How does object-oriented programming differ from procedural programming?
Understanding the key differences between object-oriented programming (OOP) and procedural programming is crucial for any software developer. OOP is a paradigm centered around objects, which can be thought of as instances of classes, encapsulating data and the operations that manipulate this data. Procedural programming, on the other hand, is a paradigm that follows a step-by-step approach, where data and procedures (or functions) are separate. This fundamental distinction influences how you design, write, and think about your code, affecting everything from maintainability to reusability.