Override abstract readonly property to read/write property

Coincoin_42 0
Viewed 17930

I would like to only force the implementation of a C# getter on a given property from a base abstract class. Derived classes might, if they want, also provide a setter for that property for public use of the statically bound type.

Given the following abstract class:

public abstract class Base
{
    public abstract int Property { get; }
}

If I want a derived class that also implements a setter, I could naively try: 

public class Derived : Base
{
    public override int Property
    {
        get { return field; }
        set { field = value; } // Error : Nothing to override.
    } 

    private int field;
}

But then I get a syntax error since I try to override the non existing setter. I tried some other way such as declaring the base setter private and such and I still stumble upon all kind of errors preventing me from doing that. There must be a way to do that as it doesn't break any base class contract.

Incidentaly, it can be done with interfaces, but I really need that default implementation.

I stumbled into that situation so often, I was wondering if there was a hidden C# syntax trick to do that, else I will just live with it and implement a manual SetProperty() method.

abstract properties c#
5 Answers

You may do this with a constructor as following;

public abstract class Base
{
    public abstract int Property { get; }
}


public class Derived : Base
{
    public Derived(string Property) : base(Property)
    {

    }
}
user_121180940
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