The concept of encapsulation is relatively simple, based on the following: a variable needs to be protected within a class, so that the change of its value does not interfere negatively in other ways within the system. Let’s go to a practical example to make it easier to understand what this means.
For security reasons, in a traffic control system, the speed variable, inside the car class, you can not reach or exceed the value 120. For this security measure to be guaranteed, the concept of encapsulation comes into play.
class Car{
private $speed;
function valueSpeed($spe){
If ($vel < 120)
{
$speed = $spe;
}
}
}
In class Car, the variable $speed, which controls the car’s speed itself, is set as private – so only the context of the class can access it. For an object to be able to manipulate it, it’s necessary to use the valueSpeed () method that gets the value to be set in the variable and makes the necessary verifications.
$car = new Car;
$car->valueSpeed(111) // variable $speed takes the value 111
$car-> valueSpeed(120) // variable $ speed continues with the value 111
$car-> valueSpeed (109) // variable $ speed takes the value 109
$car->$speed = 115 // System error as the variable is private.
The concept of encapsulation is vital for the control of a system since it ensures that all the validations are made before a given variable value or other kind of system information is changed – thus ensuring that possible errors in the application business rules happen.
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