Updated March 29, 2023
Introduction to C# Auto-Implemented Properties
The properties which do not require any code when used inside the get method and set method of the class are called Auto Implemented Properties in C#. Using which the given code becomes more readable and concise and when these properties are used in the code, private fields are created by the compiler, which corresponds to those properties and can be accessed using only the get method and set method. Such auto-implemented properties cannot be declared in the interfaces because interfaces do not allow the private fields created by the compiler corresponding to the auto-implemented properties. These are available in C# version 3.0 and the later versions.
Syntax
The syntax of C# Auto Implemented Properties is as follows:
Public data_type property_name{ get; set; }
where data_type is the data type of the property and
property_name is the name of the property.
Working of C# Auto Implemented Properties
- When there is a need to use some properties inside the get method and set method that does not have any code, such properties are called auto-implemented properties in C#.
- The code becomes more concise and readable by making use of auto-implemented properties in C#.
- When Auto implemented properties are used in a program, the compiler creates private fields corresponding to these properties, which can be accessed only using the set method and get method.
- The auto-implemented properties cannot be declared in the interfaces because the private fields created by the compiler corresponding to these properties, which can be accessed using only the set method and get method, are not allowed by the interfaces.
- The auto-implemented properties are introduced in the 3.0 version of C# and the later versions of C#.
Examples of C# Auto-Implemented Properties
Different examples are mentioned below:
Example #1
C# program to demonstrate auto-implemented properties in a program to obtain the details of a book by making certain variables auto-implemented properties, making it accessible only using the get and set method.
Code:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
//a namespace called check is defined
namespace Check
{
//a class called books is defined
class Books
{
// three auto implemented properties are defined which can be accessed using set and get method
public int BookID { get; set; }
public string BookName { get; set; }
public string BookAuthor { get; set; }
}
//a class called property is defined
class property
{
//main method is called
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
//an instance of the books class is created
Books books = new Books();
//the auto implemented properties defined before are set with certain values
books.BookID = 10;
books.BookName = "To Kill a mocking bird";
books.BookAuthor = "Harper Lee";
// the auto implemented properties defined before are obtained using get method
Console.WriteLine("The BookID of the given book is: {0} ", books.BookID);
Console.WriteLine("The name of the given book is: {0} ", books.BookName);
Console.WriteLine("The Author of the given book is: {0} ", books.BookAuthor);
}
}
}
Output:
In the above program, a namespace called check is defined. Then a class called books is defined. Then three auto-implemented properties are defined, which can be accessed using the set and get method. Then a class called property is defined. Then an instance of the book’s class is created. Then the auto-implemented properties defined before are set with certain values. Then the auto-implemented properties defined before are obtained using the get method.
Example #2
C# program to demonstrate auto-implemented properties in a program to obtain the details of a book by making certain variables auto-implemented properties, making it accessible only using the get and set method.
Code:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
//a namespace called check is defined
namespace Check
{
//a class called players is defined
class players
{
// three auto implemented properties are defined which can be accessed using set and get method
public int playerposition { get; set; }
public string playerName { get; set; }
public string playerteam { get; set; }
}
//a class called property is defined
class property
{
//main method is called
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
//an instance of the books class is created
players play = new players();
//the auto implemented properties defined before are set with certain values
play.playerposition = 1;
play.playerName = "Sachin Tendulkar";
play.playerteam = "India";
// the auto implemented properties defined before are obtained using get method
Console.WriteLine("The position of the given player is: {0} ", play.playerposition);
Console.WriteLine("The name of the given player is: {0} ", play.playerName);
Console.WriteLine("The team for which the player plays is: {0} ", play.playerteam);
}
}
}
Output:
In the above program, a namespace called check is defined. Then a class called players is defined. Then three auto-implemented properties are defined, which can be accessed using the set and get method. Then a class called property is defined. Then an instance of the player’s class is created. Then the auto-implemented properties defined before are set with certain values. Then the auto-implemented properties defined before are obtained using the get method. Finally, the output is as shown in the snapshot above.
Advantages
There are several advantages of using auto-implemented properties in C#. They are:
- The application programming interfaces can be future-proofed by making use of auto-implemented properties. As a result, the application programming interfaces do not change if we want to use the logic later in the getter or setter.
- Data Binding is possible by making use of auto-implemented properties only. This is because the data binding frameworks work only against properties and do not work against fields.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we understand the concept of auto-implemented properties in C# through definition, syntax, and working through programming examples and their outputs and their advantages.
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