Data Hiding
Data hiding is a fundamental object-oriented programming (OOP) principle that restricts direct access to an object's internal data or implementation details, exposing only a controlled interface. It involves declaring data members as private or protected within a class, allowing access and modification only through public methods like getters and setters. This concept enhances security, reduces complexity, and prevents unintended interference with an object's state.
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. 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.