What is the role and application of scope in programming?

Scope defines where in the program a variable, function, or object is accessible.

Role and application:

• Data encapsulation: Scope helps restrict access to variables, preventing unwanted changes from other parts of the program.

• Memory management: Variables exist only within their scope, which helps use memory efficiently.

• Avoiding name conflicts: Local variables with the same names in different scopes do not conflict.

Example: In Java, a variable declared inside a method is only accessible within that method (local scope). A class variable is accessible in all methods of that class (class scope).