Are instance variables set to nil by default in Objective-C?

Question

I\'m sorting out some memory issues with my iPhone app and I\'ve just been thinking about some basics. If I setup an ivar and never end up using it in the lifespan of my obj

Answer 1

Yes, ivars are always initialized to 0/nil/NULL/NO/etc.

However, if it helps you understand what's going on, go for it. The performance impact is negligible. You don't need to do it, but it won't cause any problems if you do.