Welcome! Today's subject is Encapsulation, a cornerstone of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). Encapsulation bundles data and the operations that we perform on them into one unit, namely an object. It guards data against unwanted alterations, ensuring the creation of robust and maintainable software.

Prepare yourself for an exciting journey as we delve into how encapsulation works and explore the vital role it plays in data privacy.

Starting with the basics, encapsulation is similar to packing data and the methods that modify this data into a single compartment known as a class. It safeguards the data in an object from external interference.

To illustrate, consider a C# class representing a bank account. Without encapsulation, the account balance could be directly altered. With encapsulation, however, the balance can only change through specified methods, like depositing or withdrawing.

Encapsulation restricts direct access to an object's data and prevents unwanted data alteration. This principle is comparable to window blinds, allowing you to look out while preventing others from peeping in.

In encapsulation, private and public attributes are integral to data privacy. Private attributes, indicated by the keyword, require caution while being manipulated.