Question

Is it possible to reference a variable with a string and an int, like this:

    int number1;

    int j = 1;

    @"number%i", j = 3; //Hope this makes sense..

The code above gives me warnings and does not work, how could this be done.

I also tried this, but it doesnt work (for quite obvious reasons):

    int j = 1;

    NSString *refString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"number%i", j];

    refString = 3;

Im really struggling with this, I know how to do it in Javascript, but not in Obj-C, is it possible?

Answer 1

This is an anti-pattern I call the Poor Man’s Array. The better way to do this is to use a proper collection like an array instead of a bunch of variables that are secretly related. Done right, the code with an array will usually be a lot shorter and cleaner too.