english word · 2026-08-02
encapsulation
noun
Meaning
The practice of bundling data and the methods that act on that data into a single unit while restricting direct access to some of the object's components. Think of it like a protective pill coating that hides the complex chemical internal state and only exposes the intended interface to the user.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'capsula' meaning a small box or chest, combined with the prefix 'en-' meaning to put into.
Examples
"We should use proper encapsulation here by making these class variables private to prevent external modules from accidentally corrupting the internal state."
"Good encapsulation allowed us to rewrite the entire data storage logic without breaking any of the code that calls this function."
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