Access variable from different class

Questions & Answers
1

If I have a class with a defined variable called ‘lives’ within it (startup class), how can I access it from another class. i.e.

public class FirstClass : MonoBehaviour {

  int lives = 0;

  ...
}

public class SecondClass : MonoBehaviour {
  ...
  lives--;
  ...
}

I’ve read about GetComponent etc but not sure if this is what I need…?

2

Many possibilities:

a) You add reference to ForstClass instance into second class. (lives needs to be public).

b) Make lives is public. Then in SecondClass you do:

targetGameObject.GetComponent<FirstClass>().lives--;

c) Lives is not public, but you made a function in FirstClass.

public void SubtractLife() {
    lives--;
}

Then you can call the function:

targetGameObject.GetComponent<FirstClass>().SubtractLife();

or you can do:

targetGameObject.SendMessage("SubtractLife");