How to create a protocol with methods that are optional?
I noticed methods marked optional in several protocols defined in the iPhone SDK, such as the UIActionSheetDelegate protocol for example.
How can I define a protocol of my own, and set a few of the methods as optional?
Answer
From the Apple page on "Formal Protocols":
Optional Protocol methods can be marked as optional using the @optional keyword. Corresponding to the @optional modal keyword, there is a @required keyword to formally denote the semantics of the default behavior. You can use @optional and @required to partition your protocol into sections as you see fit. If you do not specify any keyword, the default is @required.
@protocol MyProtocol
- (void)requiredMethod;
@optional
- (void)anOptionalMethod;
- (void)anotherOptionalMethod;
@required
- (void)anotherRequiredMethod;
@end