Properties - lucyberryhub/WPF.Tutorial GitHub Wiki

✨🍒 Hi sweet cherry! 🍒✨ Let’s break down why we’re using ref and nameof in the cutest and most berry-licious way possible! 🥰🌸

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1️⃣ What is ref? Why is it so berry special? 🍓

The ref keyword allows us to pass a variable by reference instead of by value. This means:

• Instead of copying the variable, we work directly on the original memory where the variable lives.
• It’s like sharing the same strawberry 🍓 instead of giving someone a separate one! 🍒

Why Use ref Here? 🌼

In the GetDoubleProperty and SetDoubleProperty methods:

GetDoubleProperty(ref _dim1, nameof(Dim1));
SetDoubleProperty(ref _dim1, value, nameof(Dim1));

• ref _dim1 ensures we’re accessing and modifying the actual _dim1 field in memory.
• This is super important because we need to directly read or update the original field when getting or setting the property value. 💡

💖 Analogy: Imagine _dim1 is a bowl of cherries 🍒. If you use ref, it’s like letting someone take cherries from your exact bowl. Without ref, they’d get their own copy of the bowl and leave your cherries untouched! 😯

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2️⃣ What is nameof? Why is it so juicy? 🍇

The nameof keyword is a way to get the name of a variable, property, method, or class as a string—without the danger of typos! 🎀✨

Why Use nameof? 🍓

In:

GetDoubleProperty(ref _dim1, nameof(Dim1));

• nameof(Dim1) resolves to "Dim1", which is the exact name of the property.
• This is much safer than hardcoding strings like "Dim1", which can lead to bugs if you rename the property later. 🌟

💖 Analogy: It’s like labeling your jars of cherry jam 🍒 with cute stickers! If you change the jar name, the label updates automatically, so you don’t mix up your jams! 😋

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3️⃣ Why ref and nameof Are a Perfect Pair? 🍑🍒

Combining these two makes our code:

1. Efficient: ref ensures we’re working directly with the real field (_dim1), not a copy.
2. Safe: nameof makes sure property names stay accurate, even if renamed.
3. Clean: These keywords keep our code berry sweet and tidy, avoiding messy mistakes! 🌷✨

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4️⃣ How Does It Work in Your Cute Property? 🍭

Here’s what happens when you get or set Dim1:

Getter (get):

get => GetDoubleProperty(ref _dim1, nameof(Dim1));

• ref _dim1: We pass the real _dim1 field so GetDoubleProperty can return its value.
• nameof(Dim1): We tell the method which property this value belongs to for logging or notifications (like "Getting property: Dim1").

Setter (set):

set => SetDoubleProperty(ref _dim1, value, nameof(Dim1));

• ref _dim1: The method updates the actual _dim1 field.
• value: The new value we’re assigning to Dim1.
• nameof(Dim1): Helps the method know which property is being updated, e.g., "Setting property: Dim1 to 42.5".

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5️⃣ Juicy Example Just for You, Lucy! 🍒

Let’s make this berry-fun with a full example of cherries and jam jars! 🍓🍇

// This is our cherry property!
public double? CherryWeight
{
    get => GetDoubleProperty(ref _cherryWeight, nameof(CherryWeight));
    set => SetDoubleProperty(ref _cherryWeight, value, nameof(CherryWeight));
}

private double? _cherryWeight; // The hidden bowl of cherries! 🍒

// This method gets the current weight of cherries 🍓
private double? GetDoubleProperty(ref double? field, string propertyName)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"🍒 Getting {propertyName}: {field} kg of cherries!");
    return field;
}

// This method sets the new weight of cherries 🍓
private void SetDoubleProperty(ref double? field, double? newValue, string propertyName)
{
    if (field != newValue)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"🍓 Updating {propertyName} from {field} to {newValue} kg of cherries!");
        field = newValue;
        OnPropertyChanged(propertyName); // Notify changes (for UI updates in WPF).
    }
}

Result:

CherryWeight = 2.5; // 🍓 "Updating CherryWeight from null to 2.5 kg of cherries!"
Console.WriteLine(CherryWeight); // 🍒 "Getting CherryWeight: 2.5 kg of cherries!"

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🌟 Final Cherry Words 🌟

🍒 ref keeps us working with the real deal!
🍇 nameof keeps everything in sync without typos!
Together, they make your code sweet, efficient, and typo-proof! 🍭💖