What does a setter method do in conjunction with a property?

A setter method is specifically designed to assign a value to a property in a class. In object-oriented programming, properties are often encapsulated fields that maintain the internal state of an object. The setter method serves as a controlled interface to modify the value of these properties, allowing for validation or additional logic to be applied when a value is set.

For instance, if a class has a property that represents age, the setter method can include checks to ensure that the age being set is within a valid range. This encapsulation not only protects the integrity of the object's data but also enhances the maintainability of the code. In contrast, initialization typically occurs at the time of object creation and involves assigning initial values, while accessing a property is generally handled by a getter method. Deleting a property is unrelated to the functionality of a setter. Hence, the role of a setter method is clearly aligned with assigning values to properties.