Question

In implementation file, all properties are indicated as private.
So what are the differences between these:

1. MyObj.m

@interface MyObj ()

@property (nonatomic, strong) NSString *name;

@end

@implementation MyObj

@synthesize name = _name;

// Some other codes to use "name" like self.name or _name

@end

2. MyObj.m

@implementation MyObj
{
    NSString *_name;
}

// Some other codes to use _name

@end

Answer 1

In the first example you get the accessors created for you

- (NSString *)name;
- (void)setName:(NSString *)name;

Also note that in newer versions of Xcode the @synthesize is implicit.

In the second example you just have an ivar created.

Unless you have a special case it’s normally better to use accessors as it gives you more flexibility in the future.