Introduction

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 protects data from unwanted alterations, ensuring the creation of robust and maintainable software.

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

Unraveling Encapsulation

Starting with the basics, encapsulation involves combining data and the methods that modify this data into a single unit known as a class. It protects the data within an object from external interference.

In classes, you will often work with instance variables. These variables are declared with a @ in front and are central to encapsulation in Ruby. They hold data specific to an object and persist across different methods within the same object. These variables are private by default, meaning they can’t be accessed directly from outside the object, which helps maintain data privacy and integrity.

To illustrate, consider a Ruby class representing a bank account. Without encapsulation, the account balance would be accessible to outside functions and subject to unsolicited alterations from within. However, with encapsulation, we can provide a standardized and streamlined approach to alter the balance, like depositing or withdrawing.

Encapsulation: Guardian of Data Privacy
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