Use find gameobject, or declare as variable and drag the object in the editor?

Unity Engine
1

I was just curious which method was best practice. I know they both have their uses but if you have a choice, which should you use?

2

I would use the “drag-and-drop” approach because using GameObject.Find, or any type of Find, especially repeatedly, will incur a performance loss.

3

another alternate way, which I find useful, is to do a Find in Awake only if the variable isn;t already set.
Awake() {
if (myScript == null) myScript = GetComponent(); //or Find() as appropriate
}

4

thanks that is what I thought (since there isn’t any search), but I wanted to confirm.

The awake way is cool too, since if only runs once.