# Difference between referencing outlets/sent actions

**URL:** <https://forums.kodeco.com/t/difference-between-referencing-outlets-sent-actions/22560>\
**Category:** iOS Apprentice\
**Created:** [November 11, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://forums.kodeco.com/t/difference-between-referencing-outlets-sent-actions/22560 "2016-11-11T18:07:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ciaobella](https://assets.chunter.kodeco.com/user_avatar/forums.kodeco.com/ciaobella/32/58515_2.png) [@ciaobella](https://forums.kodeco.com/u/ciaobella)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://forums.kodeco.com/t/difference-between-referencing-outlets-sent-actions/22560/1 "2016-11-11T18:07:08Z")

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Hi,

I’m working on Checklists and just added the Done Bar Button to both a Sent Action (done \> add item) and Referencing Outlet (donebarbutton \> add item). What is the difference between these two connections? Why do I need to do both for one button?

Also had a similar question regarding the textField - what does it mean to have the sent event “did end on exit” to be connected to “Done”? And why do you need both that and its referencing outlet (textField \> Add Checklist)?

Thanks!  
Jenn

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**Author:** ![hollance](https://assets.chunter.kodeco.com/user_avatar/forums.kodeco.com/hollance/32/109009_2.png) [@hollance](https://forums.kodeco.com/u/hollance)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://forums.kodeco.com/t/difference-between-referencing-outlets-sent-actions/22560/2 "2016-11-11T19:37:04Z")

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The outlet gives you a reference to the button / text field / etc. This lets you enable the button, read the text from the text field, and so on.

The action is what happens when the user taps the button / stops typing in the text field / etc. You need to listen to these events in order to do things when the user interacts with the app.

Does that make sense?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ciaobella](https://assets.chunter.kodeco.com/user_avatar/forums.kodeco.com/ciaobella/32/58515_2.png) [@ciaobella](https://forums.kodeco.com/u/ciaobella)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://forums.kodeco.com/t/difference-between-referencing-outlets-sent-actions/22560/3 "2016-11-11T19:48:58Z")

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Yes - that makes sense now. Thanks!