Question

Why is this in the FetchedResultsController code that Apple gives us?

if (fetchedResultsController != nil) {
    return fetchedResultsController;
}

Answer 1

This is because they only need to set up the fetchedResultsController once.

Below that statement there is a load of set up to initialise fetchedResultsController.

So the first time you hit the method by calling fetchedResultsController the ivar is set up then any subsequent calls to fetchedResultsController simply return the already set up ivar.