Word
encapsulation
Phoneticsen·cap·su·la·tion
UK/ɛnkˌæpsuːlˈeɪʃən/
Definition
n. the act of hiding the inner details of how something works so you only see the simple outside part. In computer programming, it means keeping data safe inside a single unit or object.
n. the bundling of data with the methods that operate on that data, restricting direct access to some of an object's components. This principle serves to hide internal state and prevent unintended interference from outside code.
Examples
“Encapsulation makes the code easier to manage.”
“By using encapsulation, the developer ensured that the internal variables of the user class could not be changed directly by other parts of the program.”
“Effective encapsulation allows a library to update its internal logic without breaking the external applications that rely on its public interface.”
Examples
simple
“Encapsulation makes the code easier to manage.”
contextual
“By using encapsulation, the developer ensured that the internal variables of the user class could not be changed directly by other parts of the program.”
complex
“Effective encapsulation allows a library to update its internal logic without breaking the external applications that rely on its public interface.”
Usage
Often used in the context of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) alongside inheritance and polymorphism.
Real-World Examples
“Reading her book put me in mind of Regeneration, Pat Barker’s novel of the first world war and the best encapsulation of PTSD I’ve read.” “Our guides explain how nuclear waste canisters will arrive at the service area in a lift running straight down from the encapsulation plant on the surface.” Etymology
From en- + capsule + -ation or encapsulate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/encapsulation