What is the Difference Between Structured Programming and Object Oriented Programming?

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The main difference between structured programming and object-oriented programming lies in their approach to organizing and managing code. Here are some key differences between the two:

  1. Organization: Structured programming allows developing a program using a set of modules or functions, while object-oriented programming allows constructing a program using a set of objects and their interactions.
  2. Approach: Structured programming generally follows a "Top-Down Approach," dividing the code into smaller functions, while object-oriented programming follows a "Bottom-Up Approach," focusing on creating objects that contain both data and code.
  3. Flexibility and Abstraction: Structured programming provides less flexibility and abstraction compared to object-oriented programming.
  4. Focus: Structured programming focuses on dividing the program into a set of functions, while object-oriented programming focuses on creating objects that contain data and code.
  5. Communication: In structured programming, the main method communicates with functions by calling them, while in object-oriented programming, objects communicate with each other by passing messages.
  6. Access Specifiers: Structured programming does not use access specifiers, while object-oriented programming uses encapsulation and access modifiers to control the visibility and accessibility of data and methods.

Examples of structured programming languages include Pascal, ALGOL, C, and Modula-2, while examples of object-oriented programming languages include Java, C++, and C#.

Comparative Table: Structured Programming vs Object Oriented Programming

Here is a table comparing the differences between Structured Programming and Object-Oriented Programming:

Feature Structured Programming Object-Oriented Programming
Focus Modules or functions Objects and their interactions
Decomposition Functional, Algorithmic Object-oriented decomposition
Main Focus Dividing the program into a set of functions Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance, Polymorphism, etc.
Communication Main method communicates with functions by calling them Objects communicate with each other by passing messages
Access Specifiers No access specifiers Access specifiers such as public, private, protected are used
Programming Paradigm Subset of procedural programming Different approach to programming that brings together data and functions
Security Less secure due to lack of data hiding More secure due to data hiding feature
Popular Languages Varies by language Java, C++, C#, Python, etc.

Structured Programming focuses on breaking down the code into smaller modules or functions, while Object-Oriented Programming is based on the concept of objects, which contain both data and code. Object-Oriented Programming supports encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism, making it more secure and modular. Structured Programming does not have access specifiers, while Object-Oriented Programming uses them to control access to data and functions.