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Information About

Object Association




In the object-oriented programming paradigm, the word ''association'' means ''union''. In object association, one object is formed from the union of two or more other objects.


AGGREGATION


Aggregation is the association of objects that have functionality by themselves to create a more complex object. For example, suppose you have the objects '' TV '', '' Couch '', and '' Shelf ''. Those objects are useful by themselves. However, by combining them, you can create a '' Living Room '' object which has more functionality.


COMPOSITION


Composition is the association of objects that have no functionality of their own to create compound objects with real functions.

For example, the objects '' Wheel '', '' Steering Wheel '', ''seat'', '' Gearbox '' and '' Engine '' may have no functionality by themselves, but if you ''composite'' them, they may form an '' Automobile '' object, which has a real function.