Dynamic

Data Hiding vs Public Data Members

Developers should learn and use data hiding to build robust, maintainable software by encapsulating data and exposing only necessary functionality, which minimizes bugs from external manipulation and simplifies code changes meets developers should use public data members when designing simple data structures, such as plain old data (pod) classes in c++ or data classes in kotlin, where the primary purpose is to hold data without complex behavior. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Data Hiding

Developers should learn and use data hiding to build robust, maintainable software by encapsulating data and exposing only necessary functionality, which minimizes bugs from external manipulation and simplifies code changes

Data Hiding

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use data hiding to build robust, maintainable software by encapsulating data and exposing only necessary functionality, which minimizes bugs from external manipulation and simplifies code changes

Pros

  • +It is essential in OOP languages like Java, C++, and Python for creating modular systems, such as in banking applications where sensitive account balances are protected, or in game development where internal game state is hidden from external code
  • +Related to: object-oriented-programming, encapsulation

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Public Data Members

Developers should use public data members when designing simple data structures, such as Plain Old Data (POD) classes in C++ or data classes in Kotlin, where the primary purpose is to hold data without complex behavior

Pros

  • +It is also common in scripting languages like Python, where all members are public by default, to facilitate quick prototyping and reduce boilerplate code
  • +Related to: object-oriented-programming, encapsulation

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Data Hiding if: You want it is essential in oop languages like java, c++, and python for creating modular systems, such as in banking applications where sensitive account balances are protected, or in game development where internal game state is hidden from external code and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Public Data Members if: You prioritize it is also common in scripting languages like python, where all members are public by default, to facilitate quick prototyping and reduce boilerplate code over what Data Hiding offers.

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The Bottom Line
Data Hiding wins

Developers should learn and use data hiding to build robust, maintainable software by encapsulating data and exposing only necessary functionality, which minimizes bugs from external manipulation and simplifies code changes

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev