When should you prefer encapsulation and when should you avoid it?

Encapsulation is a fundamental principle of object-oriented programming that involves bundling the data (attributes) and the methods (functions) that operate on the data into a single unit, or class. It restricts direct access to some of an object's components and can prevent the accidental modification of data.

When to Prefer Encapsulation

When you want to protect the integrity of an object's data by restricting access to it.
When you need to maintain control over how important data is accessed and modified.
When you are working on large codebases where keeping track of data visibility is essential for maintainability.
When you want to provide a clear and defined interface for interacting with an object's data.

When to Avoid Encapsulation

In small programs or simple scripts where the overhead of encapsulation is unnecessary.
When there is a requirement for performance optimization and minimizing accessors and mutators might yield better results.
When you are working in a tightly controlled environment where the ownership and modification of data are well-understood among developers.

Example of Encapsulation


        <?php
        class Account {
            private $balance;

            public function __construct($initialBalance) {
                $this->balance = $initialBalance;
            }

            public function deposit($amount) {
                if ($amount > 0) {
                    $this->balance += $amount;
                }
            }

            public function withdraw($amount) {
                if ($amount > 0 && $this->balance >= $amount) {
                    $this->balance -= $amount;
                }
            }

            public function getBalance() {
                return $this->balance;
            }
        }

        $myAccount = new Account(100);
        $myAccount->deposit(50);
        $myAccount->withdraw(30);
        echo $myAccount->getBalance(); // Outputs: 120
        ?>

When should you prefer encapsulation and when should you avoid it?

When to Prefer Encapsulation

When to Avoid Encapsulation

Example of Encapsulation

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When should you prefer encapsulation and when should you avoid it?

When to Prefer Encapsulation

When to Avoid Encapsulation

Example of Encapsulation

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Popular Topics

Recent Languages