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The features of encapsulation are supported using classes in most object-oriented programming languages, although other alternatives also exist.
== General definition ==▼
In general, encapsulation '''is one of the four fundamentals''' of OOP ([[object-oriented programming]]). Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data with the methods that operate on that data.<ref name=Rogers01/> Encapsulation is '''used to hide the values or state of a structured data object inside a class''', preventing unauthorized parties' direct access to them. Publicly accessible methods are generally provided in the class (so-called ''getters'' and ''setters'') to access the values, and other client classes call these methods to retrieve and modify the values within the object.▼
This mechanism is not unique to object-oriented programming. Implementations of [[abstract data types]], e.g. [[module (programming)|modules]], offer a similar form of encapsulation. This similarity stems from the fact that both notions rely on the same mathematical fundamental of an [[existential type]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pierce|2002|loc=§ 24.2 Data Abstraction with Existentials}}</ref>▼
== An information-hiding mechanism ==
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▲== General definition ==
▲In general, encapsulation '''is one of the four fundamentals''' of OOP ([[object-oriented programming]]). Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data with the methods that operate on that data.<ref name=Rogers01/> Encapsulation is '''used to hide the values or state of a structured data object inside a class''', preventing unauthorized parties' direct access to them. Publicly accessible methods are generally provided in the class (so-called ''getters'' and ''setters'') to access the values, and other client classes call these methods to retrieve and modify the values within the object.
▲This mechanism is not unique to object-oriented programming. Implementations of [[abstract data types]], e.g. [[module (programming)|modules]], offer a similar form of encapsulation. This similarity stems from the fact that both notions rely on the same mathematical fundamental of an [[existential type]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pierce|2002|loc=§ 24.2 Data Abstraction with Existentials}}</ref>
== Encapsulation and Inheritance ==
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