Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Java Java Objects Delivering the MVP Forum

Jiho Song
Jiho Song
16,469 Points

WHAT IS PUBLIC GETTER?

How shall I begin with this code?

Forum.java
public class Forum {
  private String topic;

  // TODO: add a constructor that accepts a topic and sets the private field topic
private Forum(String topic)
{
  this.topic=topic;
}
  public String getTopic() {
    return topic;
  }

  /* Uncomment this when you are prompted to do so
  public void addPost(ForumPost post) {
    System.out.printf("A new post in %s topic from %s %s about %s is available",
            topic,
            post.getAuthor().getFirstName(),
            post.getAuthor().getLastName(),
            post.getTitle()
    );
  }
  */

}
User.java
public class User {
  // TODO: add private fields for firstName and lastName
  public User(String firstName, String lastName) {
    // TODO: set and add the private fields

  }

  // TODO: add getters for firstName and lastName

}
ForumPost.java
public class ForumPost {
  private User author;
  private String title;
  private String description;

  // TODO: add a constructor that accepts the author, title and description

  public User getAuthor() {
    return author;
  }

  public String getTitle() {
    return title;
  }

  public String getDescription() {
    return description;
  }
}
Main.java
public class Main {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    System.out.println("Beginning forum example");
    if (args.length < 2) {
      System.out.println("Usage: java Main <first name> <last name>");
      System.err.println("<first name> and <last name> are required");
      System.exit(1);
    }
    /* Uncomment this when prompted
    Forum forum = new Forum("Java");
    // TODO: pass in the first name and last name that are in the args parameter
    User author = new User();
    // TODO: initialize the forum post with the user created above and a title and description of your choice
    ForumPost post = new ForumPost();
    forum.addPost(post);

// */
  }

}

1 Answer

andren
andren
28,558 Points

A public getter is a public method whose singular purpose is to retrieve the content of a private field variable, the getTopic method in the Forum.java file is an example of a public getter.

All getters tend to follow the exact structure that you can see in the getTopic method. They are public, their names start with the word "get" followed by the field variable they are returning and they simply return the contents of the field variable they are named after. They are very simple methods.

Jiho Song
Jiho Song
16,469 Points

Thanks! It help a lot!