You can create instance data in a class by defining public fields. You can read and write fields using a reference to an instance of the class.
A class more often exposes its instance data using properties, rather than fields. A property looks like a field from outside the class–it allows you to read and write a value using a reference to the object. But internally in the class, a property just wraps a private field, which is not visible from outside the class.
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| public class Dog{ // Private field, stores the dog's name private string name; // Public property, provides a way to access // the dog's name from outside the class public string Name { get { return name; } set { name = value; } }} |
Using the property:
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| Dog kirby = new Dog();kirby.Name = "Kirby"; |