Data encapsulation

Data encapsulation, also known as data hiding, is the mechanism whereby the implementation details of a class are kept hidden from the user. The user can only perform a restricted set of operations on the hidden members of the class by executing special functions commonly called methods. Data encapsulation may refer to:

• The wrapping of private data in classes in object-oriented programming languages: see Encapsulation (object-oriented programming), information hiding, separation of concerns
• OSI model in network protocol design