Reusing variable names with auto-implementation?

Question

I'm just wondering if reusing the variable assigned to the convenience method is ok.

NSDictionary *address = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:@"Italy", @"Country", 
address = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:@"England", @"Country", nil];

or should I just assign a second new variable?

NSDictionary *address = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:@"Italy", @"Country", 
NSDictionary *address2 = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:@"England", @"Country", nil];

cheers gary

Answer 1

In the first example, the address pointer points to another object, so you lose the link to the source dictionary.

Since they are auto-implemented, this is not a memory leak, but you will probably want to access both dictionaries in the future. The first example does not do this for you, and you lose the first dictionary.

The second example is much better; it allows you to independently refer to both dictionaries without stepping on one or the other.

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