information hiding JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən ˈhaɪdɪŋ/ · in·for·ma·tion hid·ing
noun
- A software‑engineering principle that conceals the internal details of a module or object, exposing only a well‑defined interface to the rest of the system. By applying information hiding, the developers were able to change the database schema without affecting the user‑interface code.
- The practice of restricting access to data or functionality so that only authorized parts of a program can interact with it. The class uses private fields as a form of information hiding to protect its state from unintended modification.
Synonyms
encapsulationdata abstractionmodularityseparation of concernsblack‑box designinterface segregationcomponent isolationimplementation hiding
Antonyms
Did you know? The term "information hiding" was first popularized in David Parnas's seminal 1972 paper, predating the widespread adoption of object‑oriented languages by more than a decade.