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FC0-U71 Practice Question: Which TWO are characteristics of object-oriented…
Which TWO are characteristics of object-oriented programming? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake in the CompTIA ITF+ exam is confusing general programming concepts (like loops, functions, variables) with the specific pillars of OOP (inheritance, encapsulation, polymorphism, abstraction).
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Inheritance
Inheritance (A) is a defining characteristic of object-oriented programming because it lets a class derive from a parent class, reusing and extending its attributes and methods to model an "is-a" relationship. Encapsulation (E) is also core to OOP: it bundles data (fields) and the methods that operate on that data inside a class, and restricts direct external access via access modifiers such as private, protected, and public. By contrast, loops (B) are general control-flow constructs found in procedural and other paradigms, not unique to OOP. Functions (C) are reusable code blocks present in procedural and functional programming as well, and variables (D) are simply named storage locations for data, so neither is a distinguishing OOP characteristic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Inheritance
Why this is correct
Inheritance lets a subclass reuse and extend a parent class's fields and methods, directly satisfying the object-oriented requirement for hierarchical code reuse. Unlike procedural languages, which share behaviour only through explicit calls, inheritance establishes an "is-a" relationship, making it a defining characteristic of object-oriented programming alongside encapsulation, polymorphism and abstraction.
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Loops
Why it's wrong here
Loops are control-flow constructs shared by procedural and functional languages, so they do not distinguish object-oriented programming. They are tempting because methods inside classes frequently contain loops, but iteration is orthogonal to the OOP paradigm; the actual characteristics are encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism and abstraction.
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Functions
Why it's wrong here
Functions exist in procedural and functional languages independently of objects, so they do not characterise object-oriented programming. They are tempting because methods are functions bound to a class, but the paradigm's defining traits are encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism and abstraction; functions alone appear in languages with no object model.
- ✗
Variables
Why it's wrong here
Variables are a general programming construct present in procedural and functional languages alike, so they do not characterise object-oriented programming specifically. They are tempting because encapsulation stores state in variables within objects, yet the defining OOP characteristics are inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation and abstraction, not variables themselves.
- ✓
Encapsulation
Why this is correct
Encapsulation binds data and the methods that operate on it into a single unit, hiding internal state behind a defined interface. This satisfies the stem's requirement for an object-oriented characteristic, as it enables modularity and protects integrity — a defining pillar alongside inheritance, polymorphism and abstraction.
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