🔒 Access Specifiers

Last Updated: 05 Sept 2025

---

Access Specifiers define how variables/methods of a class can be accessed (inside or outside the class).

Unlike Java/C++, Python does not have strict private/public keywords.
👉 Instead, it follows naming conventions:

1. Public → Default (can be accessed anywhere)
2. Protected → Prefix with _ (single underscore)
3. Private → Prefix with __ (double underscore)

---

✏ 1. Public Members

• Accessible from anywhere.
• Default in Python.

class Student:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name   # public

s1 = Student("Amit")
print(s1.name)  # ✅ Accessible

✏ 2. Protected Members(_variable)

• Intended to be used within class or subclasses.
• Just a convention (Python won’t stop you from accessing).

class Student:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self._age = age   # protected

s1 = Student("Neha", 22)
print(s1._age)  # ⚠️ Works, but not recommended (convention)

✏ 3. Private Members(__variable)

• Python uses Name Mangling (renames variable internally).
• Cannot be accessed directly from outside.

class Student:
    def __init__(self, roll):
        self.__roll = roll   # private

s1 = Student(101)

# print(s1.__roll)  ❌ Error
print(s1._Student__roll)  # ✅ Accessible via name mangling

Hinglish Tip 🗣: Private = "locker key" → directly access nahi kar sakte, thoda jugad (name mangling) karna padega.

---

💡 Quick Practice

• Exercises

---