8️⃣ C# Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

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🏗️ C# Encapsulation – Protect and Organize Your Data

🧲 Introduction – Why Use Encapsulation in C#?

Encapsulation is a core principle of object-oriented programming that allows you to protect internal data and expose only what’s necessary. In C#, it helps you build secure, robust, and maintainable applications by controlling how objects interact with data.

🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:

What encapsulation means in C#
How to use access modifiers (private, public, etc.)
The role of properties in encapsulation
Examples of data protection and validation
Real-world best practices

🔍 Core Concept – What is Encapsulation?

Encapsulation is the process of bundling data and the methods that operate on that data into a single unit (class) and restricting direct access to some of the object’s components.

In C#, this is achieved using:

Private fields
Public/protected/internal properties
Access modifiers like private, public, protected, internal

🔒 Basic Example – Private Field with Public Property

class Person
{
    private string name;

    public string Name
    {
        get { return name; }
        set { name = value; }
    }
}

📘 Use Case: Restrict access to internal fields but expose them safely through properties.

🧠 Validation Through Encapsulation

class Product
{
    private double price;

    public double Price
    {
        get { return price; }
        set
        {
            if (value >= 0)
                price = value;
        }
    }
}

📘 Use Case: Prevent invalid data entry (e.g., negative price).

📊 Access Modifiers Overview

Modifier	Access Level
`private`	Accessible only within the same class
`public`	Accessible from anywhere
`protected`	Accessible in the class and its subclasses
`internal`	Accessible within the same assembly
`protected internal`	Accessible within assembly or derived types

🧱 Encapsulation vs Data Hiding

Encapsulation: Combines fields and methods in a class.
Data hiding: The act of restricting direct access using access modifiers.

They work together in C# to secure internal logic and maintain code safety.

💡 Best Practices & Tips

💡 Tip: Always use private for fields and expose them via public or protected properties if needed.

⚠️ Pitfall: Avoid exposing fields directly—this breaks encapsulation and leads to poor code structure.

📘 Best Practice: Apply property-based access to allow validation and future enhancements without breaking the API.

🛠️ Real-World Use Cases

🔒 User account systems (e.g., password field)
🧾 Business logic (e.g., price, tax validation)
📦 Internal state control in game engines or simulations
🧪 Configuration settings where defaults must be protected

📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps

🧵 Key Takeaways:

Encapsulation hides internal class logic and protects data.
Use access modifiers to control visibility.
Properties provide controlled exposure of internal values.

⚙️ Real-world relevance: C# encapsulation is essential for secure coding, data integrity, and clean object models.

❓ FAQ Section

❓ What is the purpose of encapsulation in C#?
✅ To hide internal implementation details and expose only necessary parts to the outside world.

❓ Can I expose fields directly?
✅ ❌ Avoid it. Always use properties to maintain encapsulation and enable validation.

❓ How does encapsulation differ from abstraction?
✅ Encapsulation hides data, abstraction hides implementation details—both improve maintainability but serve different purposes.

❓ Can private fields be accessed outside the class?
✅ ❌ No. You must use a public or protected property or method to access them.

❓ Why are properties preferred over public fields?
✅ Properties offer control, validation, and future-proofing without changing external access patterns.

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