Which statement correctly describes encapsulation in object-oriented programming?

Encapsulation is a fundamental principle of object-oriented programming that refers to the practice of bundling an object's data with the methods that operate on that data, while restricting direct access to some of the object's components. By hiding the internal state of an object, encapsulation helps to protect the integrity of the object's data and maintain control over how that data can be accessed or modified. This means that the internal workings of an object can be kept hidden from the outside world, exposing only what is necessary through a defined interface, typically through public methods.

For instance, in a class representing a bank account, direct access to the account balance might be restricted. Instead, methods such as deposit() and withdraw() would be provided to manipulate the balance safely. This not only enhances security and integrity but also makes it easier to maintain and modify code, as changes to the internal structure or state of the object do not affect external code as long as the interface remains unchanged.

While the other choices touch upon aspects of object-oriented programming, they do not accurately reflect encapsulation. Combining multiple classes into one is more about class design and composition, while creating class hierarchies pertains to inheritance. Defining public methods relates to the interface of the class but does not encompass the concept of