getter

A getter is a method or property that returns the value of an object's attribute. It provides read access to data while preserving encapsulation, often hiding the internal representation from users of a class. Getters are typically paired with setters, which modify the same attribute, allowing a class to enforce invariants and validation when its state changes. In many languages, a getter may also compute a value on demand rather than returning a stored field.

Implementation varies by language. In Java, a getter is usually a public method named getX that returns the value of a private field x. In C#, properties provide a get accessor that can be invoked like a field. In Python, the @property decorator defines a getter, with optional corresponding @<name>.setter for mutation. JavaScript supports getters in object literals and classes using the get keyword, making property access syntax read-only unless a setter is provided. C++ commonly implements getters as const member functions named getX or simply x().

Benefits include encapsulation, the ability to enforce access rules, lazy evaluation, and the option to switch underlying data representations without affecting callers. Drawbacks can include boilerplate code, potential performance overhead from method calls, and the risk of overusing getters and breaking encapsulation by exposing internal structure.

See also: setter, property, encapsulation.