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Object-Oriented Programming in Python

Solution: The Final Challenge

Understand how to apply core object-oriented principles by reviewing a full vehicle rental system solution. Learn encapsulation for rental status, inheritance with method overriding, and composition to manage customers and vehicles. This lesson guides you through careful code organization and prepares you for advanced OOP projects.

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Below is the complete solution to the challenge:

from datetime import datetime, timedelta  

class Vehicle:
    def __init__(self, brand, model, vehicle_type):
        self.brand = brand
        self.model = model
        self.vehicle_type = vehicle_type
        self.is_rented = False
        self.rental_due_date = None

    def rent(self, customer):
        # Allow a customer to rent the vehicle if available
        if not self.is_rented:
            self.is_rented = True
            self.rental_due_date = datetime.now() + timedelta(days=7)
            customer.rented_vehicle = self
            print("%s rented %s %s, due back on %s." % (customer.name, self.brand, self.model, self.rental_due_date.date()))
        else:
            print("%s %s is already rented." % (self.brand, self.model))

    def return_vehicle(self):
        # Return the vehicle and clear the due date
        self.is_rented = False
        self.rental_due_date = None
        print("%s %s has been returned." % (self.brand, self.model))

    def __str__(self):
        return "%s %s (%s)" % (self.brand, self.model, self.vehicle_type)

Now that you have seen the solution, let’s understand it in detail:

  1. Encapsulation and rental management: The Vehicle class manages its own rental status and due date. When a vehicle is rented (using rent()), its status is updated and the due date is set to seven days from the current date. Returning a vehicle clears this status, ensuring ...