What are the best practices for encapsulation in Python?

What are the best practices for encapsulation in Python?

Encapsulation in Python involves restricting access to certain components of an object. Best practices include using private and protected attributes, and providing public methods for accessing and modifying these attributes.

Can you explain the difference between private and protected attributes?

Private attributes are prefixed with double underscores (e.g., __attribute) and are not accessible outside the class. Protected attributes are prefixed with a single underscore (e.g., _attribute) and are intended to be accessed within the class and its subclasses.

How can I implement encapsulation in a class?

You can implement encapsulation by defining your class with private or protected attributes and providing getter and setter methods to access and modify these attributes.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid with encapsulation?

Yes, common mistakes include overusing public attributes, neglecting to use getters and setters, and not properly documenting the intended use of protected attributes.