Problem Statement
Explain how properties work in Kotlin including getters, setters, and backing fields.
Explanation
Kotlin properties declared with val or var automatically generate getter and setter methods, accessed using simple property syntax like person dot name instead of person dot getName open paren close paren. You can customize getters and setters using get open paren close paren equals and set open paren value close paren blocks after the property declaration, and val properties only have getters while var properties have both.
Backing fields are accessed using the field identifier inside custom accessors, and Kotlin automatically creates a backing field only if needed based on whether you use field in the accessor or define a completely custom implementation. Custom getters and setters allow you to add validation, lazy initialization, or computed properties while maintaining property syntax for callers.
Kotlin properties are more powerful than Java fields, combining field declarations with accessor methods in a clean syntax that reduces boilerplate while providing full control when needed. Properties can also be delegated using by keyword for patterns like lazy initialization or observable properties without writing repetitive accessor code.
