2. Access Specifiers in Python

2. We know that Python is an object-oriented language, but does it have access specifiers?

🧠 Does Python Have Access Specifiers?

Python does not have traditional access specifiers like public, private, and protected as in C++ or Java. However, it uses naming conventions to indicate the intended level of access.

🔐 Python's Access Specifier Conventions:

Convention	Meaning	Enforced?
`public`	No underscore (`var`)	Fully accessible from anywhere
`_protected`	Single underscore (`_var`)	Suggests internal use only (not enforced)
`__private`	Double underscore (`__var`)	Name mangling to discourage access

📌 Examples:

1. Public (Default)

class MyClass:
    def __init__(self):
        self.value = 42

obj = MyClass()
print(obj.value)  # ✅ accessible

2. Protected (Convention Only)

class MyClass:
    def __init__(self):
        self._internal = "not for external use"

print(obj._internal)  # ⚠️ technically allowed, but discouraged

3. Private (Name Mangling)

class MyClass:
    def __init__(self):
        self.__secret = "hidden"

obj = MyClass()
# print(obj.__secret)  # ❌ AttributeError

print(obj._MyClass__secret)  # ✅ Works due to name mangling

⚠️ Important:

These are conventions, not strict rules.
Python relies on "we're all adults here" philosophy — it trusts the developer.

✅ Summary:

Python mimics access control using naming conventions.
No strict enforcement like in Java/C++.
Use _ and __ prefixes to indicate intent.