What is a Java accessor method?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When evaluating what a Java accessor method is, we need to consider the role such methods play in object-oriented design.
Option 1: 'A method that enables method overloading and polymorphism in Java.' This describes concepts like overloading and polymorphism in general, not specifically accessor methods. Accessor methods are not defined by enabling overloaded signatures or polymorphic behavior by themselves, so this option mischaracterizes their purpose.
Option 2: 'A method used to modify the internal state of an object by updating the values of its attributes.' This describes mutator methods (often called setters) rather than accessors. Accessors retrieve values, whereas mutators change them, so this option confuses the two commonly paired concepts in encapsulation.
Option 3: 'A method used to retrieve the values of an object's attributes.' This precisely matches the definition of an accessor (often named getXxx). It accesses and returns the current value of a field without modifying it, aligning with the typical getter pattern in Java.
Option 4: 'A method that handles exceptions and error conditions in Java programs.' This describes error handling or exception management logic, not attribute access. Accessor methods do not primarily exist to process exceptions, so this option is unrelated to their purpose.

What is a Java accessor method?

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