Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data and methods within a class, where the data is hidden from external access. It ensures that an object's internal state remains consistent by controlling how it can be accessed or modified.
OOP promotes encapsulation as one of its fundamental principles. It allows for modular design by grouping related data and behaviors together within classes.
Access modifiers: Access modifiers control the visibility and accessibility of members (variables or methods) in a class. They determine whether other parts of the program can access or modify those members directly.
Information hiding: Information hiding is closely related to encapsulation and involves restricting direct access to internal details of an object. By hiding information, we protect it from being accidentally modified or misused outside its intended scope.