What is the process called that isolates an object from its environment for independent changes?

The correct answer is encapsulation. This process is fundamental in object-oriented programming and software design. Encapsulation involves bundling the data (attributes) and the methods (functions) that operate on that data into a single unit or class. By doing so, it restricts direct access to some components, which helps to protect the integrity of the data and prevents external code from making unintended modifications.

This isolation allows developers to change the internal implementation of a class without affecting other parts of the program that use the class, fostering independence and flexibility. It helps in reducing system complexity and increases the robustness of the code. Additionally, encapsulation supports the principle of information hiding, which is crucial for creating maintainable and scalable software.

Other concepts such as modularization focus on dividing a program into separate modules, which can also facilitate changes but does not encapsulate data and behavior within individual units the same way encapsulation does. Abstraction is about simplifying complex reality by modeling classes based on the essential properties and behaviors, but it doesn't specifically target the isolation of objects for independent changes. Inheritance allows one class to inherit attributes and methods from another class, promoting code reuse but not isolation for change.