How to import headers recusively in Objective-C

Question

Ok this is probably a silly question but why can I do something like this:

objectA.h

#import <objectB>
#import <objectC>

objectA.m

#import <ObjectA.h>

And in ObjectA.m have access to ObjectB and OBjectC definition ? It's silly to have to import everything you use in each implementation file. Am i missing something obvious ?

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

3

Rather than importing headers in your .h file you could just use the @class declaration for objects you need to declare in your header file, and then in your .m file #import the header files you need.

I'm not sure if this is what you are asking, though.

This has been discussed in more detail in this SO Question

edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

Community

1
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answered Jan 19 '11 at 13:37

Abizern

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@Abizem You just saved me hours of headaches. – pnizzle May 31 '13 at 00:14

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 19 '11 at 13:41

You can do this, and it can occasionally make sense -- provided that the definitions are coupled in such a way that they genuinely belong together.

What you shouldn't do is introduce bogus compilation dependencies just to save a few keystrokes in some implementation file.

How to import headers recusively in Objective-C

2 Answers2