@property, @synthesize and releasing objects in Objective-C

Question

I developing iPad games. I encounter this thing. This is my sample code:

Method 1:

Foo.h

@interface Foo : UIView{
    UILabel *title;
    .... // Other objects like UISlider, UIbuttons, etc.
}

// I add @property for all the objects.
@property (nonatomic, retain) UILabel *title;

... blablabla

Foo.m
// I synthesize all the properties.
@synthesize title;
... blablabla

// Release in dealloc method
[title release];
....
[super dealloc];

Method 2:

Foo.h

@interface Foo : UIView{
    UILabel *title;
    .... // Others object like UISlider, UIbuttons, etc.
}
// But this time I didn't add @property, synthesize and release.

Foo.m
// When I need the label, I allocate it:
title = [[UILabel alloc] initWithRect: CGRect(10, 10, 100, 30)];
title.text = @"test";
[self addSubview: title];
[title release];

Both method 1 and 2 work, but what's the difference between the 2 methods (method2 has less code)?

Which method should I use and why?

Has it something to do with memory management?

Answer 1

Method 2 is technically incorrect since by sending -release to title you indicate that you are no longer interested in it. You should make it nil straight after, or better yet, make it a local variable.

Method 1 is absolutely fine and has the advantage that, outside of -dealloc provided you always use the property to refer to it, you do not need to worry about getting -retain and -release -right.