View source for Information hiding

In [[computer science]], '''information hiding''' is the principle of segregation of the design decisions in a [[computer program]] that are most likely to change, thus protecting other parts of the program from extensive modification if the design decision is changed.

See [[Separation of concerns]].

== Description ==

The protection involves providing a stable [[Interface (computer science)|interface]] which protects the remainder of the program from the implementation (the details that are most likely to change).

Written another way, information hiding is the ability to prevent certain aspects of a [[Class (computer science)|class]] or [[software component]] from being accessible to its [[Client (computing)|clients]], using either [[programming language]] features (like private variables) or an explicit exporting policy.

== See also ==

* [[Compartmentalization (information security)]]
* [[Implementation inheritance]]
* [[Interface (computer science)]]
* [[Inheritance semantics]]
* [[Law of Demeter]]
* [[Modularity (programming)]]
* [[Opaque data type]]
* [[Scope (programming)]]
* [[Separation of concerns]]
* [[Transparency (human–computer interaction)]]
* [[Virtual inheritance]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_hiding Information hiding] @ Wikipedia


[[Category:Computer science]]
[[Category:Separation of concerns]]
[[Category:Software engineering]]