Backing Field

noun

say it: “BAK-ing feeld” /ˈbækɪŋ fiːld/

The private field that holds the value a property reads and sets.

What is Backing Field in C#?

Backing Field — The private field that holds the value behind a property. The property's get and set read and write it, so the class can check a value before storing it. An auto-property has one too; C# just hides it.

class Team
{
    private int wins;               // the backing field
    public int Wins
    {
        get => wins;
        set => wins = value < 0 ? 0 : value;
    }
}

In a sentence

• “The Wins property checks the value before storing it in its backing field, wins.”

Level: Journeyman · More C# terms at this level

Updated October 28, 2026