Question

I am going through a tutorial on XNA, and it uses this code:

private int score = 0;

public int Score
{
    get { return score; }
    set { score = value; }
}

What is the point of using a property? Why not just use public int Score = 0;?

Answer 1

I would just use an auto-property here:

public int Score { get; protected set; }

as it’s “the same thing with less typing” (but actually perhaps better because it limits who can set the score 😉

Some reasons for properties (over public Member Variables):

1. Properties allow setting the visibility for the getter and setter individually, as shown above.

2. Properties can be specified in Interfaces. (You are programming against interfaces … right? 😉

3. Switching between Properties and Member Variables breaks the ABI (Application Binary Interface: e.g. needs a recompile against). However, an existing Property’s implementation can be re-defined without breaking the ABI.

4. Breakpoints can be set in Properties. Occasionally very handy.