Which of the following Java method headers is the correct one for an accessor method for an attribute called name?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To identify the correct accessor method header for an attribute named name, we need to recall that an accessor (getter) returns the value of a field and takes no parameters, while its return type should match the field's type.
Option 1: 'public void setName()' — This looks like a mutator (setter), not a getter, and it returns void, which would not provide the value of the name. So this is incorrect for an accessor.
Option 2: 'public void setName(String theName)' — This is a typical setter signature: it returns void and accepts a parameter to assign to the field. While it could be a valid mutator, it is not an accessor, so it's not the correct choice.
Option 3: 'public String getName()' — This matches the standard getter pattern: it returns the field's type (String) and has no parameters, allowing callers to retrieve the current value of name. This is the correct accessor header.
Option 4: 'public String getName(String theName)' — This attempts to pass a parameter to the getter, which defeats the purpose of simply returning the current value; getters should not require input parameters. Therefore this is incorrect.
In summary, the correct accessor header should return the attribute's type (String) and take no arguments, which is exactly what option 3 provides.

Which of the following Java method headers is the correct one for an accessor method for an attribute called name?

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