Data encapsulation and decapsulation

Encapsulation:

Definition: Encapsulation is the process of bundling data (variables) and methods (functions) that operate on the data into a single unit, typically referred to as a class. This unit serves as a protective wrapper, hiding the internal state and implementation details of an object from the outside world.
Purpose: Encapsulation helps to achieve data abstraction, information hiding, and modularity. It allows objects to control access to their data and ensures that data is accessed and modified only through well-defined interfaces (methods).
Example: In object-oriented programming languages like Java or Python, you might define a class called Car with attributes such as make, model, and year, along with methods like start_engine() and drive(). Here, the internal details of how the engine starts or how the car drives are encapsulated within the class.
Decapsulation (also known as Decapsulation or Decapsulation):

Definition: Decapsulation is the process of extracting the data from its encapsulated form. In networking, it specifically refers to the process of extracting data from the headers of a network packet as it traverses through different network layers.
Purpose: Decapsulation is essential in networking protocols like TCP/IP or OSI model where data packets are encapsulated with headers as they travel across the network. At each network layer, the corresponding header is removed, and the data is passed to the higher layer.
Example: In the TCP/IP networking model, when data is sent from a source to a destination, it goes through encapsulation at each layer (e.g., application, transport, network, data link) where headers are added. When the data reaches the destination, it undergoes decapsulation, where each layer removes its header until the original data is obtained.
In summary, encapsulation involves bundling data and methods into a single unit to achieve abstraction and information hiding, while decapsulation involves extracting data from its encapsulated form, particularly in networking where data packets traverse through various layers. Both concepts are crucial in software engineering and networking for achieving modularity, security, and efficiency.