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

When designing a Java accessor (getter) for an attribute named name, we need a method that returns the type of the attribute and takes no parameters.
Option 1 proposes public void setName(String theName). This resembles a mutator (setter) because it returns void and accepts a parameter to assign a new value; however, it uses the name getName and has a parameter, which is inconsistent with the conventional getter pattern.
Option 2 shows public String getName(String theName). Here, the method returns a String, but it incorrectly accepts a parameter. Accessor methods typically do not require arguments since they just return the current value of the attribute, so taking theName as a parameter is inappropriate.
Option 3 is written as public void setName(). Note the use of a setter-like signature with no parameter and a void return type; while this resembles a mutator, it neither returns a value nor accepts a new value to set, making it unsuitable as a standard accessor for a name attribute.
Option 4 presents public String getName(). This aligns with the expected pattern: a getter for a String-typed attribute named name, returning the value without any arguments. The naming getName and the return type String correctly reflect an accessor.
In summary, the key criteria for a proper accessor are: the method name starts with get, it returns the attribute’s type (String in this case), and it accepts no parameters. Deviations from this pattern in the other options introduce incorrect behavior or signatures for an accessor.

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

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