Our Objective 

To implement a program that defining getters reading values of attributes.

  

The Theory 

 In object-oriented programming, getters are methods or functions that are used to read the values of attributes (also known as properties or instance variables) of an object. Getters provide a way to access the state of an object from outside its class. 

The main purpose of using getters is to ensure controlled and safe access to the internal state of an object. By defining getters for attributes, you can enforce encapsulation, which is the principle of hiding the internal implementation details of a class and providing a well-defined interface for interacting with the object. 

Here are some key points about getters and reading attribute values: 

Encapsulation and information hiding: Getters allow you to encapsulate the internal state of an object and provide controlled access to it. By hiding the details of how the attributes are implemented, you can protect the integrity and consistency of the object's state. 

Access control: Getters can provide different levels of access control for attributes. You can choose to make an attribute publicly accessible, where anyone can read its value, or you can restrict access to specific methods or classes. This allows you to enforce privacy and prevent unauthorized modifications to the object's state. 

Consistent interface: Getters provide a consistent interface for accessing attributes across different instances of the class. By using the same method to retrieve attribute values, you establish a standard way of interacting with the object and make the code more readable and maintainable. 

Validation and computation: Getters can include additional logic to validate the attribute value or perform computations before returning the value. For example, you can check if the attribute is within a valid range or calculate a derived value based on other attributes. This allows you to enforce business rules or ensure data integrity. 

Read-only access: Getters can be used to provide read-only access to attributes. By only defining a getter and omitting a setter (a method for modifying the attribute value), you make the attribute immutable from outside the class. This can be useful when you want to prevent unintended modifications to critical attributes. 

Naming conventions: By convention, getters are often named with the prefix "get" followed by the attribute name in camel case. For example, if you have an attribute named "age", the corresponding getter method can be named "getAge()". However, naming conventions may vary depending on the programming language or coding style guidelines. 

Overall, getters play a crucial role in providing controlled access to attribute values in object-oriented programming. They enable encapsulation, access control, and additional logic while promoting code reusability and maintainability. 

Sample implementation given below. 

1. public class Point{ 
2.  private int x; 
3.  private int y; 
4.  private void setX(int xCoord) { 
5.   this.x = xCoord; 
6.  } 
7.  private void setY(int yCoord) { 
8.   this.y = yCoord; 
9.  } 
10.  private int getX() { 
11.   return this.x; 
12.  } 
13.  private int getY() { 
14.   return this.y; 
15.  } 
16. } 
17. public class Driver { 
18.  public static void main(String[]){ 
19.   Point p = new Point(); 
20.   p.setX(2); 
21.   p.setY(3); 
22.   System.out.println("(" + p.getX() + "," + p.getY()+ ")"); 
23.  } 
24. } 
25.  

1. Define class Point: 

   - Declare private attributes: int x, int y 

   - Define private methods: setX(int xCoord), setY(int yCoord), getX(), getY() 

  

2. Define class Driver: 

   - Define public static main method: 

     1. Create a Point object named p 

     2. Call p.setX(2) to set the x-coordinate 

     3. Call p.setY(3) to set the y-coordinate 

     4. Print "(", p.getX(), ",", p.getY(), ")" using System.out.println 

 

Learning Outcomes 

• Encapsulation and data hiding: Understanding getters helps in grasping the concept of encapsulation, which is a fundamental principle in object-oriented programming. Getters allow you to hide the internal implementation details of a class and provide controlled access to attribute values, promoting data integrity and security. 
• Access control and privacy: By using getters, you can control access to attribute values, ensuring that they are accessed only through defined methods. This helps in enforcing privacy and preventing unauthorized modification of attributes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the object's state. 
• Consistent and intuitive interface: Getters provide a standardized way of accessing attribute values across different instances of a class. By using getters, you establish a consistent interface for interacting with objects, making the code more readable, maintainable, and intuitive for other developers.