What is the defining characteristic of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?

The defining characteristic of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is the use of objects and data structures. OOP revolves around the concept of encapsulating data and behaviors into objects, which represent real-world entities. Each object contains attributes (data) and methods (functions or procedures) that define its behavior. This organization allows for greater modularity, code reusability, and easier maintenance.

Furthermore, OOP promotes principles such as inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation, enabling the development of more complex and scalable software applications. This structural foundation differs significantly from other programming paradigms, such as procedural or functional programming, where data and functions are not as intertwined.

The other options describe concepts that are not central to the principles of OOP. For instance, structured query language processing pertains to databases rather than programming paradigms, static data visualization is related to the display of information rather than its processing or structure, and sequential programming methodology focuses on executing statements in a linear manner, which does not leverage the modularity provided by object-oriented principles.