CODEWITHSUNDEEP
vb.net
IncomePitbull
IncomePitbull

Reputation: 292

What is the purpose of GET SET property vs just declaring it as normal?

I have been wondering for a while what the difference is between the following two:

Public Property ProgressMaxValue() As Integer
    Get
        Return maxval
    End Get
    Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
        maxval = Value
    End Set
End Property

vs

Dim progressMaxValue as Integer
ProgressMaxValue = 1184

The do the same exact thing right? I have examined other people's code, and am seeing more and more of the first example. Just trying to figure out the point, difference, and why people are using it lol. Maybe I missed the memo?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 676

Answers (2)

Tim M.
Tim M.

Reputation: 54377

just declaring it as normal...

There is no "normal" in this case. The two statements are actually completely different things all the way down to the IL, i.e. a property and a field. When you use the getter or setter of a property via reading or assignment, you are actually invoking a method.

In your particular example, the getter/setter methods of the property read and update a field, but since they are methods, they could do anything that you wanted them to.

As to why, this has been discussed extensively, such as here and here (c# articles but interchangeable with VB.Net in this case). A broad (but good) justification for using properties is that it hides the internals of your class from external callers.

Upvotes: 1

John Woo
John Woo

Reputation: 263723

You are creating a Property on your first code. Which will also allow you to expose it in other classes as long as it has been instantiated. The second one is only a variable available within the class or even the scope within the procedure only. There are differences within the two. You can also add a calculation in your property.

Upvotes: 1

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