The wrapping of data and function into a single unit is called

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (2):
Data encapsulation, one of the core pillars of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), is the precise term used to describe the mechanism of bundling data and the functions (or methods) that operate on that data into a single, cohesive unit, typically known as a class. This concept is fundamentally about creating a container or capsule that holds both the variables and the procedures together, protecting them from outside interference and misuse. By wrapping them in this manner, encapsulation ensures that the data can only be accessed or modified by the functions defined within the same unit, thereby promoting better organization, modularity, and data security in a program.

The incorrect option is (1):
Data abstraction is a separate, yet related, concept in OOP. Abstraction focuses on showing only the necessary and essential information to the user, while hiding the complex, underlying implementation details. It deals with the *view* or *design* aspect—what an object *does*—whereas encapsulation is the *mechanism*—how a class is physically structured. Encapsulation is the technique often employed to *achieve* the goal of data abstraction, but it is not synonymous with the wrapping process itself.

The incorrect option is (3):
Choosing "Both Data abstraction and Data encapsulation" is incorrect because, while both are vital OOP principles, the question specifically asks for the term that defines the physical "wrapping of data and function into a single unit." This definition is strictly and uniquely matched by **encapsulation**. Abstraction, as explained, is the conceptual goal of hiding complexity, not the actual operation of bundling the components together.

The incorrect option is (4):
This option is wrong because Option 2, Data encapsulation, is the universally accepted and correct term for describing the action of combining data and the methods that manage it into a single programming structure.