C++ FAQ Celebrating Twenty-One Years of the C++ FAQ!!!
(Click here for a personal note from Marshall Cline.)
Section 7:
7.1 What is a class?
7.2 What is an object?
7.3 When is an interface "good"?
7.4 What is encapsulation?
7.5 How does C++ help with the tradeoff of safety vs. usability?
7.6 How can I prevent other programmers from violating encapsulation by seeing the private parts of my class?
7.7 Can a method directly access the non-public members of another instance of its class?
7.8 Is Encapsulation a Security device?
7.9 What's the difference between the keywords struct and class?
[7.3] When is an interface "good"?

When it provides a simplified view of a chunk of software, and it is expressed in the vocabulary of a user (where a "chunk" is normally a class or a tight group of classes, and a "user" is another developer rather than the ultimate customer).

  • The "simplified view" means unnecessary details are intentionally hidden. This reduces the user's defect-rate.
  • The "vocabulary of users" means users don't need to learn a new set of words and concepts. This reduces the user's learning curve.