Access Modifiers

Remarks#

If the access modifier is omitted,

classes are by default internal
methods are by deault private
getters and setters inherit the modifier of the property, by default this is private

Access modifiers on setters or getters of properties can only restrict access, not widen it: public string someProperty {get; private set;}

public

The public keyword makes a class (including nested classes), property, method or field available to every consumer:

public class Foo()
{
    public string SomeProperty { get; set; }

    public class Baz
    {
        public int Value { get; set; }
    }
}

public class Bar()
{
    public Bar()
    {
        var myInstance = new Foo();
        var someValue = foo.SomeProperty;
        var myNestedInstance = new Foo.Baz();
        var otherValue = myNestedInstance.Value;
    }        
}

private

The private keyword marks properties, methods, fields and nested classes for use inside the class only:

public class Foo()
{
    private string someProperty { get; set; }

    private class Baz
    {
        public string Value { get; set; }
    }

    public void Do()
    {
        var baz = new Baz { Value = 42 };
    }
}

public class Bar()
{
    public Bar()
    {
        var myInstance = new Foo();

        // Compile Error - not accessible due to private modifier
        var someValue = foo.someProperty;
        // Compile Error - not accessible due to private modifier
        var baz = new Foo.Baz();
    }
}

internal

The internal keyword makes a class (including nested classes), property, method or field available to every consumer in the same assembly:

internal class Foo
{
    internal string SomeProperty {get; set;}
}

internal class Bar
{
    var myInstance = new Foo();
    internal string SomeField = foo.SomeProperty;

    internal class Baz
    {
        private string blah;
        public int N { get; set; }
    }
}

This can be broken to allow a testing assembly to access the code via adding code to AssemblyInfo.cs file:

using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

[assembly:InternalsVisibleTo("MyTests")]

protected

The protected keyword marks field, methods properties and nested classes for use inside the same class and derived classes only:

public class Foo()
{
    protected void SomeFooMethod()
    {
        //do something
    }

    protected class Thing
    {
        private string blah;
        public int N { get; set; }
    }
}

public class Bar() : Foo
{
    private void someBarMethod()
    {
        SomeFooMethod(); // inside derived class
        var thing = new Thing(); // can use nested class
    }
}

public class Baz()
{
    private void someBazMethod()
    {
        var foo = new Foo();
        foo.SomeFooMethod(); //not accessible due to protected modifier
    }
}

protected internal

The protected internal keyword marks field, methods, properties and nested classes for use inside the same assembly or derived classes in another assembly:

Assembly 1

public class Foo
{
    public string MyPublicProperty { get; set; }
    protected internal string MyProtectedInternalProperty  { get; set; }

    protected internal class MyProtectedInternalNestedClass
    {
        private string blah;
        public int N { get; set; }
    }
}

public class Bar
{
    void MyMethod1()
    {
        Foo foo = new Foo();
        var myPublicProperty = foo.MyPublicProperty;
        var myProtectedInternalProperty = foo.MyProtectedInternalProperty;
        var myProtectedInternalNestedInstance =
            new Foo.MyProtectedInternalNestedClass();
    }
}

Assembly 2

public class Baz : Foo
{
    void MyMethod1()
    {
        var myPublicProperty = MyPublicProperty;
        var myProtectedInternalProperty = MyProtectedInternalProperty;
        var thing = new MyProtectedInternalNestedClass();
    }

    void MyMethod2()
    {
        Foo foo = new Foo();
        var myPublicProperty = foo.MyPublicProperty;

        // Compile Error
        var myProtectedInternalProperty = foo.MyProtectedInternalProperty;
        // Compile Error
        var myProtectedInternalNestedInstance =
            new Foo.MyProtectedInternalNestedClass();
    }

}

public class Qux
{
    void MyMethod1()
    {
        Baz baz = new Baz();
        var myPublicProperty = baz.MyPublicProperty;

        // Compile Error
        var myProtectedInternalProperty = baz.MyProtectedInternalProperty;
        // Compile Error
        var myProtectedInternalNestedInstance =
            new Baz.MyProtectedInternalNestedClass();
    }

    void MyMethod2()
    {
        Foo foo = new Foo();
        var myPublicProperty = foo.MyPublicProperty;

        //Compile Error
        var myProtectedInternalProperty = foo.MyProtectedInternalProperty;
        // Compile Error
        var myProtectedInternalNestedInstance =
            new Foo.MyProtectedInternalNestedClass();
    }
}

Access Modifiers Diagrams

Here are all access modifiers in venn diagrams, from more limiting to more accessible:

Access Modifier	Diagram
private
internal
protected
protected internal
public

Below you could find more information.