Setting a private setter using an object initializer

Question

Why is it possible to use an object initializer to set a private set auto property, when the initializer is called from within the class which owns the auto property? I have included two class as an example.

public class MyClass
{
    public string myName { get; private set; }
    public string myId { get; set; }

    public static MyClass GetSampleObject()
    {
        MyClass mc = new MyClass
        {
            myName = "Whatever", // <- works
            myId = "1234"
        };
        return mc;
    }


}

public class MyOtherClass
{
    public static MyClass GetSampleObject()
    {
        MyClass mc = new MyClass
        {
            myName = "Whatever", // <- fails
            myId = "1234"
        };
        return mc;
    }
}

@JonSkeet - OP might think `private` means within the property scope? — Oded, May 18 '12 at 10:58
@Oded: Possibly - but it would be good for the OP to elaborate. — Jon Skeet, May 18 '12 at 10:59

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered May 18 '12 at 10:52

5

The private modifier on a setter means - private to the enclosing type.

That is, the property can be set by the containing type only.

If this was not the case, you would never be able to set the property and it would effectively be read-only.

From MSDN - private (C# Reference):

Private members are accessible only within the body of the class or the struct in which they are declared

answered May 18 '12 at 10:52

Oded

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I have misunderstood how private setter works. I thought the initializer would not have been in the same scope as the class owning the auto private property and would therefore be accessing the property as if it was an external class. Thank you, all. – Youngs May 18 '12 at 11:13

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 18 '12 at 10:53

0

Because private means accessible within the class that owns property.

answered May 18 '12 at 10:53

Johnny_D

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`within the class that owns property` and nested classes within that class, so as @Oded describes `private to the enclosing type`.. – Jalal Said May 18 '12 at 11:03

Setting a private setter using an object initializer

2 Answers2

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