Copyright ©1995 by NeXT Computer, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

1

Root Class

Class Object

Inherits From:

Object is the root class

The Foundation Kit also defines its own root class, NSObject. Foundation is a group of classes that provides the functionality of the Common classes (List, Hash, Storage, and so on) and other features to improve the object-oriented development process. For more information about NSObject and Foundation, see the Foundation Reference located on-line in /NextLibrary/Documentation/NextDev/Foundation. For information on using Object- and NSObject-based classes together, see HybridWorld in the Foundation Reference. Initializing the Class

+ initialize

Implemented by subclasses to initialize the class

Creating, Copying, and Freeing Instances

	+ alloc	Returns a new, uninitialized instance
	+ allocFromZone:(NXZone *)zone	Returns a new, uninitialized instance allocated from zone
	+ new	Returns a new, initialized instance
	copy	Returns an exact copy of the receiver
	copyFromZone:(NXZone *)zone	Returns an exact copy of the receiver allocated from zone
	(NXZone *)zone	Returns a pointer to the zone where the receiver resides
	free	Deallocates the memory occupied by the receiver
	+ free	Returns nil (you can't free a class)

Initializing a New Instance

init

Initializes a new instance after it has been allocated

Identifying Classes

	+ (const char *)name	Returns the name of the class
	+ class	Returns the receiver, a class object
	class	Returns the class object for the receiver's class
	+ superclass	Returns the class object for the receiver's superclass
	superclass	Returns the class object for the receiver's superclass

Identifying and Comparing Instances

	(BOOL)isEqual:anObject	Returns whether the receiver and anObject are the same
	(unsigned int)hash	Returns an unsigned integer unique to the receiver
	self	Returns the receiver, an instance
	(const char *)name	Implemented by subclasses to return the receiver's name
	(void)printForDebugger:(NXStream *)stream	Writes information identifying the receiver to stream

Testing Inheritance Relationships

(BOOL)isKindOf:aClassObject

Returns whether the receiver inherits from aClassObject

(BOOL)isKindOfClassNamed:(const char *)aClassName

Returns whether the receiver inherits from aClassName

(BOOL)isMemberOf:aClassObject

Returns whether the receiver is an instance of aClassObject

(BOOL)isMemberOfClassNamed:(const char *)aClassName

Returns whether the receiver is an instance of aClassName

Testing Class Functionality

	(BOOL)respondsTo:(SEL)aSelector	Returns whether the receiver can respond to aSelector
	+ (BOOL)instancesRespondTo:(SEL)aSelector	Returns whether instances can respond to aSelector

Testing for Protocol Conformance

	+ (BOOL)conformsTo:(Protocol *)aProtocol	Returns whether the receiver conforms to aProtocol
	(BOOL)conformsTo:(Protocol *)aProtocol	Returns whether the receiver's class conforms to aProtocol

Sending Messages Determined at Run Time

	perform:(SEL)aSelector	Sends an aSelector message to the receiver
	perform:(SEL)aSelector with:anObject	Sends an aSelector message with one argument
	perform:(SEL)aSelector	Sends an aSelector message with two arguments
	with:anObject
	with:anotherObject

Forwarding Messages

	forward:(SEL)aSelector :(marg_list)argFrame	Implemented by subclasses to forward messages
	performv:(SEL)aSelector :(marg_list)argFrame	Sends an aSelector message with argFrame arguments

Obtaining Method Information

	(IMP)methodFor:(SEL)aSelector	Locates the receiver's implementation of aSelector
	+ (IMP)instanceMethodFor:(SEL)aSelector	Locates the implementation of aSelector

(struct objc_method_description *)descriptionForMethod:(SEL)aSelector

Returns information about the aSelector method

+ (struct objc_method_description *)descriptionForInstanceMethod:(SEL)aSelector

Returns information about the aSelector instance method

Posing

+ poseAs:aClassObject

Substitutes the receiving class for aClassObject

Enforcing Intentions

	notImplemented:(SEL)aSelector	Indicates that aSelector isn't fully implemented
	subclassResponsibility:(SEL)aSelector	Generates an error if aSelector isn't implemented

Error Handling

	doesNotRecognize:(SEL)aSelector	Generates an unrecognized-selector error message
	error:(const char *)aString, ...	Generates a formatted error message using aString

Dynamic Loading

	+ finishLoading:(struct mach_header *)header	Implemented by a newly loaded class or category
	+ startUnloading	Implemented by a class or category about to be unloaded

Archiving

	read:(NXTypedStream *)stream	Implemented by subclasses to read receiver from stream
	write:(NXTypedStream *)stream	Implemented by subclasses to write the receiver to stream
	startArchiving:(NXTypedStream *)stream	Implemented by subclasses to prepare for archiving
	awake	Implemented by subclasses to reinitialize the receiver
	finishUnarchiving	Implemented by subclasses to replace the receiver
	+ setVersion:(int)aVersion	Sets the class version number to aVersion
	+ (int)version	Returns the version of the class definition