title: What is the definition of "accessor method"?
body: <p>I've been having an argument about the usage of the word "accessor" (the context is Java programming). I tend to think of accessors as implicitly being "property accessors" -- that is, the term implies that it's more or less there to provide direct access to the object's internal state. The other party insists that any method that touches the object's state in any way is an accessor.</p>
  
  <p>I know you guys can't win the argument for me, but I'm curious to know how you would define the term. :)</p>