[objective-c] Creating a selector from a method name with parameters

I have a code sample that gets a SEL from the current object,

SEL callback = @selector(mymethod:parameter2);

And I have a method like

 -(void)mymethod:(id)v1 parameter2;(NSString*)v2 {
}

Now I need to move mymethod to another object, say myDelegate.

I have tried:

SEL callback = @selector(myDelegate, mymethod:parameter2);

but it won't compile.

This question is related to objective-c selector

The answer is


You can't pass a parameter in a @selector().

It looks like you're trying to implement a callback. The best way to do that would be something like this:

[object setCallbackObject:self withSelector:@selector(myMethod:)];

Then in your object's setCallbackObject:withSelector: method: you can call your callback method.

-(void)setCallbackObject:(id)anObject withSelector:(SEL)selector {
    [anObject performSelector:selector];
}

Beyond what's been said already about selectors, you may want to look at the NSInvocation class.

An NSInvocation is an Objective-C message rendered static, that is, it is an action turned into an object. NSInvocation objects are used to store and forward messages between objects and between applications, primarily by NSTimer objects and the distributed objects system.

An NSInvocation object contains all the elements of an Objective-C message: a target, a selector, arguments, and the return value. Each of these elements can be set directly, and the return value is set automatically when the NSInvocation object is dispatched.

Keep in mind that while it's useful in certain situations, you don't use NSInvocation in a normal day of coding. If you're just trying to get two objects to talk to each other, consider defining an informal or formal delegate protocol, or passing a selector and target object as has already been mentioned.


You can't pass a parameter in a @selector().

It looks like you're trying to implement a callback. The best way to do that would be something like this:

[object setCallbackObject:self withSelector:@selector(myMethod:)];

Then in your object's setCallbackObject:withSelector: method: you can call your callback method.

-(void)setCallbackObject:(id)anObject withSelector:(SEL)selector {
    [anObject performSelector:selector];
}

Beyond what's been said already about selectors, you may want to look at the NSInvocation class.

An NSInvocation is an Objective-C message rendered static, that is, it is an action turned into an object. NSInvocation objects are used to store and forward messages between objects and between applications, primarily by NSTimer objects and the distributed objects system.

An NSInvocation object contains all the elements of an Objective-C message: a target, a selector, arguments, and the return value. Each of these elements can be set directly, and the return value is set automatically when the NSInvocation object is dispatched.

Keep in mind that while it's useful in certain situations, you don't use NSInvocation in a normal day of coding. If you're just trying to get two objects to talk to each other, consider defining an informal or formal delegate protocol, or passing a selector and target object as has already been mentioned.


You can't pass a parameter in a @selector().

It looks like you're trying to implement a callback. The best way to do that would be something like this:

[object setCallbackObject:self withSelector:@selector(myMethod:)];

Then in your object's setCallbackObject:withSelector: method: you can call your callback method.

-(void)setCallbackObject:(id)anObject withSelector:(SEL)selector {
    [anObject performSelector:selector];
}

Beyond what's been said already about selectors, you may want to look at the NSInvocation class.

An NSInvocation is an Objective-C message rendered static, that is, it is an action turned into an object. NSInvocation objects are used to store and forward messages between objects and between applications, primarily by NSTimer objects and the distributed objects system.

An NSInvocation object contains all the elements of an Objective-C message: a target, a selector, arguments, and the return value. Each of these elements can be set directly, and the return value is set automatically when the NSInvocation object is dispatched.

Keep in mind that while it's useful in certain situations, you don't use NSInvocation in a normal day of coding. If you're just trying to get two objects to talk to each other, consider defining an informal or formal delegate protocol, or passing a selector and target object as has already been mentioned.


You can't pass a parameter in a @selector().

It looks like you're trying to implement a callback. The best way to do that would be something like this:

[object setCallbackObject:self withSelector:@selector(myMethod:)];

Then in your object's setCallbackObject:withSelector: method: you can call your callback method.

-(void)setCallbackObject:(id)anObject withSelector:(SEL)selector {
    [anObject performSelector:selector];
}