Question

I have a very basic question regarding properties in Objective-C.

I can only access object’s properties via dot notation (Obj.MyProp) if I @synthesize myProp. Is that correct?

Would it be true to say that if I use my own setter method, I will no longer be able to refer to property in dot notation?

Basically I am looking for C# type of functionality where I can write my own custom getter/setter and yet provide an additional code which I need to execute when the property is set.

Answer 1

@property creates automatic message declarations, just like writing

(int)thing;
(void)setThing:(int)value;

@synthesize automatically creates the implementations, i.e.

(int)thing {
    return thing;
}
(void)setThing:(int)value {
    thing = value;
}

If you give a definition yourself, it overrides the @synthesized version. So as long as you name a method correctly, it will work, with or without @synthesize in there.

Dot notation works with either synthesized or custom method implementations.