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Encapsulation is one of the fundamental concepts in object-oriented programming (OOP). It allows developers to create self-contained objects with private attributes and public interfaces. By restricting direct access to data members, encapsulation enhances modularity, reusability, and debugging capabilities. This tutorial introduces encapsulation in Python, offering real-world examples and best practices.
Understanding Encapsulation
At its core, encapsulation involves wrapping related state variables and behaviors together inside a single unit — a class, module, or function — while hiding implementation details from users. Implementing encapsulation typically consists of two components:
- Private Attributes: Variables declared at the beginning of a class definition (using double underscores) become part of the class namespace but remain hidden outside the scope. Users cannot modify these values directly; instead, they must interact via provided methods.
- Public Interface: Functions defined within a class serve as accessible entry points for managing the…