Objective-C #import loop

Question

I have the following code:

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import "ServerRequest.h" // works even though this line is included
#import "ServerResponseRecord.h"

@protocol ServerRequestDelegate<NSObject>

-(void)request:(id)request gotResponseRecord:(ServerResponseRecord*)response;
-(void)request:(id)request gotError:(NSError*)error;

@end

It compiles and runs fine. However, if I replace the method declarations with:

-(void)request:(ServerRequest*)request gotResponseRecord:(ServerResponseRecord*)response;
-(void)request:(ServerRequest*)request gotError:(NSError*)error;

I get the unexpected syntax error "error: expected ')' before 'ServerRequest'". The only reason I can think this might be a problem is that ServerRequestDelegate.h and ServerRequest.h #import each other. However, I don't understand why the code works with the #import line with (id)request. I also don't understand why it's a syntax error.

Can someone provide a good explanation?

Answer 1

You've already hinted at the explanation: an #import cycle.

The first thing I'd do is remove the #include and add the following line above the @protocol definition:

@class ServerRequest;

This is a forward class declaration, and can help break the import loop. Check out this SO question for more details. Apple also has a brief explanation in this guide.

Basically, #import'ing a file causes the compiler to bring the entire text of that file into the file in question, and although #import is "smarter" than #include, it doesn't mean you're immune from import errors. The @class declaration is a way to tell the compiler that a class exists without importing the header. It's appropriate to use when you only need to know about the class name, but don't care about the methods it provides. Generally, you want to use @class in the .h file and #import in the .m file, where you're actually interacting with the class.