PPT Slide

Object Terminology

“Accessor” and “Modifier” Methods: “state objects.”

Accessor Methods:

The “get” methods . . .

( The identifier name prefix “get” not required, but is preferred practice. )

Modifier Methods:

The “set” methods . . .

( The identifier name prefix ‘set” not required, but is preferred practice. )

Allows us to restrict access to variables and thereby control their values. (Otherwise, we would have to include util.ASSERT statements everywhere!)

They can return a variable value, and can return something that is calculated (e.g. getVolume; no need for an iVolume attribute).

They return a value about

the state of an object.