How does encapsulation impact performance or memory usage?

Encapsulation is one of the four fundamental OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) principles. It allows developers to bundle data (attributes) and methods (functions) that operate on the data into a single unit, known as a class. This practice can impact performance and memory usage in a few ways:

• Memory Usage: Encapsulation can lead to optimized memory allocation, as objects can manage their own state without exposing it to other parts of the program.
• Performance: While encapsulation may introduce a slight overhead due to additional method calls (getters and setters), it can lead to better performance in the long run by allowing controlled access to objects and reducing potential errors that can occur with unprotected data.

It's important to note that the benefits of encapsulation often outweigh any minimal performance costs, particularly in larger applications where maintaining code quality and stability is crucial.