getterssetters

Getters and setters, also called accessors and mutators, are methods that control access to an object's internal state. They wrap private or protected fields to allow reading or modifying values in a controlled manner.

Their primary purpose is to enforce encapsulation, validate input, and preserve invariants. They also enable patterns such as lazy loading, change notification, and custom side effects when values change.

In many languages, getters and setters follow conventional names like getX and setX. Some languages provide property or attribute syntax that lets code read and write as if it were a field, while still invoking methods behind the scenes.

Java example: private int age; public int getAge() { return age; } public void setAge(int a) { if (a >= 0) age = a; }

Python uses the @property decorator to implement getters and a corresponding setter with @name.setter, allowing attribute-style access while running code.

Benefits include encapsulation, input validation, and the ability to adapt internal representation without changing the public API. Drawbacks are boilerplate code and potential overuse, which can clutter classes or hamper readability.

Many modern languages offer concise alternatives—such as properties or data classes—that reduce boilerplate while preserving controlled access.