Introduction to Data Hiding
Explore the principles of data hiding and encapsulation in Java programming. Understand how to restrict access to class data using private modifiers and provide controlled access through accessor and mutator methods, enhancing software design and maintainability.
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Introduction
In computer science, data hiding is the principle of segregating the design decisions that are most likely to be changed in the future. In other words, data hiding, or information hiding is the ability to prevent certain aspects of a class or software component from being accessible to its clients.
Example
For instance, a car is a complex piece of equipment. To make the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of a car reasonable, the complex piece of equipment is divided into many parts. A car manufacturer can also offer various options while still having a vehicle undergoing the manufacturing process.
Driving a car doesn’t require the information of complex auto parts, e.g., unexposed bumper, antenna cable, dashcam, battery box, oil pressure gauge, electronic timing controller, knock sensor, or starter drive. You may be hearing those terms for the first time. Auto parts do get changed with each new model.
Cars have a separate interface to interact with drivers. They present a standard interface (pedals, wheel, shifter, signals, gauges, etc.) on which people are trained and licensed. Thus, people only have to learn to drive a car; they don’t need to learn a completely different way of driving every time they drive a new model.
What is data encapsulation?
In Java, data encapsulation is a technique in which the implementation details of a class are kept hidden from the user.
Explanation
When designing a class, programmers make decisions about what data to make accessible and modifiable from an external class. Data can be either accessible or modifiable, or it can be both or neither.
Instance variables are encapsulated using the private access modifier. The provided accessor and mutator methods in a class allow the client code to use and modify data.