What is a 'getter' in JavaScript?

A 'getter' in JavaScript is a special type of function that retrieves the value of an object's property. It allows you to define a property on an object that is calculated or fetched when accessed, rather than stored directly. This encapsulation enhances control over how properties are accessed and can provide additional logic when retrieving values.

By defining a getter, when you attempt to read the property, the getter function is executed, and it can compute or retrieve the value dynamically from another source if necessary. This is particularly useful in scenarios where the value of a property might depend on other properties or requires specific computation when accessed.

For instance, in an object that represents a rectangle, a getter for the area property can automatically calculate the area based on the current width and height of the rectangle. This encapsulation enables better data integrity and more maintainable code.

That's why the assertion that a getter is a method that gets the value of a specific property is accurate. It precisely defines the role of a getter in JavaScript.