OCR A Level Computer Science

2.2.1f: Use of object oriented techniques.

Keyword	Definition
Attribute	A named value (like a variable) associated with an object
Base class	The highest level ancestor of a class, which does not inherit from any other class
Class	A template which defines the methods and attributes for each object of that type
Constructor	A method which is called when a new instance of a class is created
Encapsulation	Wrapping a private attribute with a public method in order to control limit access or control behaviour
Get method	A form of encapsulation where an object's private attribute can be read via a public method
Inheritance	A way of defining classes so that 'child' classes can extend the functionality of 'parent' classes without having to redefine all of the methods and attributes.
Instantiation	Creating a new object by calling the constructor for a class
Method	Code (like a function or procedure) associated with an object
Object	An individual instance of a class which can contain both data (attributes) and functionality (methods)
Object Oriented	A way of organising data and behaviour into real life objects
Overriding	Replacing a method inherited from another class with a new implementation
Polymorphism	An OOP concept where one class can have many different forms of the same method, each accepting different types or numbers of parameters. Alternatively, where methods/attributes within objects of different classes can be accessed in a common way.
Private	Access modifier that indicates that a method or attribute can only be accessed from inside the same class
Protected	Access modifier that indicates that a method or attribute can only be accessed from inside the same class or any class which inherits from it.
Public	Access modifier that indicates that a method or attribute can be accessed from any other class
Record	Data structure which groups together multiple related values. Like a class but without any methods.
Set method	A form of encapsulation where an object's private attribute can be modified via a public method
Sub class	A class that inherits methods and attributes from a parent class
Super class	The parent class that attributes / methods are inherited from

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