iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide

Dot Syntax

We should mention an alternative syntax for sending accessor messages to an object called dot syntax:

/​/​ ​F​o​l​l​o​w​i​n​g​ ​t​w​o​ ​l​i​n​e​s​ ​a​r​e​ ​e​x​a​c​t​l​y​ ​e​q​u​i​v​a​l​e​n​t​
i​n​t​ ​v​a​l​u​e​ ​=​ ​[​i​t​e​m​ ​v​a​l​u​e​I​n​D​o​l​l​a​r​s​]​;​
i​n​t​ ​v​a​l​u​e​ ​=​ ​i​t​e​m​.​v​a​l​u​e​I​n​D​o​l​l​a​r​s​;​

/​/​ ​F​o​l​l​o​w​i​n​g​ ​t​w​o​ ​l​i​n​e​s​ ​a​r​e​ ​e​x​a​c​t​l​y​ ​e​q​u​i​v​a​l​e​n​t​
[​i​t​e​m​ ​s​e​t​V​a​l​u​e​I​n​D​o​l​l​a​r​s​:​5​]​;​
i​t​e​m​.​v​a​l​u​e​I​n​D​o​l​l​a​r​s​ ​=​ ​5​;​

We have reservations about Objective-C newcomers using dot syntax. We think it hides the fact that you are actually sending a message and can be confusing. Once you are comfortable with Objective-C, it is totally okay ...