Question

How can I set an object outside the scope of a block with an object inside the block’s scope?

My code is currently this, but it doesn’t work when I call NSLog(@"%d", [self publicFeed] count]) for example.

- (NSArray *) publicFeed {
    __block NSArray *returns = nil;
    [[APIRequester sharedRequester] getPublicFeedCompletion:^(NSArray *array) {
        returns = array;
    } fail:^(NSError *error) {

    }];
    return returns;
}

Answer 1

Here’s the problem. The blocks are called as you would expect, but this is what happens:

1. Declare returns as array.
2. Call -[APIRequester getPublicFeedCompletion:fail:].
3. Method returns returns (which is nil).
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
4. Some time in the future, returns is set to array.

You have to change your code in some way that makes sure returns is set before the method returns.