Encapsulation & access modifiers

Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming in Java

Sani Yusuf

Lead Software Engineering Content Developer

Understanding encapsulation

Encapsulation can be explained with a mobile device
You only have access to dedicated exposed features like screen, speaker, etc
The inner workings are entirely hidden from users

Mobile Phone

Public properties

Properties marked public can be accessed by object instances


  class Car {
    // Public property
    public String color;


    // Public constructor
    public Car(String color){
      this.color = color;
    }    
  }


    public class Main {

      // main method
      public static void main(String[] args) {
          Car myCar = new Car("brown");
          // Can access public members 
          // from object instance
          System.out.println(
            myCar.color); // Brown
        }
      }

Private properties

Properties marked private can be accessed by object instances
Properties marked private can only be used within the class


  // Car class
  class Car {
     public String color;

     // Private properties 
     private String model;


     public Car(String color){
       this.color = color;
     }
  }


    // Main class
    public class Main {
      // main method
      public static void main(String[] args) {
          Car myCar = new Car("brown");
          // Calling private properties causes errors        
          System.out.println(
            myCar.model); // Java compilation error
        }
      }

Public methods


  // Car class
  class Car {
      public String color;
      private String model;

      public Car(String color){
          this.color = color;
      }

      // Public method
      public String getModel(){
          return this.model;
      }    
  }

Private methods


  class Car {


      // Private method, "calculateSpeed" can only be used within "Car" class
      private calculateSpeed(){
        // Trademarked formula code
      }

      public int getSpeed(){
        // "calculateSpeed" can be used anywhere within "Car" class
        return this.calculateSpeed();
      }
    }

Static methods

Properties marked static can be accessed without an object instance
Typically used to house shared code/libraries


   // Formula class 
   static class Formula {

     // Method for calculating square
     static int getSquare(int number) {
        return number * number;
      }
   }


  // Main class 
  public class Main {

    public static void 
      main(String[] args) {
          // We can use "getSquare" 
          // without an object instance
        System.out.println(
          Formula.getSquare(5)); // 25
      }
  }

Recap

Access modifiers: public, private, static
Access modifiers help secure applications
static enables the use of classes without creating instances

Let's practice!

Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming in Java