Public vs private instance fields

From: Brian Munroe (brian.e.munroe_at_gmail.com)
Date: 03/29/05 

Date: 29 Mar 2005 11:19:22 -0800

Newbie Java/OOP question here, which is more correct?

1) Define a public instance field and access it like:

Object o = new Object()
o.field1 = "hello";
System.out.println(o.field1);

2) Define a private instance field and use set/get methods to access
it:

Object o = new Object()
o.setField1("hello");
System.out.println(o.getField1());

I prefer to make it public, less typing all around, but being my luck,
it isn't the correct way either :)

thanks

-- brian

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