What are access modifiers and how do they differ across programming languages?

What are access modifiers and how do they differ across programming languages?

Access modifiers are keywords used to set the accessibility of classes, methods, and other members in programming. They control how the members can be accessed from other parts of the code.

Can you give me examples of access modifiers in languages like Java, C++, and Python?

Sure! In Java, we have public, private, and protected. C++ has similar ones, but also includes friend. Python uses a convention with underscores to indicate private members.

How does the concept of access modifiers improve code security?

Access modifiers enhance code security by restricting access to sensitive parts of the code, preventing unauthorized modifications and ensuring encapsulation.

Are there any languages that don't use access modifiers?

Yes, some languages like JavaScript do not have formal access modifiers, but they use conventions and closures to achieve similar encapsulation.