Question

private readonly PlayerCollection players = new PlayerCollection();

public PlayerCollection Players { get { return players; } }

or

public PlayerCollection Players { get; private set; }

public MyClass()
{
    Players = new PlayerCollection();
}

Which would be preferable? Is there a context where one the of two ways is best suited?

Answer 1

Well the first way has the advantage that the field is readonly, so you can’t set it again elsewhere in the class; the second way has the advantage that it isn’t, so you can. To my mind, that’s a good way to decide between them – do you want the field to be readonly? If so, first way; if not, second way.