What are some fundamental concepts of object oriented programming?

The key concepts of object-oriented programming (OOP) are indeed encapsulation, polymorphism, inheritance, and abstraction. Each of these concepts plays a crucial role in the design and implementation of OOP.

Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data with the methods that operate on that data. It restricts direct access to some of an object's components, which helps to protect the integrity of the data and reduce complexities. This leads to increased modularity and easier maintenance of code.

Polymorphism allows objects to be treated as instances of their parent class, enabling a single function or method to work in different ways based on the inputs or objects provided. This is essential for achieving flexibility and reusability in code, making it possible to write more general and abstract code that can operate on various types of objects.

Inheritance is a mechanism that allows a new class (child class) to inherit properties and behavior (methods) from an existing class (parent class). This fosters code reuse, reduces redundancy, and establishes a natural hierarchy in the design of classes.

Abstraction involves hiding the complex reality while exposing only the necessary parts of an object. It simplifies interactions with objects by providing a simplified interface and reducing the complexity that a user must manage when using a class