Question

Is it possible to pass [self anyFunction] in blocks without a __weak object from self?

As an example this is valid code from the System Framework:

[UIView animateWithDuration:0.8 animations:^{
            //Do animationStuff
        } completion:^(BOOL finished) {
            [self anyFunction];
 }];

You can pass [self anyFunction] in the completion block without a warning. But if you write your own method with a completion block, the following warning occurs: capturing ‘self’ strongly in this block is likely to lead to a retain cycle.

A working solution is quite simple (iOS 5 + ARC). Before the block declare:

__weak MyClass *weakSelf = self;

and in the completion block you have to call:

[weakSelf anyFunction];

But, back to my Question: Why there is no need in the System Framework APIs to use a __weak object and to use self without any warnings. And how to implement a method without the need of a __weak object in the block?

Thank you for your effort.

Answer 1

The blocks which throw up the error are ones where you capture the objects that own the block. For example

[object performBlock:^{
    [object performSomeAction]; // Will raise a warning
}];

or

[self performBlock:^{
    [self doSomething];    // Will raise a warning
}];

but

[self performBlock:^{
    [object doSomething];    // <-- No problem here
}];   

Because an object retains its blocks, and a block retains it’s objects. So in both these cases, the object which performs the block owns the block, which also owns the object. So you have a loop – a retain cycle. which means the memory is leaked.

In the example you have given – you’re looking at a class method. You’re calling the block on a UIView class, not a UIView object. A class has no memory associated with it. And you are probably calling this function from a controller, so the self reference is being retained by the block, but there is no loop because self is not retaining the block.

In the same way that, you may have noticed, not all objects that are used in the block need to be weakly referenced – just the ones that cause a retain cycle.