Modularizing Data

In conventional, structured programming, actions like PRINT are often isolated from the data by placing them in subroutines or modules. A module typically contains an operation for implementing one simple action. You might have a PRINT module, a SEND module, an ERASE module. These actions are independent of the data they operate on.
Modular program with isolated data

      PROGRAM ...
      ___________________________
      ___________________________
        PRINT _________________             |
        _______________________             |
        _______________________             |           data
        _______________________             |      data     data
      ___________________________           |    data  data
      ___________________________           |      data data    data
      ___________________________           |      data     data
        SEND __________________             |         data data
        _______________________             |          data
        _______________________             |
        _______________________             |
      ___________________________
      ___________________________
      ___________________________
        ERASE _________________
        _______________________
        _______________________
        _______________________

But with object-oriented programming, it is the data that is modularized. And each data module includes its own operations for performing actions directly related to its data.
Modular data--a report object

┌────────P R I N T────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ Report │
│ ------ │
S data F
E data I
N data L
D data E
│ data │
│ │
│ │
└────────E R A S E────────┘

In the case of report, the report object would contain its own built-in PRINT, SEND, ERASE, and FILE operations.

Object-oriented programming lets you model real-world objects--potentially very complex ones--precisely and elegantly. As a result, object manipulation becomes easier within the computer's programming. Computer instructions become simpler, and can be modified later with minimal effort.

Object-oriented programming hides any information that need not be known in order to act on an object, thereby concealing the object's complexities. Complex tasks can then be initiated simply, at a very high level. It's like moving your arm. To do so, you do not have to know about the many electrical, chemical, and mechanical interactions that must occur in the bones, muscles, tissues, and systems involved. These operations occur at lower levels. You just move your arm.