Top 4 object-oriented programming languages and concepts that you need to know in 2025

It is 2025, and with AI taking over, if you think learning OOP concepts and languages is a thing of the past, then you are highly mistaken.

As software systems continue to grow, there is a high focus on building software that is modular, extensible, and reusable. This is where OOP concepts come into play. 

According to a 2024 developer survey by StackOverflow, JavaScript, Java, Python, and C++ are among the top 10 most commonly used object-oriented programming languages. Python has become the most used language in open-source, overtaking JavaScript according to the GitHub Octoverse 2024 report.

In this article, we will cover the core concepts of object-oriented programming languages, along with the top 4 languages with their pros and cons.

What is a programming language?

How machines behave is different from how we behave. It understands the language of 0s and 1s, and we need to write a set of instructions for the machine to make it perform a task. This set of instructions is known as a programming language.

Programming languages are divided into two types: low-level and high-level languages. Low-level languages are languages that the machine understands. There are two types: assembly and machine language.

High-level languages are user-friendly and closer to human language, and they are of two types: procedural and object oriented.

What is object oriented programming language?

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a computer programming model that organizes code around objects and has been around since the 1970s. The main difference between procedural and object oriented programming language is that object-oriented programming uses classes and objects while procedural programming takes on applications by solving problems from the top of the code down to the bottom.

The building blocks of object-oriented programming

The building blocks of OOP include the following:

• Classes: Classes serve as blueprints or templates for generating objects.

• Objects:  Objects are instances of a class that were produced using precisely defined data.

• Methods: The actions of an object are described through methods, which are defined inside a class.

• Attributes: Attributes or variables refer to the characteristics of an object.

Some examples of object-oriented programming languages are Java, JavaScript, Python, Dart, C++, Kotlin, R, PHP, C#, Ruby, and more. You can find the entire list of object-oriented programming languages here.

The 4 main concepts of object oriented programming

4 core concepts the define object-oriented programming are:

• Encapsulation

• Abstraction

• Inheritance

• Polymorphism

Let's discuss the 4 concepts of object-oriented programming.

What is encapsulation in object-oriented programming?

In object-oriented programming, encapsulation is defined as a way of combining data and information that operates as a single unit. Encapsulation in object-oriented programming is the first core concept. It binds together code and data.

Logging into your Gmail account is a real-world example of encapsulation. There are a lot of internal processes going on in the backend to keep your account safe from misuse.

What is an abstraction in object-oriented programming?

A programmer uses abstraction in object-oriented programming to hide all but the relevant data about an object to simplify it and boost productivity. 

Abstraction hides the extraneous features and only shows relevant attributes of objects. 

Data and functions can both be abstracted in object oriented programming.

Your laptop is a great real-life example of abstraction. You start it by pressing the start button. You do not need to know how the laptop started, nor all of the components of your laptop.

What is Inheritance in object oriented programming?

In object oriented programming inheritance refers to a process or system whereby one class acquires or inherits the properties or methods of another class.

Inheritance in object oriented programming allows for code reuse, enabling us to simply inherit the properties of one class into the other, saving time. It can also be used to add new logic to pre-existing frameworks and even map a domain model to the database.

An example of inheritance is a fork, knife, and spoon. All of these fall under a category called cutlery. This means they have inherited properties of the class “cutlery,” which are all used for eating.

What is polymorphism in object oriented programming?

“Poly” means “many” and “morph” means “forms.” In simple terms, polymorphism in object oriented programming refers to the presence of several forms. 

It can be described as the capability of a message to be displayed in more than one form in object oriented programming. 

Developers can access objects of various types through the same interface when using a language with polymorphism, which also enables us to carry out the same activity in many ways.

A real-life example of polymorphism is a person who has different characteristics at the same time, such as a woman with the roles of a mother, a wife, and an employee. In this case, the same person behaves differently in each situation.

My top four languages for object-oriented programming

Java

Java is an all-purpose, class-based, object oriented programming language. It’s more than just a high-level language. It functions with several operating systems, including MacOS, Linux, and Windows. Java is one of the greatest and most in-demand programming languages for object oriented programming.

Java was created as a “Write once, run anywhere” language making it easy to create desktop, web, and mobile applications with it. Java gives all the advantages of a high-level object oriented programming language, and makes it the best object oriented programming language to learn. 

Java has a strong development ecosystem that only a few languages have. Java is made easily readable on platforms by Java frameworks and libraries. 

Java virtual machine (JVM) is the core concept of the high-level programming language that executes, loads and verifies code. Java is easy to learn, and it has a simple syntax. 

Read more for a greater overview of data structures in Java.

Advantages of OOP in Java:

• Easy to learn and understand

• Highly secure

• Multiple resources available for learning

Disadvantages of OOP in Java:

• Consumes more memory

• Runs slowly

JavaScript

JavaScript is a popular language used for web development, and it continues to be the most used language according to surveys by StackOverflow and GitHub. Whenever you see a webpage that does more than display static data—be it real-time updates, maps, or 2D/3D graphics—you know there is JavaScript behind the scenes. JavaScript supports both client-side and server-side development and can be used with HTML and CSS to build interactive websites.

It is a multi-paradigm language, meaning it supports both object-oriented and functional programming styles. JavaScript is a single-threaded language that executes one task at a time, and it is an interpreted language, which means it executes the code line by line.

Advantages of JavaScript:

• Regardless of where you host JavaScript, it always gets executed on the client environment to save bandwidth and make the execution process fast.

• The biggest advantage of JavaScript having the ability to support all modern browsers.

• Global companies support community development by creating important projects. An example is Google (created the Angular framework) or Facebook (created the React.js framework).

Disadvantages of JavaScript:

• Browser inconsistencies can cause compatibility issues.

• If any error occurs in JavaScript, it can stop rendering the whole website. Browsers are extremely tolerant of JavaScript errors.

Python

Python is a popular object-oriented programming language. It’s a high-level, interpreted, and object oriented programming language. 

It’s an OOP language, but it also supports functional programming. When using Python, we can create classes and objects. 

It has the best code readability, and it is widely used with machine learning. In addition, Python offers several benefits compared to other programming languages. 

It does not require a programmer to declare types of variables and arguments, and Python is easy to understand and learn. 

Much like Java, Python has multiple backend web frameworks, making it easy and accessible to develop.

Python is very similar to the English language, for example, if you need to print something, the syntax would be simply `print (“Hello World”)`, this makes Python the easiest object oriented programming language to learn.

Advantages of OOP in Python:

• Easy to learn and write

• Simple, which improves productivity

• Open source

• Reduces maintenance cost

• Allows integration with other languages like C, C++, and Java

Disadvantages of OOP in Python:

• Not suitable for mobile and game development. (Python is mostly used in desktop and web server-side development.)

• Cannot detect errors and bugs during compilation

• Difficult to run tests on code

C++

C++ is one of the most popular and widely used general-purpose programming languages. It is used to create the compiler for other programming languages. 

Popular among game developers, C++ can create many types of games, including 3D games. It is also used to produce smartwatches, stopwatches, electric car systems, and much more. 

C++ is a compiled language, and unlike Python, C++ is very fast. It is a powerful language that can be used for low-level manipulation of operating systems, and file systems and has compatibility with backend database tools.

Advantages of OOP in C++:

• Object-oriented

• Large support community

• Secure language

Disadvantages of OOP in C++:

• Security issues

• Cannot support built-in code threads

• Requires more memory

Is object-oriented programming still useful?

Object-oriented programming is still useful and widely used in software development today. 

As we have seen from the top 4 OOP languages above, these are the top languages used by the majority of developers worldwide and continue to grow. 

While newer methods like functional programming and declarative styles have gained popularity, there is a misconception that many programming languages are moving away from the object-oriented paradigm. 

This blog by StackOverflow from 2020 explains exactly why and how OOP continues to grow even though developers are not very fond of it.

Every method has its own pros and cons, and OOP is not devoid of them. Here are some of the common ones:

Pros:

• Code Reusability: Object-oriented code is flexible. A single function can be used repeatedly. Concepts like inheritance and polymorphism make code reusable and maintainable.

• Scalability: Due to the modular approach that OOP follows, it is easier to scale applications with growing complexities.

• Security: Even though most languages offer some level of security, object-oriented programming languages are advantageous because security is integrated with encapsulation. Therefore, programs created in object-oriented languages are more secure.

Cons:

• Size: Object-oriented programs are larger than other programs.

• Speed: Object-oriented programs are slower than other programs because of their large sizes.

• High Learning Curve: Object-oriented programming is difficult to learn.

Is it worth learning object-oriented programming?

One of the most helpful programming principles is object oriented programming. 

Whether you are a new or a seasoned developer, you need to learn OOP concepts and use it while building software. 

Object-oriented programming breaks complex problems into smaller pieces and allows for better structures and reuse. With complex software being built, core concepts of OOP like encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism are going to be foundational. 

Here are some resources that can help you learn these concepts better:

• Introduction to Object Oriented Programming

• Understanding the pillars of object oriented programming

• Java OOP concepts

• JavaScript object basics

This article was first published on January 5th, 2023, and was improved by Haimantika Mitra as of January 10th, 2025, to improve your experience and share the latest information.