Comparison Between Properties and Indexers (C# Programming Guide)
Indexers are like properties. Except for the differences shown in the following table, all the rules that are defined for property accessors apply to indexer accessors also.
| Property | Indexer |
|---|---|
| Allows methods to be called as if they were public data members. | Allows elements of an internal collection of an object to be accessed by using array notation on the object itself. |
| Accessed through a simple name. | Accessed through an index. |
| Can be a static or an instance member. | Must be an instance member. |
| A get accessor of a property has no parameters. | A get accessor of an indexer has the same formal parameter list as the indexer. |
A set accessor of a property contains the implicit value parameter. |
A set accessor of an indexer has the same formal parameter list as the indexer, and also to the value parameter. |
| Supports shortened syntax with Auto-Implemented Properties. | Supports expression bodied members for get only indexers. |
See also
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