(UIApplication *) Why is there a space before the asterisk? Thanks

Question

-(void)applicationDidFinishLaunching:(UIApplication *) app {

after UIApplication why is there a space before the asterisk?

thanks all.

Answer 1

It's just a style preference, the space doesn't mean anything in this case.

Answer 2

It is, as has been remarked, just style; but it is generally considered good style to put the space before the asterisk, rather than after (i.e. NSString *aString; rather than NSString* aString;, as the asterisk binds to the name, rather than the type; ref. Steve's answer).

The same style is then generally extended to when the type stands alone, such as in - (NSString *) someMethod; or - (void) someMethodWithAnArgument:(NSString *)argumentName;, as a matter of staying consistent.

Answer 3

This is a characteristic from C code, I'm fairly new to Objective-C so forgive me if this isn't proper objective C syntax. It will answer the question. The answers about it being style are mostly correct with regard to a parameter such as given in the question. Where it is an issue is when declaring multiple variables on a single line in C or C++ (this is the part where I'm not sure if Obj-C supports this).

int* i;

and

int *i;

are equivalent; however when dealing with multiple declarations

int* i, j;

is not the same as

int *i, *j;

the * is applied to the i variable and not the int, thus you require an * on each variable you wish to make a pointer.

So the purpose of having the space after the class name is a stylistic nod to that.