c# - Why have empty get set properties instead of using a public member variable?

Question

(This question already has answers here): question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1876197/why-have-empty-get-set-properties-instead-of-using-a-public-member-variable

Answer 1

One word: inheritance.

Properties are inheritable while fields are not. You can use fields in an inherited class, but not alter their behavior by making them virtual.

Like so:

public class Foo {
  public virtual int MyField = 1; // Nope, this can't

  public virtual int Bar {get; set; }
}

public class MyDerive : Foo {
  public override MyField; // Nope, this can't

  public override int Bar {
    get {
      //do something;
    }
    set; }
}

Edit: Besides the fact of inheritance, the points pointed out in the other answers (like visibility) are also a huge benefit of properties over fields.