ActionScript Syntax

Every programming language has its own syntax. With spoken language, there are rules for grammar and structure that make a language understood by all. Languages work with nouns, verbs, conjunctions, and punctuation, stringing words together into logical messages. This is no different in ActionScript. The ActionScript syntax does, however, string messages together differently and uses punctuation for different purposes than our spoken languages.

Dot syntax

ActionScript statements are structured using the convention of dot syntax. The dots in dot syntax are the conjunctions that put objects, properties, and methods together into logical ActionScript statements. To set or get the appearance and/or behavior of an object, begin the statement with the name of the object, and then follow the name with its methods or properties, all separated by dots.