Mastering Object-Oriented Python - Second Edition

Initialization, encapsulation, and privacy

The general Python policy regarding privacy can be summed up as follows: we're all adults here.

Object-oriented design makes an explicit distinction between interface and implementation. This is a consequence of the idea of encapsulation. A class encapsulates a data structure, an algorithm, an external interface, or something meaningful. The idea is to have the capsule separate the class-based interface from the implementation details.

However, no programming language reflects every design nuance. Python doesn't typically implement all design considerations as explicit code.

One aspect of class design that is not fully carried into code is the distinction between the private (implementation) and ...