Question

Does the following code call an accessor “set” function or does it modify the pointer myMember directly?

aClass.h

@interface MyClass : NSObject {
    NSArray *myMember;
}

@property (nonatomic, retain) NSArray *myMember;

aClass.c

@implementation GameplayScene

@synthesize myMember;

- (id) init {
    if ( (self = [super init]) )
    {
        myMember = [NSArray array];
    }
}

In other words, I would like to know if the method setMyMember is being called, or if the pointer of myMember is being modified directly.

Likewise, is myMember = [NSArray array] identical to self.myMember = [NSArray array]?

Answer 1

Without the self. notation, the instance variable is modified directly. With it, the property setter is called (and since you made it a retain property, the new pointer that it’s being set to will be sent a retain message).

See Apple’s documentation on declaring and accessing properties.