What is a Java accessor method?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question context: identifying what a Java accessor method is among the given options.
Option 1: 'A method used to retrieve the values of an object's attributes.' This is correct because accessor methods, commonly known as getters, are designed to expose or return the current value of a private or protected field without modifying it.
Option 2: 'A method that handles exceptions and error conditions in Java programs.' This describes exception handling logic (try/catch/finally blocks) rather than an accessor. Accessors do not special-case error handling; they simply return a value.
Option 3: 'A method used to modify the internal state of an object by updating the values of its attributes.' This characterizes a mutator or setter method, which intentionally changes state. Accessors, by contrast, read state without performing modifications.
Option 4: 'A method that enables method overloading and polymorphism in Java.' Overloading and polymorphism are broader language features related to method signatures and class hierarchies. An accessor method itself does not enable these features; it focuses on retrieving data.
Summary: Options 2, 3, and 4 describe concepts unrelated to the purpose of accessors, while option 1 accurately defines an accessor as a getter that returns an object's attribute values.

What is a Java accessor method?

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