Access Modifiers Deep Dive

Types of Access Modifiers

Keywords placed before variables or functions to determine where they can be used.

public (Public)

• Description: Accessible from anywhere
• Unity Inspector: Visible and editable
• Other classes: Accessible

public class Human : MonoBehaviour
{
    public string myName;  // Visible in Inspector, accessible from other classes
    
    public void Eat() {   // Can be called from other classes
        Debug.Log("Eating");
    }
}

private (Private)

• Description: Can only be used within the same class
• Unity Inspector: Not visible
• Other classes: Not accessible
• Inherited classes: Not accessible

public class Human : MonoBehaviour
{
    private int myAge;        // Not visible in Inspector, not accessible from other classes
    private float myHeight;  // Not visible in Inspector
    
    private void Sleep() {    // Cannot be called from other classes
        Debug.Log("Sleeping");
    }
}

When Access Modifier is Omitted

• When nothing is written before variable or function: Behaves the same as private
• C# default: Automatically becomes private when omitted

public class Human : MonoBehaviour
{
    int myAge;        // Same as private (when omitted)
    float myHeight;   // Same as private (when omitted)
    
    void PowerPush() {  // Same as private (when omitted)
        Debug.Log("Pushing");
    }
}

Access Modifier Comparison

Access Modifier	Same Class	Child Class	Other Class	Unity Inspector
public	✅	✅	✅	✅ Visible
private	✅	❌	❌	❌ Not visible
Omitted	✅	❌	❌	❌ Not visible

When to Use What?

Use public

• When you want to set values in Unity Inspector
• When other scripts need to access it
• When child classes need to use it

Use private

• Variables/functions used only within the class
• Important data that shouldn't be accessed externally
• When you want to increase code safety

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