Question

I’ve been learning C# for a while now, and I’ve come across properties in my C# book (Head First C#). I honestly do not understand what they’re used for, and why I should use them. I’ve googled them a few times but still cannot for the life of me understand them.

Can someone please explain to me this foreign concept?

Thanks,

Varmitharen

Answer 1

Properties are used to enrich the Encapsulation concept of Object-Oriented Programming.

i.e. They encapsulate a field-member and let you (the developer) control how setting/getting this variable is done. Example?

public class Person
{
    private int m_age;

    public int Age
    {
        set
        {
            if(value < 18)
                m_age = 18;
            else
                m_age = value;
        }
        get
        {
            return m_age;
        }
    }
}

See? using property Age, we guaranteed that the minimum set value of age is 18.