What are the key differences between procedural programming and object-oriented programming, and can you give an example of when you would use each approach?

The Key Differences Between Procedural Programming and Object-Oriented Programming

Procedural programming and object-oriented programming are two paradigms used in software development. The main difference lies in how they structure and approach the design of code.

Procedural Programming:

In procedural programming, the focus is on writing sequential code that consists of procedures or functions that operate on data. It follows a top-down approach where functions are called in a specific order to achieve a desired outcome.

An example of when you would use procedural programming is when developing a simple script or a small-scale application that doesn't require complex data structures and interactions. For instance, a script to calculate the total sales of a store based on input data.

Object-Oriented Programming:

Object-oriented programming focuses on creating reusable and modular code by organizing data into objects that have attributes (data) and methods (functions). It emphasizes concepts like encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism to better manage and structure code.

You would use object-oriented programming when working on larger, more complex projects that involve multiple entities with different behavior and characteristics. For example, developing a web application that manages user accounts, where each user has unique attributes and can perform specific actions.

It's important to choose the programming paradigm that best suits the requirements and scale of the project to ensure efficient development and maintenance.