ByLearning

Encapsulation and Data Hiding

1 week, 5 days ago
Lesson 6

Lesson Overview

This lesson explains Encapsulation, a core concept in OOP that restricts direct access to an object's data. It focuses on data hiding to protect internal information from accidental changes or misuse. You'll learn how to "hide" data so it can only be accessed or modified through specific, controlled methods (like the ones from the previous lesson), keeping your code safe and modular.

Lesson Content

Introduction to Encapsulation: The Big Picture

Now that you understand Private Variables (the vault) and Getters/Setters (the security guards), you have already learned the core components of a larger concept called Encapsulation.

What is Encapsulation?

Think of a capsule (medicine). The medicine powder is sealed inside the capsule shell. You swallow the capsule, but you don't touch the powder directly. The shell protects the medicine and delivers it safely.

Encapsulation is similar in programming. It involves bundling data (attributes) and methods (behaviors) together into a single unit (a class) and restricting direct access to some of that data.

It is not just about "hiding" data; it's about control. You are creating a safe, self-contained unit where the internal machinery (private variables) is protected, and the only way to interact with it is through a clean, safe interface (public methods)​

You have already built an encapsulated system in the Bank Account example!

  • Bundling: You combined name, balance, and the logic (deposit) inside one class BankAccount.
  • Restriction: You used __balance (Private Variable) to hide the raw data.
  • Controlled Interface: You used get_balance() and set_balance() to control access.

Why is this important?

  1. Security: Prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data (like the balance).
  2. Safety: Prevents bugs. Other programmers can't accidentally change an internal variable that ruins your object's logic.
  3. Flexibility: You can change the internal code (how __code is stored) without breaking the code of everyone else who uses your class methods.

Summary:
When you put these pieces together—Classes + Private Variables + Getters/Setters—you are practicing Encapsulation. You are telling the world: "Here is my object. You can use it, but only according to my rules​