encapsulation
/ɪnˌkæp.sjʊˈleɪ.ʃən/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
The act of putting something inside a container, shell, or covering. It can also mean the state of being fully enclosed.
- The capsule provides encapsulation of the medicine.
- Encapsulation protects the wires from moisture.
- 2.
In computing, encapsulation means keeping data and the methods that use it together. It also hides some details from other parts of a program.
- Encapsulation helps keep code organized.
- The class uses encapsulation to hide its internal data.
Adinary Nuance
Encapsulation is more specific than containment. It often suggests something is wrapped, enclosed, or hidden inside a clear boundary. In computing, it is more technical than protection or organization because it describes how code is structured.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự đóng gói
- Spanish
- encapsulación
- Chinese
- 封装
- Japanese
- カプセル化
- Korean
- 캡슐화
Etymology
Encapsulation comes from the Latin word capsa, meaning 'box' or 'case'. It entered English through French in the 19th century, first as a general word and later in computing.
Common phrases
data encapsulationencapsulation ofobject encapsulation
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is encapsulation a common word in everyday English?
- Not really. It is more common in science, medicine, and computing.
- What is the difference between encapsulation and containment?
- Containment is broader. Encapsulation usually means something is enclosed more clearly or more tightly.
- Is encapsulation used in programming?
- Yes. It is a key idea in object-oriented programming.
- Can I use encapsulation in formal writing?
- Yes. It sounds formal and technical, so it fits academic and professional writing.