list<T> property with private set

Question

I'd like to know if this:

private List<FixedTickProvider> minorTickProviders;
public List<FixedTickProvider> MinorTickProviders { get { return minorTickProviders; } }

is equivalent to this:

public List<FixedTickProvider> MinorTickProviders { get; private set; }

the thing is: I've inherited the first piece of code, while I myself am more used to the second option. As Is was about to re-write the portion of code, I wondered if those two are exactly equivalent though.

please note that I am NOT talking about readonly Lists here. I am fully aware of the "readonly list" topic as discussed here and my question is slightly different.

NB: I am almost sure I once read an article stating that the compiler would produce the exact same code from those two extracts but I can't find it any more, nor can I find a precise answer on this subject. So please enlighten me.

Answer 1

Yes, both pieces of code will achieve the same result

//here you are declaring a private field of class
private List<FixedTickProvider> minorTickProviders;
//and only exposing get to rest of the code
public List<FixedTickProvider> MinorTickProviders { get { return minorTickProviders; } }

//here you are declaring a public property which can only be set by the class which is declaring it
public List<FixedTickProvider> MinorTickProviders { get; private set; }

As far as IL is considered there will be slight difference

In case of separate field and property following IL will be generated

In case of single property without backing field