instantiated
encapsulation of data and function. How it is created varies between
language implementations.
--
Alan Gauld
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
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