Understanding Encapsulation in Object-Oriented Programming

Encapsulation is a key idea in Object-Oriented Programming. It mainly focuses on keeping an object's information safe from outside access. Using properties helps achieve effective encapsulation in classes.

What is Data Hiding?
Encapsulation makes sure that the inner workings of an object are not open for anyone to mess with or misuse. By using properties, we can control how others access an object's information. This means we can set rules on how data can be seen or changed. As a result, our design becomes stronger because it stops bad data from sneaking in.

How Properties Work

1. Getters and Setters:

   • Properties are made using two main tools: getters and setters.
   • A getter lets you read the value of a private attribute (a piece of information that's hidden), while a setter controls how that value can be changed.
   • For example, if there's a class with a private attribute called _balance, a getter can be used to check that balance, and a setter can change it, but only if certain rules are met. For instance, we might want to make sure the balance never goes below zero.

2. Validation Logic:

   • Setters can check if new data meets certain rules before allowing changes.
   • For example, a setter might check to see if a number is within a specific range.

3. Read-Only Properties:

   • Sometimes, you only want to show certain information without letting anyone change it.
   • In these cases, you can use read-only properties, which only have a getter.

In Short:
Properties play an important role in encapsulation. They help keep data safe while making it easy to work with the information inside a class. This way, we maintain strong and clear rules for how to handle data.