What defines object-oriented programming?

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is fundamentally defined by its use of classes and objects. This paradigm allows developers to model real-world entities and relationships using these constructs, enabling a more intuitive way of organizing code. In OOP, classes serve as blueprints for creating objects, which encapsulate both data (attributes) and behaviors (methods).

This approach facilitates important principles like encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism, which help in building scalable and maintainable software. By focusing on the relationship between objects, OOP promotes code reuse and can simplify complex systems by breaking them down into manageable components.

In contrast, other definitions presented do not capture the essence of OOP. For example, a focus on functions and procedures is more aligned with procedural programming, which prioritizes sequences of actions rather than the interactions of objects. Emphasizing data structures and arrays pertains more to data-centric programming approaches, which are less about object interaction and more about data management. Lastly, a programming approach without objects fundamentally misses the core concept of OOP, as it disregards the use of objects entirely, which are central to this methodology.