Final answer:
Encapsulation in object-oriented programming combines data and code into a single object, enhancing data hiding and reducing software complexity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Combining data and code into a single object is known as encapsulation. Encapsulation is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that bundles the data (attributes) and the methods (functions) that manipulate the data into a single unit or object. This provides a protective shield that prevents the data from being accessed directly, which is essential for data hiding and reducing software complexity by restricting access rights to the necessary components.