encapsulation

Encapsulation is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that involves bundling the data (attributes) and the behavior (methods) that operate on the data into a single entity, typically a class.

This concept helps protect an object’s internal state from direct or unauthorized access and modification by restricting access to some of its components. Instead of having direct access to data, you interact with it through an interface, such as methods, which can enforce rules or constraints.

Although Python doesn’t have strict access control like some other programming languages, it uses conventions such as prefixing attribute names with a single underscore (_) to indicate that a given attribute is intended for internal use and not for external access.

Example

Here’s an example demonstrating encapsulation in Python:

Python 
class Car:
    def __init__(self, make, model):
        self._make = make
        self._model = model

    def display_info(self):
        print(f"Car Make: {self._make}, Model: {self._model}")

    @property
    def model(self):
        return self._model

    @model.setter
    def model(self, model):
        self._model = model

# Usage
car = Car("Toyota", "Corolla")
car.display_info()  # Output: Car Make: Toyota, Model: Corolla
car.model = "Camry"
print(car.model)  # Output: Camry

In this example, the Car class encapsulates the car’s make and model attributes. Both are non-public name, and you can only access or modify them through a property.

OOP in Python 3

Tutorial

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python

In this tutorial, you'll learn all about object-oriented programming (OOP) in Python. You'll learn the basics of the OOP paradigm and cover concepts like classes and inheritance. You'll also see how to instantiate an object from a class.

intermediate python

For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:

By Leodanis Pozo Ramos • Updated May 6, 2025
Python Glossary Share Feedback
OSZAR »