For instance, you can use the same data for hospital application, job portal application, a Government database, etc. Encapsulation means to encapsulate or put everything into one thing and provide others to use it. Whenever I read about this two main OOP's concepts in any of the book or blog, I used to get some predefined definitions and failed to get the real meaning. So here, we are hiding the implementation of access methods and it is called abstraction. Encapsulation is wrapping up of data and methods in a single unit and making the data accessible only through methods(getter/setter) to ensure safety of data. We can only alter the hunger level by feeding it, or by abandoning it for a few days. What is the difference between __str__ and __repr__? // set() function to set the value of a Abstraction: what are the minimum functions and variables that should be exposed to the outside of our class. Abstraction is used to hide something too, but in a higher degree (class, interface). In encapsulation, the variables of a class will be hidden from other classes and can be accessed only through the methods of their current class. Therefore we can say that, the variable a and the methods set() as well as get() have bound together that isencapsulation. Prev Question Next Question Recommended Articles. The another thing is that if it does not hide implementation then why we provide a method in abstract class that do not have body. One can easily relate the Text book definition here ie., Hiding the inner implementation and only providing what it will do rather than how it do that! Abstraction is focused mainly on what should be done, while Encapsulation is focused on how it should be done. The encapsulation interface only allows for well-defined interaction. Is Encapsulation = Data Hiding + Abstraction? Wikipedia defines encapsulation thus: "Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data with the methods that operate on that data, or the restricting of direct access to some of an object's components." Encapsulation helps us hide the actual state of an object from the outside world**. Abstraction is selecting data from a larger pool to show only relevant details of the object to the user. I decided to dig a little deeper, and I have come to realize that theres a subtle difference between the two concepts, and this is what I have briefly presented in this article. Encapsulation is not a means to achieve abstraction. In case of OOP Abstract Classes are the ones which do not contain every information about that object in real world, for eg. Example: You have variables and methods inside a class - this is called as encapsulation. so,it would be helpful if anyone guide me through the basic difference on the subject (with codes as the example). // private variables Encapsulation It is a method that helps wrap up data into a single module. This is a general answer not related to a specific programming language (as was the question). In Java, abstraction means hiding the information to the real world. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Also you will walk through the important access modifiers in object oriented programming such as private ,public and protected in detail with examples. Same as in programming - we just hide some special code of method or property and it only gives output, same as capsule. Like how to actually hide data from direct/external access. class Summation { Wrapping up data and members into single entity is called as encapsulation. Question was about abstraction vs encapsulation, not about abstract class! Can "it's down to him to fix the machine" and "it's up to him to fix the machine"? Is cycling an aerobic or anaerobic exercise? An Abstract class help us avoid creating new instance of it! Can anyone please justify it with the simplest example? int myNum1, myNum2, myNum3 They are 2 slightly different concepts but have a subtle link. (hiding the complexity of the system) Real life example of Abstraction in C++ Suppose you are operating a mobile phone.You know that the important feature of a phone is the memory card, SIM, battery life, design and build, and processor power. The encapsulation hides the implementation details of a class from other objects. Generally we say abstract class or method is to basically hide something. Encapsulation helps you to change a part of code without affecting other parts of the code. It is one of the most important concepts of OOPs. @WpfBee Abstraction has nothing to do with hiding, Just checkout my answer. The main difference between abstraction vs encapsulation is that the problem is solved by Abstraction at the design level and the application level by Encapsulation. Abstraction: We can take the same example here but with a higher Degree/Context. Let me explain it in with the same example discussed above. Take and example of following stack class: Now encapsulation helps to safeguard internal data as top cannot be accessed directly outside. encryption which protects their implementation from outsiders. Browse other questions tagged, Where developers & technologists share private knowledge with coworkers, Reach developers & technologists worldwide. One might say that Abstraction is the process of generalization: all objects under consideration are included in a superset of objects, all of which possess given properties (but are different in other respects). @Mortalus - I don't agree your 1st statement "abstraction has nothing to do with hiding implementation". Abstraction is focused mainly on what should be done, while Encapsulation is focused on how it should be done. Helps you to simplify the representation of the domain models. The goal of abstraction is to make the code more readable and maintainable. Just a few more points to make thing clear. Encapsulation is a process of wrapping the data and the code, that operate on the data into a single entity. private, protected and public. It is the mechanism that binds together code and the data it manipulates. The correct option is (a) Binding and Hiding respectively Best explanation: Abstraction is hiding the complex code. Thus, encapsulation is also known as data hiding at implementation level. The difference is the abstraction is a general one if we are hiding something from the user for simplicity, maintainability and security and. This is a general answer not related to a specific programming language (as was the question). Can you explain how this answer differs from the 12 other existing answers? Object-oriented programming is one of the key pillars of Java. Simply put it is not needed in the context - Just provide what is necessary. It allows you to reduce coupling of modules and increases cohesion inside a module as all piece of one thing are encapsulated in one place. Thank you for reading. you booked the hotel room, you go there and switch on a bulb by pressing the switch. Encapsulation: The adjustments we can make with the remote is a good example - Volume UP/DOWN, Color & Contrast - All we can do is adjust it to the min and max value provided and cannot do anything beyond what is provided in the remote - Imagine the getter and setter here(The setter function will check whether the value provided is valid if Yes, it process the operation if not won't allow us to make changes - like we cannot decrease the volume beyond zero even we press the volume down button a hundred times). Difference between encapsulation and abstraction. Copyright - Guru99 2022 Privacy Policy|Affiliate Disclaimer|ToS, Difference between Abstraction and Encapsulation, Difference Between Waterfall vs Spiral and Incremental Model, Capability Maturity Model (CMM) & its Levels in Software Engineering, Incremental Model in SDLC: Use, Advantage & Disadvantage, What is RAD Model? This is done by binding data and methods to a single entity/unit to prevent external access. A class with abstract method must be prevented from creating its own instance because the abstract methods in it, are not having any meaningful implementation. Abstraction is the different buttons like on-off, clear and other buttons provided to operate it. Abstraction is the method of hiding the unwanted information. And also these kits are available as loose in market. What is the word abstract means ? Problems in encapsulation are solved at the implementation level. They must access it via getter and setter methods. Python- Encapsulation Vs Abstraction. So the answer is: abstraction and encapsulation have nothing in common. this discussion can be seen below : Encapsulation is hiding the implementation details which may or may not be for generic or specialized behavior(s). This method encapsulates the data and function together inside a class which also results in data abstraction. In short, from OOAD perspective: Abstraction is more about 'What' a class can do. Encapsulation means hiding the internal details or mechanics of how an object does something. Encapsulation in Java is a mechanism for wrapping the data (variables) and code acting on the data (methods) together as a single unit. What are the differences between a HashMap and a Hashtable in Java? And thats right in case of abstract class too. Yes, it is true that Abstraction and Encapsulation are about hiding. You can implement encapsulation using Access Modifiers (Public, Protected & Private.). We can implement abstraction using abstract class and interfaces. But no.. That is wrong. Abstraction hide the things at design level but Encapsulation hide things at implementation level. see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstraction_(computer_science). Kindly consider the same TV. @Mortalus - Also, you mentioned a wiki link. 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Java, abstraction means hiding the implementation level information to the real world developers & share.