What is attribute encapsulation in Python?

What is attribute encapsulation in Python?

Attribute encapsulation in Python is a principle of object-oriented programming that restricts direct access to an object's attributes.

Why is encapsulation important?

Encapsulation helps protect the internal state of an object, ensuring that it can only be modified through defined methods.

Can you give me an example of encapsulation in Python?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.__name = name  # private attribute

    def get_name(self):
        return self.__name  # public method to access the private attribute

In this example, __name is encapsulated and can only be accessed via the get_name method.

What happens if I try to access a private attribute directly?

If you try to access a private attribute directly, you'll get an AttributeError. For example, person.__name would raise an error.