getters() and setters() simplification for a class

Question

• Why do we exactly need to use the set and get methods in our class that use private attributes?
• When it is really used during our program process?
• Can we still make it work without it (without changing the private attributes to public)?

This is an example of a source code when we are using the set and get methods:

public class Dog {

    private String dogName;
    private int dogAge;

    public Dog(String dogName, int dogAge) {
        this.dogName = dogName;
        this.dogAge = dogAge;
    }

    public String getDogName() {
        return dogName;
    }

    public void setDogName(String dogName) {
        this.dogName = dogName;
    }

    public int getDogAge() {
        return dogAge;
    }

    public void setDogAge(int dogAge) {
        this.dogAge = dogAge;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return "Dog{" + "dogName=" + dogName + ", dogAge=" + dogAge + '}';
    }

}

Answer 1

If you don't see the point of encapsulation, allow me to demonstrate with a "real life" example (which .

private boolean amIDrunk = true;

public boolean getAmIDrunk(Object asker){
    if (asker instanceof PoliceOfficer){
        return false;
    } else if (asker instanceof DrinkingBuddy ){
        return true;
    }
    return amIDrunk;
}

public void setAmIDrunk(boolean setter){
    if (hadLessThen10Beers()) {
        this.amIDrunk = false;
        return;
    }
    this.amIDrunk = setter;
}

Sure, this is a 'nitwit' example, but it's just to show that sometimes, just because you call a setter, there might be a reason not to set that value, and sometimes, when a getter is called, there might be a reason, you don't want to return the actual value.

Anyway, to continue in this example: having amIDrunk as a private variable, makes sure someone else doesn't declare you as 'drunk' by setting amIDrunk to true, without the implementation of your own set method to agree with it.