setter : Java Glossary

setter

An instance method that store a value in an object instance or static class, e. g.

The advantage of a setters is you can later add code to compress, validate or modify the value, without changing any of the client code. You can also add side effects like logging or recomputing something else or updating a display.

Setters are just a naming convention. Methods that behave like public variables begin with the lower-case letters set followed by the camel-case name of the internal associated private, possibly virtual, variable, e.g. setWidth(). Setters with a boolean parameter also begin with the letters set e.g. setVisible( true );

Modern IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) such as IntelliJ Idea will compose a set of getters and setters for you, given just the private instance variables.

Normally within a class you don’t usually use the setters; you go direct to the underlying instance variables, though sometimes it makes sense from a maintenance point of view to channel through setters. Within a package or from outside, you would nearly always go through setters rather than going to directly to public instance variables.

static pseudosetters

You can also write setters for static classes. They might look like this:

If you find your self writing such static pseudosetters, chances are they should be changed into ordinary setters. If you don’t refactor, clients will not be able to run two different configurations of your class simultaneously.

accessor methods
Bali
Delphi
Eiffel
getter
IntelliJ Idea
naming conventions

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