entityprivate

Entityprivate is a theoretical concept used in data modeling and software architecture to describe the encapsulation of private attributes within an entity. The goal is to enforce access restrictions on sensitive data at the data layer while preserving useful public identity.

In this pattern, an entity exposes a public representation that includes non-sensitive fields, while private attributes are stored separately or behind a controlled API. Access to private data is mediated by explicit services, authentication checks, and auditing, supporting data minimization. This separation reduces accidental leakage and clarifies governance boundaries.

Common implementation techniques include encryption at rest, tokenization, masking of values, and strict access controls. Entityprivate is often discussed in privacy-by-design discussions and compliance contexts such as GDPR or HIPAA where limiting exposure of sensitive attributes is required.

The concept is not a formal standard; interpretations vary by organization. Benefits include reduced exposure risk, clearer privacy boundaries, and easier regulatory compliance, while drawbacks can include architectural complexity, potential performance overhead, and challenges in maintaining consistency between public and private representations.

Example: a customer entity might store customerId and displayName publicly, while private fields such as socialSecurityNumber and financial risk data reside in a protected private store. A privacy service mediates requests, ensuring only authorized components can read or transform private data, and all access is logged.

See also: Data minimization, Privacy by design, Access control, Encryption, Tokenization.