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# delegate

Specifies the receiver’s delegate object.

```
var delegate: (any CAAnimationDelegate)? { get set }
```

## Discussion

Defaults to `nil`.

> Important:
> The `delegate` object is retained by the receiver. This is a rare exception to the memory management rules described in [Advanced Memory Management Programming Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/MemoryMgmt/Articles/MemoryMgmt.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000011i).
> 
> An instance of `CAAnimation` should not be set as a delegate of itself. Doing so (outside of a garbage-collected environment) will cause retain cycles.

---

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