I’ve been coding in C for a while now and noticed something odd. Some C APIs don’t seem to follow the principle of encapsulation. Take directory operations for example:
// The way I expected it to work:
struct dirent *entry;
entry = readdir(directory);
char *file = get_filename(entry);
// How it actually works:
struct dirent *entry;
entry = readdir(directory);
char *file = entry->d_name;
In the second case, we’re directly accessing the struct’s member. Isn’t this breaking encapsulation? I thought we were supposed to use getter functions to access object properties. Is there a reason why some C APIs are designed this way? Does it have any advantages over the encapsulated approach? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this!
As someone who’s been in the trenches with C for years, I can tell you that this design choice is deliberate. C is all about giving developers direct control and maximum performance. The struct member access you’re seeing is blazing fast compared to function calls, which matters a lot in systems programming.
I’ve worked on projects where every microsecond counts, and believe me, those direct accesses add up. Plus, C’s simplicity is a feature, not a bug. It lets you see exactly what’s happening under the hood without any hidden layers.
That said, I’ve seen some newer C libraries start to use more encapsulation-like patterns. It’s a trade-off between raw speed and safer, more maintainable code. In my experience, the best approach depends on your specific project needs. If you’re building something that needs to squeeze out every bit of performance, direct access is your friend. For larger, more complex systems, getter functions might be worth the slight performance hit.
Your observation is astute. C’s design philosophy prioritizes efficiency and directness over strict encapsulation. This approach stems from C’s origins as a systems programming language where performance is paramount. Direct struct access eliminates function call overhead, which can be significant in performance-critical scenarios. Additionally, C’s standard library was developed before encapsulation became a widespread paradigm. While some modern C APIs do implement getter functions, many maintain the traditional structure for backward compatibility and to preserve the raw, close-to-the-metal feel that C programmers often prefer. It’s a trade-off between abstraction and performance that suits C’s domain-specific needs.
hey man, good question! C’s not really big on encapsulation like OOP langs. it’s all about performance and low-level control. direct struct access is faster than function calls. plus, C predates modern OOP ideas. some APIs do use getters, but many stick to the old-school way for speed and simplicity. just how C rolls!