diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/bde_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/bde_file_entry.py
index 1b544e97..5a886a19 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/bde_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/bde_file_entry.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def __init__(
         resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=is_root,
         is_virtual=is_virtual)
     self._bde_volume = bde_volume
-    self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+    self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetStat(self):
     """Retrieves information about the file entry.
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/compressed_stream_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/compressed_stream_file_entry.py
index 3d8518ba..d7de0752 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/compressed_stream_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/compressed_stream_file_entry.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def __init__(
         resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=is_root,
         is_virtual=is_virtual)
     self._compressed_stream = compressed_stream
-    self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+    self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def __del__(self):
     """Cleans up the file entry."""
@@ -64,6 +64,6 @@ def _GetStat(self):
     if self._compressed_stream:
       stat_object.size = self._compressed_stream.get_size()
 
-    stat_object.type = self._type
+    stat_object.type = self.type
 
     return stat_object
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/cpio_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/cpio_file_entry.py
index 9a29cf81..68c3180c 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/cpio_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/cpio_file_entry.py
@@ -93,18 +93,18 @@ def __init__(
     # for LINK first.
     mode = getattr(cpio_archive_file_entry, 'mode', 0)
     if stat.S_ISLNK(mode):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
     # The root file entry is virtual and should have type directory.
     elif is_virtual or stat.S_ISDIR(mode):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     elif stat.S_ISREG(mode):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
     elif stat.S_ISCHR(mode) or stat.S_ISBLK(mode):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
     elif stat.S_ISFIFO(mode):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
     elif stat.S_ISSOCK(mode):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       CPIODirectory: a directory or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return CPIODirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetLink(self):
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def _GetLink(self):
     if self._link is None:
       self._link = ''
 
-      if self._type != definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK:
+      if self.type != definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK:
         return self._link
 
       cpio_archive_file = self._file_system.GetCPIOArchiveFile()
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/encoded_stream_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/encoded_stream_file_entry.py
index d8816e81..672926ab 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/encoded_stream_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/encoded_stream_file_entry.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def __init__(
         resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=is_root,
         is_virtual=is_virtual)
     self._encoded_stream = encoded_stream
-    self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+    self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def __del__(self):
     """Cleans up the file entry."""
@@ -64,6 +64,6 @@ def _GetStat(self):
     if self._encoded_stream:
       stat_object.size = self._encoded_stream.get_size()
 
-    stat_object.type = self._type
+    stat_object.type = self.type
 
     return stat_object
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/encrypted_stream_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/encrypted_stream_file_entry.py
index daf26e61..3bf0a348 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/encrypted_stream_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/encrypted_stream_file_entry.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def __init__(
         resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=is_root,
         is_virtual=is_virtual)
     self._encrypted_stream = encrypted_stream
-    self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+    self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def __del__(self):
     """Cleans up the file entry."""
@@ -64,6 +64,6 @@ def _GetStat(self):
     if self._encrypted_stream:
       stat_object.size = self._encrypted_stream.get_size()
 
-    stat_object.type = self._type
+    stat_object.type = self.type
 
     return stat_object
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/fake_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/fake_file_entry.py
index 90437c47..79efcc9b 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/fake_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/fake_file_entry.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def __init__(
         is_virtual=True)
     self._date_time = dfdatetime_fake_time.FakeTime()
     self._name = None
-    self._type = file_entry_type
+    self.type = file_entry_type
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       FakeDirectory: a directory or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return FakeDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetStat(self):
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/file_entry.py
index 03057808..64fd3f4c 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/file_entry.py
@@ -85,7 +85,12 @@ def entries(self):
 
 
 class FileEntry(object):
-  """VFS file entry interface."""
+  """VFS file entry interface.
+
+  Attributes:
+    path_spec (PathSpec): path specification.
+    type (int): file entry type or None if not available.
+  """
 
   def __init__(
       self, resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=False,
@@ -111,8 +116,8 @@ def __init__(
     self._link = None
     self._resolver_context = resolver_context
     self._stat_object = None
-    self._type = None
     self.path_spec = path_spec
+    self.type = None
 
     self._file_system.Open(path_spec)
 
@@ -214,8 +219,8 @@ def _GetStat(self):
         stat_object.mtime_nano = stat_time_nano
 
     # File entry type stat information.
-    if self._type:
-      stat_object.type = self._type
+    if self.type:
+      stat_object.type = self.type
 
     return stat_object
 
@@ -449,8 +454,8 @@ def IsDevice(self):
     if self._stat_object is None:
       self._stat_object = self._GetStat()
     if self._stat_object is not None:
-      self._type = self._stat_object.type
-    return self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
+      self.type = self._stat_object.type
+    return self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
 
   def IsDirectory(self):
     """Determines if the file entry is a directory.
@@ -461,8 +466,8 @@ def IsDirectory(self):
     if self._stat_object is None:
       self._stat_object = self._GetStat()
     if self._stat_object is not None:
-      self._type = self._stat_object.type
-    return self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = self._stat_object.type
+    return self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
 
   def IsFile(self):
     """Determines if the file entry is a file.
@@ -473,8 +478,8 @@ def IsFile(self):
     if self._stat_object is None:
       self._stat_object = self._GetStat()
     if self._stat_object is not None:
-      self._type = self._stat_object.type
-    return self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = self._stat_object.type
+    return self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def IsLink(self):
     """Determines if the file entry is a link.
@@ -485,8 +490,8 @@ def IsLink(self):
     if self._stat_object is None:
       self._stat_object = self._GetStat()
     if self._stat_object is not None:
-      self._type = self._stat_object.type
-    return self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
+      self.type = self._stat_object.type
+    return self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
 
   def IsPipe(self):
     """Determines if the file entry is a pipe.
@@ -497,8 +502,8 @@ def IsPipe(self):
     if self._stat_object is None:
       self._stat_object = self._GetStat()
     if self._stat_object is not None:
-      self._type = self._stat_object.type
-    return self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
+      self.type = self._stat_object.type
+    return self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
 
   def IsRoot(self):
     """Determines if the file entry is the root file entry.
@@ -517,8 +522,8 @@ def IsSocket(self):
     if self._stat_object is None:
       self._stat_object = self._GetStat()
     if self._stat_object is not None:
-      self._type = self._stat_object.type
-    return self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
+      self.type = self._stat_object.type
+    return self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
 
   def IsVirtual(self):
     """Determines if the file entry is virtual (emulated by dfVFS).
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/fvde_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/fvde_file_entry.py
index b1cfb9ca..69d1b9e3 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/fvde_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/fvde_file_entry.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def __init__(
         resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=is_root,
         is_virtual=is_virtual)
     self._fvde_volume = fvde_volume
-    self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+    self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetStat(self):
     """Retrieves information about the file entry.
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/gzip_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/gzip_file_entry.py
index 27d8ce46..78920a45 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/gzip_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/gzip_file_entry.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def __init__(
         resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=is_root,
         is_virtual=is_virtual)
     self._gzip_file = gzip_file
-    self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+    self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def __del__(self):
     """Cleans up the file entry."""
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/lvm_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/lvm_file_entry.py
index d7dcc0fd..7eafc865 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/lvm_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/lvm_file_entry.py
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ def __init__(
     self._vslvm_logical_volume = vslvm_logical_volume
 
     if self._is_virtual:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     else:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves the directory.
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       LVMDirectory: a directory or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return LVMDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetStat(self):
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/ntfs_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/ntfs_file_entry.py
index 21ffd243..d7651292 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/ntfs_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/ntfs_file_entry.py
@@ -275,11 +275,11 @@ def __init__(
     self._fsntfs_file_entry = fsntfs_file_entry
 
     if self._IsLink(fsntfs_file_entry.file_attribute_flags):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
     elif fsntfs_file_entry.has_directory_entries_index():
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     else:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetAttributes(self):
     """Retrieves the attributes.
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/os_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/os_file_entry.py
index 1516dd37..a127da3d 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/os_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/os_file_entry.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def __init__(self, resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=False):
     self._stat_info = stat_info
 
     if is_windows_device:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
 
     elif stat_info:
       # If location contains a trailing segment separator and points to
@@ -130,18 +130,18 @@ def __init__(self, resolver_context, file_system, path_spec, is_root=False):
       # dfVFS currently only supports one type so we need to check
       # for LINK first.
       if stat.S_ISLNK(stat_info.st_mode) or is_link:
-        self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
+        self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
       elif stat.S_ISREG(stat_info.st_mode):
-        self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+        self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
       elif stat.S_ISDIR(stat_info.st_mode):
-        self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+        self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
       elif (stat.S_ISCHR(stat_info.st_mode) or
             stat.S_ISBLK(stat_info.st_mode)):
-        self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
+        self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
       elif stat.S_ISFIFO(stat_info.st_mode):
-        self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
+        self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
       elif stat.S_ISSOCK(stat_info.st_mode):
-        self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
+        self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       OSDirectory: a directory object or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return OSDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetLink(self):
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/sqlite_blob_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/sqlite_blob_file_entry.py
index 22da967a..45251ace 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/sqlite_blob_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/sqlite_blob_file_entry.py
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ def __init__(
     self._number_of_entries = None
 
     if is_virtual:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     else:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       SQLiteBlobDirectory: a directory or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return SQLiteBlobDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetStat(self):
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/tar_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/tar_file_entry.py
index 82668aa6..7d4bd73e 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/tar_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/tar_file_entry.py
@@ -110,15 +110,15 @@ def __init__(
     self._tar_info = tar_info
 
     if self._is_virtual or self._tar_info.isdir():
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     elif self._tar_info.isfile():
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
     elif self._tar_info.issym() or self._tar_info.islnk():
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
     elif self._tar_info.ischr() or self._tar_info.isblk():
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
     elif self._tar_info.isfifo():
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       TARDirectory: a directory or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return TARDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetLink(self):
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_file_entry.py
index ff6b9d68..ff694eb2 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_file_entry.py
@@ -383,18 +383,18 @@ def __init__(
         tsk_file.info.meta, 'type', pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_UNDEF)
 
     if tsk_fs_meta_type == pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_REG:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
     elif tsk_fs_meta_type == pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_DIR:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     elif tsk_fs_meta_type == pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_LNK:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK
     elif (tsk_fs_meta_type == pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_CHR or
           tsk_fs_meta_type == pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_BLK):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DEVICE
     elif tsk_fs_meta_type == pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_FIFO:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_PIPE
     elif tsk_fs_meta_type == pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_SOCK:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_SOCKET
 
     # TODO: implement support for:
     # pytsk3.TSK_FS_META_TYPE_UNDEF
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       TSKDirectory: directory or None.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return TSKDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetLink(self):
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ def _GetLink(self):
     if self._link is None:
       self._link = ''
 
-      if self._type != definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK:
+      if self.type != definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_LINK:
         return self._link
 
       # Note that the SleuthKit does not expose NTFS
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_partition_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_partition_file_entry.py
index 95b9064b..412ebced 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_partition_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/tsk_partition_file_entry.py
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ def __init__(
     self._tsk_vs_part = tsk_vs_part
 
     if is_virtual:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     else:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       TSKPartitionDirectory: a directory or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return TSKPartitionDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetStat(self):
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/vshadow_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/vshadow_file_entry.py
index 0b976508..956c0c9e 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/vshadow_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/vshadow_file_entry.py
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ def __init__(
     self._vshadow_store = vshadow_store
 
     if self._is_virtual:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     else:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       VShadowDirectory: a directory None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return VShadowDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetStat(self):
diff --git a/dfvfs/vfs/zip_file_entry.py b/dfvfs/vfs/zip_file_entry.py
index 14b1d30d..63d849d7 100644
--- a/dfvfs/vfs/zip_file_entry.py
+++ b/dfvfs/vfs/zip_file_entry.py
@@ -126,9 +126,9 @@ def __init__(
 
     if (is_virtual or
         self._external_attributes & self._MSDOS_FILE_ATTRIBUTES_IS_DIRECTORY):
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY
     else:
-      self._type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
+      self.type = definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_FILE
 
   def _GetDirectory(self):
     """Retrieves a directory.
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ def _GetDirectory(self):
     Returns:
       ZipDirectory: a directory or None if not available.
     """
-    if self._type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
+    if self.type == definitions.FILE_ENTRY_TYPE_DIRECTORY:
       return ZipDirectory(self._file_system, self.path_spec)
 
   def _GetStat(self):