What are access modifiers in object-oriented programming?

What are access modifiers in object-oriented programming?

Access modifiers are keywords that set the accessibility of classes, methods, and other members in OOP.

Can you explain the different types of access modifiers?

Sure! The main types are public, private, and protected. Public members are accessible from anywhere, private members are only accessible within the class, and protected members are accessible within the class and its subclasses.

Why would I use private or protected instead of public?

Using private or protected helps encapsulate data, ensuring that it can only be modified in controlled ways, which enhances security and maintainability.

Can you give an example of each access modifier?

Absolutely! In Java, a public method can be accessed from any class, a private method can only be accessed within its own class, and a protected method can be accessed in its class and subclasses.