C# Custom getter/setter without private variable

Question

I learned c# recently, so when I learned to write properties, I was taught to do it like this:

public string Name { get; set; } 

Auto properties are great! But now I'm trying to do something a little more complicated, so I need to write a custom pair of accessors.

private string _Name; public string Name {     get { return _Name; }     set { _Name = value } } 

I know the compiler makes a private instance variable down in it's murky depths when one uses autos, but I'm spoiled and don't want that private variable sitting around looking pointless.

Is there a way to use custom accessors without a private variable?

Answer 1

Properties don't need backing variables (fields) at all. While they can be used for encapsulating simple fields you can also use them to access other data.

public Decimal GrandTotal { get { return FreightTotal + TaxTotal + LineTotal; } } 

or

public string SomeStatus { get { return SomeMethodCall(); } } 

If the goal is to simply encapsulate some field with a property you would need some sort of backing field if you are not using automatic properties.

Answer 2

The answer is No, you cannot do that. It is because of recursion. (See line numbers 9 and 7):

Line 1  :   public string Name Line 2  :   { Line 3  :     get Line 4  :     { Line 5  :         return FirstName + " "  + LastName; Line 6  :     } Line 7  :     set Line 8  :     { Line 9  :         Name = value; // <-- Goes back to Line 7 Line 10 :     } Line 11 :   }