getter : Java Glossary

Eiffel lets you write getters even when the client code is tersely written as if the values were instance variables. However, Java insists on fluffy syntax both where the getter is defined and invoked.

Modern IDEs such as IntelliJ Idea will compose a set of getters and setters for you, given just the private instance variables.

Normally within a class you don’t usually use the getters; you go direct to the underlying instance variables, though sometimes it makes sense from a maintenance point of view to channel through getters. Within a package or from outside, you would nearly always go through getters rather than going to directly to public instance variables.