#40 Encapsulation in JAVA | Skyhighes | Lecture 40

Here's a comprehensive explanation of encapsulation in Java:

What is encapsulation?

Fundamental OOP concept: It involves binding data (variables) and the code that operates on that data (methods) together within a single unit, called a class.
Data hiding: It's primarily about protecting the internal state of an object from direct external access, ensuring data integrity and consistency.
Key mechanisms for implementing encapsulation:

Access modifiers:

private: Restricts access to members within the same class, enforcing data hiding.
public: Allows access from anywhere, typically used for methods that provide the interface to interact with the object.
protected: Allows access within the class and its subclasses, promoting code reusability.
Getter and setter methods:

Getters (accessors): Public methods that provide controlled access to private data members.
Setters (mutators): Public methods that allow controlled modification of private data members, often with data validation or other logic.
Example:

Java
class BankAccount {
private int balance; // Private data member

public void deposit(int amount) {
if (amount > 0) {
balance += amount;
} else {
System.out.println("Invalid deposit amount.");
}
}

public int getBalance() {
return balance;
}
}
Use code with caution. Learn more
Benefits of encapsulation:

Data integrity: Prevents accidental or unauthorized modification of data, ensuring its consistency.
Modularity: Promotes code organization and reusability by isolating classes and their responsibilities.
Flexibility: Allows changes to internal implementation without affecting external code that interacts with the class.
Maintainability: Makes code easier to understand, test, and manage due to clear boundaries and controlled access.
Security: Can enhance security by restricting access to sensitive data or operations.
Best practices:

Make data members private by default.
Provide public getters and setters only when necessary.
Validate data in setter methods to ensure integrity.
Design classes with clear responsibilities and well-defined interfaces.
Avoid exposing internal implementation details unnecessarily.