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 (C# Programming Guide). |
Does not support shortened syntax. |