What's wrong with this observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context: implementation?

Question

In my UIScrollView subclass, I'm observing frame changes:

[self addObserver:self forKeyPath:@"frame" options:0 context:NULL];

My observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context: implementation is as follows:

- (void)observeValueForKeyPath:(NSString *)keyPath ofObject:(id)object change:(NSDictionary *)change context:(void *)context {
    if (object == self && [keyPath isEqualToString:@"frame"]) {
        [self adjustSizeAndScale];
    }
    if ([UIScrollView instancesRespondToSelector:@selector(observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context:)]) {
        [super observeValueForKeyPath:keyPath ofObject:object change:change context:context]; // Exception
    }
}

But I get exception with this code:

*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInternalInconsistencyException', reason: '<WLImageScrollView: 0x733a440; baseClass = UIScrollView; frame = (0 0; 320 416); clipsToBounds = YES; layer = <CALayer: 0x7346500>; contentOffset: {0, 0}>: An -observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context: message was received but not handled.
Key path: frame
Observed object: <WLImageScrollView: 0x733a440; baseClass = UIScrollView; frame = (0 0; 320 416); clipsToBounds = YES; layer = <CALayer: 0x7346500>; contentOffset: {0, 0}>
Change: {
    kind = 1;
}
Context: 0x0'

Does it mean UIScrollView implements observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context: but throws the above exception?

If so, how can I properly implement observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context: so that I can both handle my interested changes and give superclass a chance to handle its interested changes?

Answer 1

You should add a context value when you add the observer. In your -observeValueForKeyPath method, check the context parameter. If it is not the context you passed when you added the observer, then you know this message is not intended for your subclass, and you can safely pass it on to the superclass. If it is the same value, then you know it's intended for you, and you should not pass it on to super.

Like this:

static void *myContextPointer;

- (void)addSomeObserver {
    [self addObserver:self forKeyPath:@"frame" options:0 context:&myContextPointer];
}

- (void)observeValueForKeyPath:(NSString *)keyPath ofObject:(id)object change:(NSDictionary *)change context:(void *)context {
    if (context != &myContextPointer) {
        [super observeValueForKeyPath:keyPath ofObject:object change:change context:context];
    }
    else {
        // This message is for me, do whatever I want with it.
    }
}