Properties in C#: A Complete Guide

A complete guide to properties in C#, covering get and set accessors, computed properties, and best practices.

Get and Set Accessors

The get accessor returns the property's value, while the set accessor assigns a new value, and together they control how a field is accessed from outside the class.

Computed Properties

A property doesn't always need a backing field; it can instead compute and return a value on the fly based on other data in the class.

Init-only Properties

Init-only properties, using the init accessor, allow a value to be set only during object initialization, after which the property becomes effectively read-only.

Best Practices for Properties

Keep property logic simple and fast, validate input in the setter where appropriate, and prefer properties over public fields to maintain proper encapsulation.