Final answer:
The Uniform Access Principle ensures that client code is unaffected by changes to whether an object's attribute is stored directly or computed by a method, which improves encapsulation and code maintainability in Eiffel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Uniform Access Principle is a design principle in object-oriented programming which states that the client code should not be affected by a decision to implement an attribute as a field directly or as a method that computes the result. Essentially, whether the attribute's value is stored or computed should be transparent to the client.
By adhering to this principle in Eiffel, clients can access attributes uniformly, enhancing encapsulation and maintainability of the code. For example, consider an object representing a bank account with an attribute 'balance'. Initially, 'balance' could be implemented as a field, but later on, it might be decided that 'balance' should be calculated through a method that takes into account several transactions. If the Uniform Access Principle is followed, the change in implementation would not affect the client code; 'balance' can be accessed the same way regardless of its underlying implementation.
Benefits of following this principle include improved code readability and flexibility, as changes to the internal working of an attribute do not require changes to the code that uses it. This can reduce bugs and increase the ease of refactoring and evolving a system over time.