Understanding the ActionScript Language > Using ActionScript syntax > Dot syntax |  |

Dot syntax

In ActionScript, a dot (`.`) is used to indicate the properties or methods related to an object or movie clip. It is also used to identify the target path to a movie clip, variable, function, or object. A dot syntax expression begins with the name of the object or movie clip followed by a dot, and ends with the element you want to specify.

For example, the `_x` movie clip property indicates a movie clip's x axis position on the Stage. The expression `ballMC._x` refers to the `_x` property of the movie clip instance `ballMC`.

As another example, `submit` is a variable set in the `form` movie clip, which is nested inside the movie clip `shoppingCart`. The expression `shoppingCart.form.submit = true` sets the `submit` variable of the instance `form` to `true`.

Expressing a method of an object or movie clip follows the same pattern. For example, the `play` method of the `ballMC` instance moves the playhead in the Timeline of `ballMC`, as in the following statement:

    ballMC.play();

Dot syntax also uses two special aliases, `_root` and `_parent`. The alias `_root` refers to the main Timeline. You can use the `_root` alias to create an absolute target path. For example, the following statement calls the function `buildGameBoard` in the movie clip `functions` on the main Timeline:

    _root.functions.buildGameBoard();

You can use the alias `_parent` to refer to a movie clip in which the current movie clip is nested. You can also use `_parent` to create a relative target path. For example, if the movie clip `dog` is nested inside the movie clip `animal`, the following statement on the instance `dog` tells `animal` to stop:

    _parent.stop();

See Working with Movie Clips and Buttons.