accessor/mutator functions

[Diez B. Roggisch]

> Because if so, does the term 'lazy evaluation' refer to the fact that
> instead of:

No, it is a common technical term. It means that a value is computed the
time it is requested for the first time.

Like this:

class Foo(object):

   def __init__(self):
       self.__bar = None

   def getBar(self):
       if self.__bar is None:
           self.__bar = some_lengthy_computation()
       return self.__bar


That you can make bar a property of Foo is unrelated to this. 

Another reason to use properties is if the value is always or at least
frequently a freshly computed one.


-- 
Regards,

Diez B. Roggisch