Differentiate between procedure oriented programming and object oriented programming briefly. Also mention the merits and demerits of both programming.

Procedure Oriented Programming (POP)

Definition: Procedure Oriented Programming (POP) is a programming paradigm that emphasizes the use of procedures or functions as the primary building blocks for constructing a program. In POP, the focus is on breaking down a problem into a series of smaller, well-defined tasks or procedures that can be implemented and reused throughout the program.

Merits of POP:

1. Modularity: POP promotes modularity by allowing procedures to be defined independently and reused in different parts of the program. This modular approach makes it easier to maintain and update the code.

2. Structured Programming: POP encourages structured programming techniques, where the program is divided into a hierarchy of modules or procedures, each with a specific responsibility. This structured approach helps improve the readability and maintainability of the code.

3. Efficiency: POP can be more efficient in terms of execution speed compared to OOP, especially for computationally intensive tasks. This is because POP programs typically have a simpler structure and fewer layers of abstraction, which can reduce overhead.

Demerits of POP:

1. Data Encapsulation: POP lacks the concept of data encapsulation, where data is bundled together with the procedures that operate on it. This can lead to scattered data structures and difficulty in maintaining data integrity.

2. Code Reusability: POP encourages code reuse through the use of procedures, but it does not provide built-in mechanisms for organizing and managing these procedures effectively. This can make it challenging to reuse code across different projects or applications.

3. Complexity Management: As programs grow larger and more complex, POP can become difficult to manage and maintain. The lack of modularity and data encapsulation can make it challenging to identify and fix errors, especially in large-scale projects.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Definition: Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that organizes code around objects, which are data structures consisting of data and methods that operate on that data. OOP promotes the concept of encapsulation, where data and methods are bundled together into objects, and the interactions between objects are defined through messages.

Merits of OOP:

1. Encapsulation: OOP provides data encapsulation, which allows data to be bundled together with the methods that operate on it. This helps protect data from unauthorized access and modification, enhancing data security and integrity.

2. Abstraction: OOP supports abstraction by allowing the implementation details of an object to be hidden from the user. This enables the creation of reusable and maintainable components that can be easily integrated into different applications.

3. Object Reusability: OOP promotes code reusability through the concept of inheritance, where new classes can be derived from existing classes, inheriting their properties and methods. This allows developers to reuse existing code and extend it to create new functionality.

4. Modularity: OOP encourages modularity by organizing code into well-defined objects. This makes it easier to maintain and update the code, as changes to one object will not affect other parts of the program.

Demerits of OOP:

1. Complexity: OOP can be more complex to understand and implement compared to POP. The use of classes, objects, and inheritance can add additional layers of abstraction, which may be challenging for beginners to grasp.

2. Performance Overhead: OOP programs can have a higher execution overhead compared to POP programs due to the additional layers of abstraction and the need to manage objects and their interactions.

3. Overuse of Inheritance: Excessive use of inheritance can lead to deep inheritance hierarchies, which can make it difficult to maintain and understand the program. It can also introduce coupling between classes, making it harder to modify or extend the code.