What is the purpose of encapsulation?

What is the purpose of encapsulation in programming?

Encapsulation is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming that restricts access to certain components of an object. It helps in bundling the data and methods that operate on the data within one unit, typically a class.

Why is encapsulation important for software development?

Encapsulation is important because it enhances data security, reduces complexity, and increases code maintainability. By hiding the internal state of an object, it prevents unintended interference and misuse of the data.

Can you give me an example of encapsulation?

Sure! For instance, consider a class BankAccount that has private attributes like balance. The class provides public methods like deposit() and withdraw() to modify the balance, ensuring that the balance cannot be changed directly from outside the class.

How does encapsulation relate to inheritance?

Encapsulation and inheritance are both key principles of object-oriented programming. While encapsulation focuses on hiding the internal state of an object, inheritance allows a new class to inherit properties and methods from an existing class, promoting code reuse.