What is encapsulation in C++?

What is encapsulation in C++?

Encapsulation is a fundamental concept in C++ that restricts direct access to some of an object's components, which is a means of preventing unintended interference and misuse of the methods and data.

Can you give me an example of encapsulation?

Sure! In C++, you can use classes to encapsulate data. For example:

class BankAccount {
private:
    double balance;
public:
    void deposit(double amount) {
        balance += amount;
    }
    double getBalance() {
        return balance;
    }
};

Here, balance is private and cannot be accessed directly from outside the class.

Why is encapsulation important?

Encapsulation is important because it helps to protect the integrity of the data by preventing external code from directly accessing and modifying it. This leads to more maintainable and less error-prone code.

What are the benefits of using encapsulation?

The benefits include improved code maintainability, increased security of data, and the ability to change the internal implementation without affecting external code that uses the class.