Difference between @interface definition in .h and .m file
Objective CInterfaceHeader FilesSetterGetterObjective C Problem Overview
Normally we use
@interface interface_name : parent_class <delegates>
{
......
}
@end
method in .h file and in .m file we synthesis the properties of variables declared in .h file.
But in some code, this @interface.....@end method is kept in the .m file also. What does it mean? What is the difference between them?
Also give some words about getters and setters for the interface file that is defined in .m file...
Thanks in Advance
Objective C Solutions
Solution 1 - Objective C
It's common to put an additional @interface
that defines a category containing private methods:
Person.h:
@interface Person
{
NSString *_name;
}
@property(readwrite, copy) NSString *name;
-(NSString*)makeSmallTalkWith:(Person*)person;
@end
Person.m:
@interface Person () //Not specifying a name for the category makes compiler checks that these methods are implemented.
-(void)startThinkOfWhatToHaveForDinner;
@end
@implementation Person
@synthesize name = _name;
-(NSString*)makeSmallTalkWith:(Person*)person
{
[self startThinkOfWhatToHaveForDinner];
return @"How's your day?";
}
-(void)startThinkOfWhatToHaveForDinner
{
}
@end
The 'private category' (the proper name for a nameless category is not 'private category', it's 'class extension') .m prevents the compiler from warning that the methods are defined. However, because the @interface
in the .m file is a category you can't define ivars in it.
Update 6th Aug '12: Objective-C has evolved since this answer was written:
ivars
can be declared in a class extension (and always could be - the answer was incorrect)@synthesize
is not requiredivars
can now be declared in braces at the top of@implementation
:
that is,
@implementation {
id _ivarInImplmentation;
}
//methods
@end
Solution 2 - Objective C
> The concept is that you can make your project much cleaner if you
> limit the .h to the public interfaces of your class, and then put
> private implementation details in this class extension.
>
> when you declare variable methods or properties in ABC.h file , It
> means these variables properties and methods can be access outside the
> class
>
> @interface Jain:NSObject
> {
> NSString _name;
> }
>
> @property(readwrite, copy) NSString name;
> -(NSString)makeSmallTalkWith:(Person)jain;
> @end
>
> @Interface allows you to declare private ivars, properties and
> methods. So anything you declare here cannot be accessed from outside
> this class. In general, you want to declare all ivars, properties and
> methods by default as private
>
> Simply say when you declare variable methods or properties in ABC.m
> file , It means these variables properties and methods can not be
> access outside the class
>
> @interface Jain()
> {
> NSString _name;
> }
>
> @property(readwrite, copy) NSString name;
> -(NSString)makeSmallTalkWith:(Person)jain;
> @end
Solution 3 - Objective C
you can even create other classes in .m file, for instance other small classes which inherit from the class declared in .h file but having some slight different behaviour. You could use this in a factory pattern