Using the id property with MXML tags
<?xml version="1.0"?> <mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"> <mx:VBox> <mx:TextInput id="myText" text="Hello World!" /> <mx:Button id="mybutton" label="Get Weather" click="a();" /> </mx:VBox> <mx:Script> private function a():void { trace(myText.text); } </mx:Script> </mx:Application>