C# private variable & java private variable getter & setter - Difference?

Question

I am trying to understand the difference between the C# auto declaration of variables with getters & setters & the java declaration.

In java I usually do this:

private int test;

public int getTest() {
    return test;
}

public void setTest(int test) {
    this.test = test;
}

But in C# I tried something like this:

private int test { public get; public set};

But that did not allow access to the variable at all. So I ended up with this:

public int test { get; set; }

So this way I could access the variable test from outside of the class.

My question is, what is the difference between these two? And is the C# implementation of making the variable public a bad idea?

In C# I have declared the variable as "public". Whereas in java it is declared as "private". Does this have any impact?

Found a really good answer (in addition to those below) here

Your first snippet of C# code simply wouldn't have compiled at all - it's not a matter of not allowing access to the variable - it's simply invalid code. — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Jun 25, 2013 at 9:09

Simon Whitehead · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-25 09:04:22Z

3

It is exactly the same.

The automatic property you defined in C# will compile down to getter and setter methods anyway. They are classified as "syntactic sugar".

This:

public int Test { get; set; }

..is compiled to this:

private int <>k____BackingFieldWithRandomName;

public int get_Test() {
    return <>k____BackingFieldWithRandomName;
}

public void set_Test(int value) {
    <>k____BackingFieldWithRandomName = value;
}

answered Jun 25, 2013 at 9:04

Simon Whitehead

65.3k10 gold badges120 silver badges140 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

rtindru Over a year ago

But in C# I have declared the variable as "public". Whereas in java it is declared as private. Does this have any impact?

Simon Whitehead Over a year ago

No. The compiler will create a private backing field for you. I'll edit my post.

Darren · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-25 09:13:26Z

1

In the first example you have a backing field.

In C# You can do:

private int test { get; set; };

Or make the property public (Perfectly valid)

public int test { get; set; };

You can also have backing fields in C#, these were more common before Properties were introduced in the language.

For instance:

private int _number = 0; 

public int test 
{ 
    get { return _number; }
    set { _number = value; }
}

In the above example, test is a public Property that accesses a private field.

edited Jun 25, 2013 at 9:13

answered Jun 25, 2013 at 9:05

Darren

71.2k24 gold badges141 silver badges146 bronze badges

4 Comments

rtindru Over a year ago

So when I declare public int test { get; set; } the field test is private with public getters and setters? Same as in Java? This is what @Simon has said above.

Darren Over a year ago

@rtindru - test is a property. Which is public.

Darren Over a year ago

@rtindru - if you did private int test { get; set; } then test would be a private property.

Darren Over a year ago

@rtindru - I've modified my answer to elaborate slightly more between the fields and properties.

deryck · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-25 09:06:43Z

0

Here is the solution, which is provided by the C# compiler to eaisly create getter and setter method.

private int test;

public int Test{
   public get{
      return this.test;
   }
   public set{
      this.test = value;
   }
}

answered Jun 25, 2013 at 9:06

deryck

701 silver badge3 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

C# private variable & java private variable getter & setter - Difference?

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related