Getters And Setters

Getters and setters are accessor methods in object-oriented programming that provide controlled access to the private fields of a class. A getter (or accessor) retrieves the value of a field, while a setter (or mutator) modifies it, often including validation or logic. This concept enforces encapsulation by hiding internal data representation and allowing controlled interaction with object properties.

Also known as: Accessors and Mutators, Getter/Setter Methods, Property Methods, get/set, Accessor Pattern

Why learn Getters And Setters?

Developers should use getters and setters to maintain encapsulation, ensuring data integrity by validating inputs before assignment and preventing direct access to sensitive fields. They are essential in scenarios requiring computed properties, logging changes, or implementing business rules, such as in enterprise applications, APIs, or frameworks that rely on property-based data binding.

Learning Resources

• docs: MDN Web Docs: Getters and Setters
• tutorial: Oracle Java Tutorial: Using Getters and Setters
• tutorial: GeeksforGeeks: Getter and Setter in Java
• video: YouTube: Getters and Setters Explained (Java)
• tutorial: Real Python: Python Properties