Question

What is encapsulation?

Short answer

Provide an example. Answer: Encapsulation is a core concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that refers to the bundling of data (attributes) and methods (functions) that operate on the data within a single unit, called a class. It is important because it promotes data hiding, better code organization, and code reusability through inheritance. A simple example of encapsulation is a 'BankAccount' class in Python, where the balance attribute is private and can only be manipulated through methods like deposit, withdraw, and get_balance defined within the class. This ensures data protection and prevents unauthorized access.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Encapsulation

Encapsulation is a core concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that refers to the bundling of data (attributes) and methods (functions) that operate on the data within a single unit, called a class. This means that an object (an instance of a class) has its data protected from direct access and can only be manipulated through the methods defined within the class.

Importance of Encapsulation

Encapsulation is important for several reasons: 1. It promotes data hiding, as the internal state of an object is not exposed directly to the outside world. This ensures that the object's data can only be accessed or modified through the object's methods, preventing unauthorized access and potential data corruption. 2. It enables better code organization, as related data and methods are kept together within a class. This makes the code easier to read, understand, and maintain. 3. It enables code reusability through inheritance, where a new class can inherit the properties and methods of an existing class, and can also extend or override them as needed.

Example of Encapsulation

Here's a simple example demonstrating encapsulation using a Python class called 'BankAccount': ```python class BankAccount: def __init__(self, balance=0): self.__balance = balance def deposit(self, amount): self.__balance += amount return self.__balance def withdraw(self, amount): if amount <= self.__balance: self.__balance -= amount else: print("Insufficient funds") return self.__balance def get_balance(self): return self.__balance ``` In this example, the 'BankAccount' class encapsulates its data (balance) and methods (deposit, withdraw, and get_balance). The balance attribute is marked private by using double underscores, which means it cannot be accessed directly from outside the class. The methods in the class are used to perform operations on the balance, like depositing and withdrawing. This way, encapsulation is achieved, and the internal state of the BankAccount object remains protected and hidden.