Opaque data type

Imagine you have a box full of toys. You can feel the box, shake it, and hear things rattling inside, but you can't see what's in it. The box is an opaque data type, which means that you can't see or access the contents of it from the outside.

In computer programming, an opaque data type is like the box of toys. It's a variable or data structure that doesn't give you direct access to its internal data. You can only interact with it through certain functions or methods provided by the code using the data type.

For example, let's say you're working on a program that uses a complex math formula. You might create an opaque data type called "matrix" that represents the mathematical formulas you're working with. You can create new matrices, manipulate them with functions built into the code, and use them in your program, but you can't see the actual numbers or variables those matrices contain.

This is useful because it can make your code more secure and easier to manage. By hiding the details of the data type, you can make sure that other parts of the program don't accidentally mess with it or use it in the wrong way. It's like putting your toys in a box to keep them safe and organized, instead of leaving them scattered all over the place.

So, an opaque data type is basically a container for data that you can't directly access or see, but you can use in certain ways to get the results you need.