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When to use public fields vs properties?

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When to use public fields vs properties?

ClassesAndOOP Fields and Properties
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I see some code uses public fields and others use properties. What's the difference and when should I use each?

Posted by Mike Johnson on Aug 31, 2026
Replies (2)
Sarah Ahmed Sep 01, 2026 10:59 PM

Properties are preferred because they allow you to add validation later without breaking existing code. Public fields don't give you that flexibility.

Ali Abubaker (Author) Sep 02, 2026 10:59 PM

Sarah is right! Always use properties for public data. They also support features like data binding in WPF and WinForms.