localMyClass.myVal = 42;
Getters and setters let you treat the values like public properties. The difference is, you can do whatever you want inside the functions that do the getting and setting.
Examples:
store other variables
private int _myVal, myOtherVal;
public int MyVal { get; set { _myVal = value; myOtherVal++; } }
make numbers up / return constants
public int MyVal { get { return 99; } set; }
throw away the setter
private int _myVal;
public int MyVal { get { return _myVal; } set { ; } }
In each of these cases, the user will feel like it’s just a public data member, and simply type
localMyClass.myVal = 42;
int i = localMyClass.myVal;
The gettors and settors let you make an implementation of your own. Also, as Hogan says, “There are a number of libraries and add-ons [e.g. MVC.NET] that require you to use getter and setter functions” – even if it’s for the trivial {get; set;} case.