Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a style of programming that is built around the use of objects -- program elements that encapsulate both functionality and data within a defined structure.  The object-oriented approach of organizing a program allows you to group information (for example, trading related data such as orders or quotes) together with actions associated with manipulating the information (such as generating an order ticket or requesting details for trade positions).  Being able to bundle these values and functionality into an individual object makes it possible to structure programs in ways that more closely match the real world.