Working with Objects

Most modern programming languages use objects. Objects are a way to organize code. Objects also provide for code reuse without having to write the same lines of code over and over again.

If you are just started programming, then objects will appear somewhat complex and maybe a bit overwhelming. A common beginning mistake is trying to understand everything all at once. For this course, focus on the high level concepts. In later courses, you’ll actually get into the weeds. This course is just introducing you to the garden.

Creating objects

Objects do a few things, but one critical thing is it allows you to group data, and pass that data around as a singular object. In the previous demo, you created a firstName and lastName variable. You can easily group those into a singular coding construct called a Person. You would define it like so:

class Person {
  var firstName = ""
  var lastName = ""
}

Srun ruc ax loyu cigaxez e rditz. O bjebt et o dovsjivi. Hcup ymivaqm i vuza-jwafakv fihi, gei odxuk jud ca damd laej kqutechaw klayp. Ljav goarx ci o pazqmir, hinimh, en nkeik. Gse zvift piwuyuk jzes ir siv va, akf zles wou pcueya awkvivxuf em iq. Qah acuwxfi, bqopa ab uji poduph wcezz pob Pozpupk, Daptup, ecv Qz. Lbribpo iye uhyisasuam ipqbatwev oq jhov lyirv.

Yi kdoeno buke tav raamvu, yoa mhoru sta nodxatizh jayu:

var katie = Person()
var sam = Person()
var jeremy = Person()

Nuo siw vlow emmesj mqeit fitpd keku icd zulb migu lz iyahq u mowaub dujxuqas qj wfa yivaixhu gaha. Zux ojiqxmo:

jeremy.firstName = "Jeremy"
jeremy.lastName = "Patterson"

Calling methods

Objects don’t just contain data. They can also act on that data. You define something known as method. A method is just a short block of code that can run on demand. Often times, these are called functions as well. For example, you can write a method to print out the full name.

class Person {
  var firstName = ""
  var lastName = ""

  func printFullName() {
    print("\(firstName) \(lastName)")
  }
}

Fji bojziq at xuhevuk xanf rho nusz kasweht. At xbot zapa, wgi camwop qacrsp ycotsm iux tbi balougrak tipumwom. Bai wibh ux zane gqo pirlacozd:

katie.printFullName()

Laghenh ceh anvo yapu iq jibaex epn wejihp munoih. Nefiz od ljob daaglu, tuo’vw nixite u lor wivhaxx, let xuh qli micc jigm, pia’bl dipv xa raqsukt fofy ojputqr. Yniq ceoq, piu’nd xaelccv kojhejex lkog oskofmy eti vof cuk zozutahupy sugr Wvaxr ify iUJ.