NSPointerArray Class Reference

Inherits from
NSObject
Conforms to
NSCoding
NSCopying
NSFastEnumeration
NSObject (NSObject)
Framework
/System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework
Availability
Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Companion guide
Collections Programming Topics
Declared in
NSPointerArray.h

Overview

NSPointerArray is a mutable collection modeled after NSArray but it can also hold NULL values, which can be inserted or extracted (and which contribute to the object’s count). Moreover, unlike traditional arrays, you can set the count of the array directly. In a garbage collected environment, if you specify a zeroing weak memory configuration, if an element is collected it is replaced by a NULL value.

The copying and archiving protocols are applicable only when a pointer array is configured for object uses.

The fast enumeration protocol (that is, use a pointer array in the for...in language construct—see “Fast Enumeration” in The Objective-C Programming Language) will yield NULL values that are present in the array. It is defined for all types of pointers although the language syntax doesn’t directly support this.

Tasks

Creating and Initializing a New Pointer Array

Managing the Collection

Getting the Pointer Functions

Class Methods

pointerArrayWithOptions:

Returns a new pointer array initialized to use the given options.

+ (id)pointerArrayWithOptions:(NSPointerFunctionsOptions)options
Parameters
options

The pointer functions options for the new instance.

Return Value

A new pointer array initialized to use the given options.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

pointerArrayWithPointerFunctions:

A new pointer array initialized to use the given functions.

+ (id)pointerArrayWithPointerFunctions:(NSPointerFunctions *)functions
Parameters
functions

The pointer functions for the new instance.

Return Value

A new pointer array initialized to use the given pointer functions.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

strongObjectsPointerArray

Returns a new pointer array that maintains strong references to its elements.

+ (id)strongObjectsPointerArray
Return Value

A new pointer array that maintains strong references to its elements.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

weakObjectsPointerArray

Returns a new pointer array that maintains weak references to its elements.

+ (id)weakObjectsPointerArray
Return Value

A new pointer array that maintains weak references to its elements.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

Instance Methods

addPointer:

Adds a given pointer to the receiver.

- (void)addPointer:(void *)pointer
Parameters
pointer

The pointer to add. This value may be NULL.

Discussion

pointer is added at index count.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

allObjects

Returns an array containing all the objects in the receiver.

- (NSArray *)allObjects
Return Value

An array containing all the objects in the receiver.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

compact

Removes NULL values from the receiver.

- (void)compact
Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

count

Returns the number of elements in the receiver.

- (NSUInteger)count
Return Value

The number of elements in the receiver.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

initWithOptions:

Initializes the receiver to use the given options.

- (id)initWithOptions:(NSPointerFunctionsOptions)options
Parameters
options

The pointer functions options for the new instance.

Return Value

The receiver, initialized to use the given options.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

initWithPointerFunctions:

Initializes the receiver to use the given functions.

- (id)initWithPointerFunctions:(NSPointerFunctions *)functions
Parameters
functions

The pointer functions for the new instance.

Return Value

The receiver, initialized to use the given functions.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

insertPointer:atIndex:

Inserts a pointer at a given index.

- (void)insertPointer:(void *)item atIndex:(NSUInteger)index
Parameters
item

The pointer to add.

index

The index of an element in the receiver. This value must be less than the count of the receiver.

Discussion

Elements at and above index, including NULL values, slide higher.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

pointerAtIndex:

Returns the pointer at a given index.

- (void *)pointerAtIndex:(NSUInteger)index
Parameters
index

The index of an element in the receiver. This value must be less than the count of the receiver.

Return Value

The pointer at index.

Discussion

The returned value may be NULL.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

pointerFunctions

Returns a new NSPointerFunctions object reflecting the functions in use by the receiver.

- (NSPointerFunctions *)pointerFunctions
Return Value

A new NSPointerFunctions object reflecting the functions in use by the receiver.

Discussion

The returned object is a new NSPointerFunctions object that you can modify and/or use directly to create other pointer collections.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

removePointerAtIndex:

Removes the pointer at a given index.

- (void)removePointerAtIndex:(NSUInteger)index
Parameters
index

The index of an element in the receiver. This value must be less than the count of the receiver.

Discussion

Elements above index, including NULL values, slide lower.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

replacePointerAtIndex:withPointer:

Replaces the pointer at a given index.

- (void)replacePointerAtIndex:(NSUInteger)index withPointer:(void *)item
Parameters
index

The index of an element in the receiver. This value must be less than the count of the receiver.

item

The item with which to replace the element at index. This value may be NULL.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h

setCount:

Sets the count for the receiver.

- (void)setCount:(NSUInteger)count
Parameters
count

The count for the receiver.

Discussion

If count is greater than the count of the receiver, NULL values are added; if count is less than the count of the receiver, then elements at indexes count and greater are removed from the receiver.

Availability
  • Available in iOS 6.0 and later.
See Also
Declared In
NSPointerArray.h


© 2012 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Last updated: 2012-07-23)

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