What are the main principles of object-oriented programming?

The main principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) are encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism, which serve as fundamental concepts that differentiate OOP from other programming paradigms.

Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data and the functions that operate on that data within a single unit, typically a class. This principle helps in restricting direct access to some of an object's components, which can protect the integrity of the data and reduce complexity.

Abstraction allows programmers to focus on the essential features of an object while ignoring irrelevant details. It simplifies the modeling of complex systems by reducing the amount of information utilized to represent an object, often implemented through abstract classes or interfaces that define a general structure for specific implementations.

Inheritance is a mechanism that enables a new class to inherit properties and behaviors (methods) from an existing class. This promotes code reusability, allowing developers to create hierarchical relationships between classes and share functionality without redundancy.

Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. It provides a way to perform a single action in different forms, often achieved through method overriding or interfaces.

These principles work together to create flexible and maintainable code, which is a core goal of object-oriented design.