Abstraction vs Encapsulation in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Abstraction and encapsulation are two fundamental concepts in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) that help in achieving code flexibility and modularity. While they are closely related, they serve different purposes in OOP.

Abstraction:

In OOP, abstraction is the process of hiding complex implementation details and exposing only the necessary features or functionalities of an object. It allows developers to focus on what an object does rather than how it does it. Abstraction enables the creation of a simplified model that represents the essential characteristics of an object without getting into the specifics of its internal workings.

Encapsulation:

Encapsulation is the mechanism of bundling the data (attributes) and methods (functions) that operate on the data into a single unit known as a class. It restricts access to the internal state of an object and only allows interactions through the defined interfaces. Encapsulation helps in protecting the integrity of the data and ensures that the object's state remains consistent.

Difference:

The main difference between abstraction and encapsulation lies in their focus. Abstraction focuses on showing only the necessary features of an object, while encapsulation focuses on bundling data and methods together within a class to achieve data hiding and information hiding. Abstraction is more about the design perspective, whereas encapsulation is more about the implementation perspective.

In summary, abstraction simplifies complex systems by modeling essential aspects, while encapsulation ensures data protection and modularity by combining data and methods within a class. Both concepts are essential in OOP to create maintainable and scalable code.