What is the difference between a getter method and an accessor method?
A. A getter method allows you to get the value of a field, while an accessor method sets the value of the field.
B. A getter method allows you to get the value of a field, while an accessor method is not often used in Java.
C. A getter method gets the name of the class, while an accessor method gets the value of the field.
D. There is no difference. They refer to the same idea.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
D. There is no difference. They refer to the same idea.
In object-oriented programming, the terms “getter” and “accessor” are often used interchangeably to describe methods that retrieve or access the value of an object’s private field. These methods follow the principle of encapsulation, which aims to protect the data within a class by restricting direct access to its fields. Instead of accessing a field directly, a getter (or accessor) method is used to retrieve its value, keeping the internal structure of the class hidden from outside manipulation.
For instance, in Java, a getter method typically follows a standard naming convention: it starts with the word “get” followed by the capitalized field name. If the field name is age, the getter method is usually named getAge(). Here’s an example:
public class Person {
private int age;
// Getter or accessor method
public int getAge() {
return age;
}
}In the above example, getAge() is the accessor or getter method for the age field. When called, it returns the value of age. Accessor methods don’t modify the field; they only return its current value.
This method is often paired with a “setter” or “mutator” method, which allows controlled modification of the field’s value. A setter method follows a similar naming convention, usually starting with “set” followed by the field name, like setAge(int age).
The purpose of having getter and setter methods is to control access to an object’s data, allowing checks, validations, or constraints if necessary. By using these methods, you enhance data security and class integrity, as well as maintain flexibility if field representations need changes internally without affecting external code that relies on these fields.