Fields and properties

Mayank

class myClass { int age; public int Age {  get{return age;} set{age = value;} }

Versus

class myClass { public int Age{get; set;} }

What's the difference between these two? Are they both the same?

4 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Manas Mohapatra9y ago
Accepted answer
class myClass { int age; public int Age { get{return age;} set{age = value;} }

A property is a member that provides a flexible mechanism to read, write, or compute the value of a private field. Properties can be used as if they are public data members, but they are actually special methods called accessors. This enables data to be accessed easily and still helps promote the safety and flexibility of methods.

class myClass { public int Age{get; set;} }

It also called Auto-Implemented Properties. It is introduced in C# 3.0. The patterns you see here, where a property encapsulates a property with get and set accessors, without any other logic is common.
In an auto-implemented property, the C# compiler creates the backing store field behind the scenes, giving the same logic that exists with traditional properties, but saving you from having to use all of the syntax of the traditional property.

Note: If you have any logic when you are assigning value then Syntax1 is perfect otherwise better to use Syntax2.
Amit Gupta9y ago
Once you want to do anything custom with getter or setter property, you cannot use auto properties anymore.
Mayank9y ago
Hi Amit,

In the below code we can validate the value of age before initialize with the value .
1. class myClass { int age; public int Age { get{return age;} set{if(value>30)age = value;} }

But it is not ponssible in below code:
2. class myClass { public int Age{get; set;} }
Where we use first code and where we use second code if both are same?
Amit Gupta9y ago
Hey
Yes, both have same working. However, upper line was the classic approach and had used in earlier version of C# amd below one is the modern approach.