GetName

getName is a conventional method name in object-oriented programming used to retrieve the value of an object's name attribute. As a getter, it typically has no side effects and does not modify the object's state. The exact implementation depends on the language, but the intent is to expose an internal field in a controlled, read-only manner.

In Java and JavaBeans, getName is a classic example of an accessor following a defined naming convention. For a private field name, code often includes a public method like public String getName() { return name; }. This convention enables automatic binding by frameworks, serialization tools, and UI components that rely on standard getter methods to discover properties.

Other languages use different patterns to achieve the same effect. In C#, a common approach is to expose a property named Name with a get accessor (and possibly a set). In Python, the typical approach is direct attribute access or a property decorated with @property to compute or control access, rather than a method named getName. JavaScript may implement a similar getter either as a function named getName() or as a property with a getter defined via get name().

Design and usage considerations include preserving encapsulation, handling null values safely, and choosing between simple accessors and computed properties. Overriding getName in a subclass can provide dynamic or context-specific naming, depending on the class hierarchy and language features.

See also: getter, accessor, property, JavaBeans.