NSStream Class Reference

Inherits from	NSObject
Conforms to	NSObject (NSObject)
Framework	/System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework
Availability	Available in iOS 2.0 and later.
Companion guide	Stream Programming Guide
Declared in	NSStream.h
Related sample code	CryptoExercise EADemo SimpleFTPSample SimpleNetworkStreams SimpleURLConnections

Overview

NSStream is an abstract class for objects representing streams. Its interface is common to all Cocoa stream classes, including its concrete subclasses NSInputStream and NSOutputStream.

NSStream objects provide an easy way to read and write data to and from a variety of media in a device-independent way. You can create stream objects for data located in memory, in a file, or on a network (using sockets), and you can use stream objects without loading all of the data into memory at once.

By default, NSStream instances that are not file-based are non-seekable, one-way streams (although custom seekable subclasses are possible). Once the data has been provided or consumed, the data cannot be retrieved from the stream.

Subclassing Notes

NSStream is an abstract class, incapable of instantiation and intended to be subclassed. It publishes a programmatic interface that all subclasses must adopt and provide implementations for. The two Apple-provided concrete subclasses of NSStream, NSInputStream and NSOutputStream, are suitable for most purposes. However, there might be situations when you want a peer subclass to NSInputStream and NSOutputStream. For example, you might want a class that implements a full-duplex (two-way) stream, or a class whose instances are capable of seeking through a stream.

Methods to Override

All subclasses must fully implement the following methods, which are presented in functional pairs:

open and close
Implement open to open the stream for reading or writing and make the stream available to the client directly or, if the stream object is scheduled on a run loop, to the delegate. Implement close to close the stream and remove the stream object from the run loop, if necessary. A closed stream should still be able to accept new properties and report its current properties. Once a stream is closed, it cannot be reopened.
delegate and setDelegate:
Return and set the delegate. By a default, a stream object must be its own delegate; so a setDelegate: message with an argument of nil should restore this delegate. Do not retain the delegate to prevent retain cycles.
To learn about delegates and delegation, read "“Delegation” in Cocoa Fundamentals Guide" in Cocoa Fundamentals Guide.
scheduleInRunLoop:forMode: and removeFromRunLoop:forMode:
Implement scheduleInRunLoop:forMode: to schedule the stream object on the specified run loop for the specified mode. Implement removeFromRunLoop:forMode: to remove the object from the run loop. See the documentation of the NSRunLoop class for details. Once the stream object for an open stream is scheduled on a run loop, it is the responsibility of the subclass as it processes stream data to send stream:handleEvent: messages to its delegate.
propertyForKey: and setProperty:forKey:
Implement these methods to return and set, respectively, the property value for the specified key. You may add custom properties, but be sure to handle all properties defined by NSStream as well.
streamStatus and streamError
Implement streamStatus to return the current status of the stream as a NSStreamStatus constant; you may define new NSStreamStatus constants, but be sure to handle the NSStream-defined constants properly. ImplementstreamError to return an NSError object representing the current error. You might decide to return a custom NSError object that can provide complete and localized information about the error.

Tasks

Configuring Streams

Using Streams

Managing Run Loops

Getting Stream Information

Instance Methods

close

Closes the receiver.

- (void)close

Discussion

Closing the stream terminates the flow of bytes and releases system resources that were reserved for the stream when it was opened. If the stream has been scheduled on a run loop, closing the stream implicitly removes the stream from the run loop. A stream that is closed can still be queried for its properties.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Related Sample Code

Declared In

NSStream.h

delegate

Returns the receiver’s delegate.

- (id < NSStreamDelegate >)delegate

Return Value

The receiver’s delegate. The delegate must implement the NSStreamDelegate Protocol.

Discussion

By default, a stream is its own delegate, and subclasses of NSInputStream and NSOutputStream must maintain this contract.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Related Sample Code

Declared In

NSStream.h

open

Opens the receiving stream.

- (void)open

Discussion

A stream must be created before it can be opened. Once opened, a stream cannot be closed and reopened.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Related Sample Code

Declared In

NSStream.h

propertyForKey:

Returns the receiver’s property for a given key.

- (id)propertyForKey:(NSString *)key

Parameters

key: The key for one of the receiver's properties. See “Constants” for a description of the available property-key constants and associated values.

Return Value

The receiver’s property for the key key.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared In

NSStream.h

removeFromRunLoop:forMode:

Removes the receiver from a given run loop running in a given mode.

- (void)removeFromRunLoop:(NSRunLoop *)aRunLoop forMode:(NSString *)mode

Parameters

aRunLoop: The run loop on which the receiver was scheduled.
mode: The mode for the run loop.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Related Sample Code

Declared In

NSStream.h

scheduleInRunLoop:forMode:

Schedules the receiver on a given run loop in a given mode.

- (void)scheduleInRunLoop:(NSRunLoop *)aRunLoop forMode:(NSString *)mode

Parameters

aRunLoop: The run loop on which to schedule the receiver.
mode: The mode for the run loop.

Discussion

Unless the client is polling the stream, it is responsible for ensuring that the stream is scheduled on at least one run loop and that at least one of the run loops on which the stream is scheduled is being run.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Related Sample Code

Declared In

NSStream.h

setDelegate:

Sets the receiver’s delegate.

- (void)setDelegate:(id < NSStreamDelegate >)delegate

Parameters

delegate: The delegate for the receiver.

Discussion

By default, a stream is its own delegate, and subclasses of NSInputStream and NSOutputStream must maintain this contract. If you override this method in a subclass, passing nil must restore the receiver as its own delegate. Delegates are not retained.

To learn about delegates and delegation, read "“Delegation” in Cocoa Fundamentals Guide" in Cocoa Fundamentals Guide.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Related Sample Code

EADemo

Declared In

NSStream.h

setProperty:forKey:

Attempts to set the value of a given property of the receiver and returns a Boolean value that indicates whether the value is accepted by the receiver.

- (BOOL)setProperty:(id)property forKey:(NSString *)key

Parameters

property: The value for key.
key: The key for one of the receiver's properties. See “Constants” for a description of the available property-key constants and expected values.

Return Value

YES if the value is accepted by the receiver, otherwise NO.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Related Sample Code

WiTap

Declared In

NSStream.h

streamError

Returns an NSError object representing the stream error.

- (NSError *)streamError

Return Value

An NSError object representing the stream error, or nil if no error has been encountered.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared In

NSStream.h

streamStatus

Returns the receiver’s status.

- (NSStreamStatus)streamStatus

Return Value

The receiver’s status.

Discussion

See “Constants” for a description of the available NSStreamStatus constants.

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared In

NSStream.h

Constants

NSStreamStatus

The type declared for the constants listed in “Stream Status Constants.”

typedef NSUInteger NSStreamStatus;

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared In

NSStream.h

Stream Status Constants

These constants indicate the current status of a stream. They are returned by streamStatus.

typedef enum {
   NSStreamStatusNotOpen = 0,
   NSStreamStatusOpening = 1,
   NSStreamStatusOpen = 2,
   NSStreamStatusReading = 3,
   NSStreamStatusWriting = 4,
   NSStreamStatusAtEnd = 5,
   NSStreamStatusClosed = 6,
   NSStreamStatusError = 7
};

Constants

NSStreamStatusNotOpen

The stream is not open for reading or writing. This status is returned before the underlying call to open a stream but after it’s been created.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamStatusOpening

The stream is in the process of being opened for reading or for writing. For network streams, this status might include the time after the stream was opened, but while network DNS resolution is happening.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamStatusOpen

The stream is open, but no reading or writing is occurring.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamStatusReading

Data is being read from the stream. This status would be returned if code on another thread were to call streamStatus on the stream while a read:maxLength: call (NSInputStream) was in progress.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamStatusWriting

Data is being written to the stream. This status would be returned if code on another thread were to call streamStatus on the stream while a write:maxLength: call (NSOutputStream) was in progress.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamStatusAtEnd

There is no more data to read, or no more data can be written to the stream. When this status is returned, the stream is in a “non-blocking” mode and no data are available.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamStatusClosed

The stream is closed (close has been called on it).

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamStatusError

The remote end of the connection can’t be contacted, or the connection has been severed for some other reason.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamEvent

The type declared for the constants listed in “Stream Event Constants.”

typedef NSUInteger NSStreamEvent;

Availability

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared In

NSStream.h

Stream Event Constants

One or more of these constants may be sent to the delegate as a bit field in the second parameter of stream:handleEvent:.

typedef enum {
   NSStreamEventNone = 0,
   NSStreamEventOpenCompleted = 1 << 0,
   NSStreamEventHasBytesAvailable = 1 << 1,
   NSStreamEventHasSpaceAvailable = 1 << 2,
   NSStreamEventErrorOccurred = 1 << 3,
   NSStreamEventEndEncountered = 1 << 4
};

Constants

NSStreamEventNone

No event has occurred.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamEventOpenCompleted

The open has completed successfully.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamEventHasBytesAvailable

The stream has bytes to be read.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamEventHasSpaceAvailable

The stream can accept bytes for writing.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamEventErrorOccurred

An error has occurred on the stream.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamEventEndEncountered

The end of the stream has been reached.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStream Property Keys

NSStream defines these string constants as keys for accessing stream properties using propertyForKey: and setting properties with setProperty:forKey::

NSString * const NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyConfigurationKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyHostKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyPortKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersionKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyUserKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyPasswordKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion4;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion5;
NSString * const NSStreamDataWrittenToMemoryStreamKey;
NSString * const NSStreamFileCurrentOffsetKey;
NSString * const NSStreamNetworkServiceType;

Constants

NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelKey

The security level of the target stream. See “Secure-Socket Layer (SSL) Security Level” for a list of possible values.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSProxyConfigurationKey

Value is an NSDictionary object containing SOCKS proxy configuration information.

The dictionary returned from the System Configuration framework for SOCKS proxies usually suffices.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamDataWrittenToMemoryStreamKey

Value is an NSData instance containing the data written to a memory stream.

Use this property when you have an output-stream object instantiated to collect written data in memory. The value of this property is read-only.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamFileCurrentOffsetKey

Value is an NSNumber object containing the current absolute offset of the stream.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamNetworkServiceType

The type of service for the stream. Providing the service type allows the system to properly handle certain attributes of the stream, including routing and suspension behavior. Most streams do not need to set this property. See “Stream Service Types” for a list of possible values.

Available in iOS 4.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

Declared In

NSStream.h

NSStream Error Domains

NSStream defines these string constants to represent error domains that can be returned by streamError:

NSString * const NSStreamSocketSSLErrorDomain  ;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSErrorDomain  ;

Constants

NSStreamSocketSSLErrorDomain

The error domain used by NSError when reporting SSL errors.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSErrorDomain

The error domain used by NSError when reporting SOCKS errors.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

Secure-Socket Layer (SSL) Security Level

NSStream defines these string constants for specifying the secure-socket layer (SSL) security level.

NSString * const NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone;
NSString * const NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelSSLv2;
NSString * const NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelSSLv3;
NSString * const NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelTLSv1;
NSString * const NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelNegotiatedSSL

Constants

NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelNone

Specifies that no security level be set for a socket stream.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelSSLv2

Specifies that SSL version 2 be set as the security protocol for a socket stream.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelSSLv3

Specifies that SSL version 3 be set as the security protocol for a socket stream.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelTLSv1

Specifies that TLS version 1 be set as the security protocol for a socket stream.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelNegotiatedSSL

Specifies that the highest level security protocol that can be negotiated be set as the security protocol for a socket stream.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

Discussion

You access and set these values using the NSStreamSocketSecurityLevelKey property key.

SOCKS Proxy Configuration Values

NSStream defines these string constants for use as keys to specify SOCKS proxy configuration values in an NSDictionary object.

NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyHostKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyPortKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersionKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyUserKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyPasswordKey;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion4;
NSString * const NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion5

Constants

NSStreamSOCKSProxyHostKey

Value is an NSString object that represents the SOCKS proxy host.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSProxyPortKey

Value is an NSNumber object containing an integer that represents the port on which the proxy listens.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersionKey

Value is either NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion4 or NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion5.

If this key is not present, NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion5 is used by default.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSProxyUserKey

Value is an NSString object containing the user’s name.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSProxyPasswordKey

Value is an NSString object containing the user’s password.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion4

Possible value for NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersionKey.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersion5

Possible value for NSStreamSOCKSProxyVersionKey.

Available in iOS 2.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

Discussion

You set the dictionary object as the current SOCKS proxy configuration using the NSStreamSOCKSProxyConfigurationKey key

Stream Service Types

NSStream defines these string constants for specifying the service type of a stream.

NSString * const NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeVoIP
NSString * const NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeVideo
NSString * const NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeBackground
NSString * const NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeVoice

Constants

NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeVoIP

Specifies that the stream is providing VoIP service.

Available in iOS 4.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeVideo

Specifies that the stream is providing video service.

Available in iOS 5.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeBackground

Specifies that the stream is providing a background service.

Available in iOS 5.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

NSStreamNetworkServiceTypeVoice

Specifies that the stream is providing voice service.

Available in iOS 5.0 and later.

Declared in NSStream.h.

Did this document help you?

Shop the Apple Online Store (1-800-MY-APPLE), visit an Apple Retail Store, or find a reseller.

NSStream Class Reference

Overview

Subclassing Notes

Methods to Override

Tasks

Configuring Streams

Using Streams

Managing Run Loops

Getting Stream Information

Instance Methods

close

Discussion

Availability

See Also

Related Sample Code

Declared In

delegate

Return Value

Discussion

Availability

See Also

Related Sample Code

Declared In

open

Discussion

Availability

See Also

Related Sample Code

Declared In

propertyForKey:

Parameters

Return Value

Availability

See Also

Declared In

removeFromRunLoop:forMode:

Parameters

Availability

See Also

Related Sample Code

Declared In

scheduleInRunLoop:forMode:

Parameters

Discussion

Availability

See Also

Related Sample Code

Declared In

setDelegate:

Parameters

Discussion

Availability

See Also

Related Sample Code

Declared In

setProperty:forKey:

Parameters

Return Value

Availability

See Also

Related Sample Code

Declared In

streamError

Return Value

Availability

Declared In

streamStatus

Return Value

Discussion

Availability

Declared In

Constants

NSStreamStatus

Availability

Declared In

Stream Status Constants

Constants

NSStreamEvent

Availability

Declared In