Definition:

Association refers to a relationship between two or more entities where they are connected or linked in some way. It is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows objects to interact with each other, exchange information, and collaborate to perform specific tasks or achieve a common goal.

Types of Associations:

• Unary Association: It is a type of association where a relationship exists between two instances of the same class.
• Binary Association: It is a type of association where a relationship exists between two separate classes or entities.
• Aggregation (Composition) Association: It is a special type of association where an object of one class is composed of one or more objects of another class.
• Bi-Directional Association: It is an association where both classes in the relationship can access each other’s members and methods.
• Uni-Directional Association: It is an association where the relationship between two classes is one-sided, and only one class can access the other’s members and methods.
• Multiplicity in Association: It represents the number of occurrences or instances of one class associated with a single instance of another class.

Role in OOP:

Associations play a crucial role in modeling real-world scenarios and building complex software systems. They enable the encapsulation of behavior and data within objects, promoting modular design, code reusability, and maintainability. By establishing associations, objects can collaborate, communicate, and share information, ultimately facilitating the implementation of complex business logic.