Encapsulation Definition

Encapsulation is one of the main concepts used in object-oriented programming. It describes how an object can store and allow its method to manipulate its state without these entities being observed from outside the object. The state and implementation of each object are stored in symbols.

They are only allowed to interact with an explicitly specified public functions or methods. This type of data hiding provides application security, controls any state change for the object, minimizes the chances of errors, and ensures better understandability of the application.

The primary features of encapsulation:

• Class fields store data that belongs to an object or class. Encapsulation means hiding these fields so that they cannot be accessed directly but instead made accessible through the class’s methods.
• Methods are class-defined functions. They may be hidden, or protected in such a manner that would only give limited access to these functions.
• Access modifiers are features in some programming languages that enable regulation of access to fields and methods of a class by an external class, with the aim of data isolation and protection to some extent.