University of Central Florida (UCF) COP3330 Object Oriented Programming Final Practice Exam

Encapsulation is a fundamental principle of object-oriented programming that focuses on bundling the data (attributes) and methods (functions) that operate on the data into a single unit known as an object. The primary purpose of using encapsulation is to restrict direct access to certain components of an object. This is accomplished by using access modifiers, such as private, protected, and public, which dictate what can be accessed from outside the object.

By restricting direct access to internal object data, encapsulation protects the integrity of the data. It allows the class to control how its data is accessed and modified, ensuring that its internal state is only changed in permitted ways. This can prevent unintended interference and bugs, particularly in larger, more complex systems where objects interact with one another.

Moreover, encapsulation supports maintainability and flexibility. If the implementation details of a class need to change, as long as the interface remains consistent, other parts of a program that rely on the class do not need to be modified. This promotes a cleaner design and enhances code refactorability since changes can be isolated within the encapsulated class.

In contrast, the other choices relate to different aspects of object-oriented programming. Promoting inheritance is more about extending classes and creating a hierarchy; allowing multiple