Encapsulation in C++

Encapsulation is a key feature of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), which aims to group data and functions together into a single unit. In simple terms, encapsulation is a process where data and the operations (functions) performed on it are hidden together in a class to keep it safe from the outside world.

The main purpose of encapsulation is to hide data and allow it to be accessed only in a controlled manner. It bundles data and functions together and classifies them within the class as private, protected, or public.

The main purposes are data security, data hiding, code modularity, maintenance, and flexibility and reusability.

Data security, reduced code complexity, data integrity, modularity, and data hiding.

Increased code length (due to getters and setters), potential processing delays, and overhead in managing class members.

A key aspect of encapsulation is data hiding. Data hiding means keeping the private members of a class hidden from the outside world and accessing them only in a controlled manner.