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Michael North
2,561 PointsGet Set unclear
In the video I was confused when Jeremy changed the get set function to an auto-function. I was wonder how it still worked even though you're not returning _location or assigning _location to value
4 Answers
Steven Parker
231,268 PointsAuto-properties are not associated with a named field.
The place where the value is stored has no name that can be accessed by the code, and only the generated get and set methods know how to get to it. This is actually a good thing, because it guarantees all access will be done through the property.
Anuj Bhusari
12,240 PointsI am still unclear about it. Steven Parker The thing that I do not understand is we are making use of the auto-properties. So declaring a variable then setting a getter and setter for it just by one line, how does that even work? I mean we haven't declared a variable. Moreover how will the application know what variable to get and what variable to set since there is no variable used?
Anuj Bhusari
12,240 PointsFor example if I have a customer class that has two member variables say firstName and lastName. Both of these variables are of type String. So when I can set the property name according to my needs, I do it as follows: public string FName{get; set;} and public string LName {get; set;}
In the above example how will the compiler know which variable I am trying to set, since both the variables are of the same type and contain similar data.
Steven Parker
231,268 PointsThe property does have a variable, but only the compiler knows the name. The variable is created automatically when you declare an auto property.
The compiler uses the variable in the "get" and "set" methods it creates for you, so the name of the property is enough for it to know which one to read or set.
Manuel wandeto
Courses Plus Student 10,504 Pointsthink of it this way, the get set property is actually a variable in itself, notice how you are not putting the parenthesis at the end of it like you wold in a normal method, its like a variable named "Location" but with the ability of extending to have the get set with respective code blocks, it is declared to be public and instructed to hold only objects of the Maplocation type, when you use it in main() and decide to set its value to an instance of the Maplocation class, say new Maplocation (2,1, map), and then you analyse the resulting statement that will be compiled, you will notice it will become;
public Maplocation Location = new Maplocation(2,1,map);
and when you get its value you will notice it will be exactly like reading the contents of any other variable. this just makes sure you are only using the property to access contents of the Location variable, this is why you are able to delete the field all together.
kevin hudson
Courses Plus Student 11,987 PointsOk I understand the set portion how do you Get the value when needed?
Steven Parker
231,268 PointsYou can always get the value of an auto-property by referencing it just as you would a field. You cannot get to the backing variable directly, but you don't need to.