Q: What role does OOP play in the development of GUI applications?  

Object-oriented programming (OOP) plays a crucial role in the development of graphical user interface (GUI) applications by simplifying the creation and management of user interface components. In OOP, user interface elements such as buttons, text fields, and windows can be modeled as objects, each encapsulating their properties and behaviors. These components can inherit from base classes, enabling the reuse of common functionality and reducing code duplication. For instance, a "Button" class can inherit from a "UIComponent" class, sharing common attributes like position and size, while also defining specific behaviors such as handling click events. Polymorphism allows different types of UI components to be treated uniformly, enabling the creation of dynamic and flexible user interfaces. Encapsulation ensures that the internal state of UI objects is protected, enhancing the stability and maintainability of the application. By leveraging OOP principles, developers can create modular, reusable, and scalable GUI applications that are easier to develop, test, and maintain.