In Java is there a performance difference between referencing a field through getter versus through a variable?

Question

Is there any differences between doing

Field field = something.getSomethingElse().getField();
if (field == 0) {
//do something    
}
somelist.add(field);
         


        

Answer 1

There is a difference in that accessing variables through getters results in a method call. The JVM might conceivably be able to optimize the method call away under some circumstances, but it is a method call.

That said, if the biggest bottleneck or performance problem in your code is overhead from accessor methods, I would say that you don't have a lot to worry about.