Technology Fundamentals
Encapsulation
Definition
In object-oriented programming (OOP), encapsulation refers to the bundling of data (attributes) with the methods (functions) that operate on that data. It also involves restricting direct access to some of an object's components.
Why It Matters
Encapsulation protects an object's internal state from outside interference and misuse. It allows a class to expose only a public interface, while keeping its internal implementation details private. This makes code more secure, modular, and easier to maintain.
Contextual Example
A `Car` object might have a private attribute `speed`. Other parts of the program cannot change `speed` directly. Instead, they must call public methods like `accelerate()` or `brake()`, which contain logic to ensure the speed remains within a valid range.
Common Misunderstandings
- Encapsulation is often confused with abstraction, but they are different. Abstraction is about hiding complexity to show only the essentials. Encapsulation is about bundling data and methods together to hide the internal implementation.
- It is a key pillar of object-oriented programming, along with inheritance and polymorphism.