Explain the difference between procedural programming and object-oriented programming, and provide an example of when you would use each approach.

Procedural programming vs Object-oriented programming

Procedural programming is a programming paradigm that involves writing step-by-step instructions to solve a problem. It focuses on the procedures or functions that are called to perform tasks. On the other hand, object-oriented programming is a programming paradigm that revolves around objects, which represent instances of classes and encapsulate data and behavior.

When to use Procedural programming:

Procedural programming is commonly used for small-scale projects or when the problem can be easily solved by breaking it down into procedural steps. It is suitable for tasks that can be accomplished by a series of sequential steps without the need for complex data structures or relationships.

For example, procedural programming can be used to create a simple program that calculates the sum of numbers entered by the user.

When to use Object-oriented programming:

Object-oriented programming is ideal for projects that involve complex data structures, relationships, and interactions between different entities. It promotes reusability, modularity, and scalability of code as objects can be easily reused in different parts of the program.

For example, object-oriented programming is commonly used in developing software applications like web browsers, video games, and e-commerce platforms where multiple objects with different attributes and behaviors need to interact with each other.