Cannot assign to self out of a method in the init family?

Question

I am using self like "`self = [super init];`", the following code give me an error "`cannot assign to self out of a method in the init family`" ``` - (id)showDropDown:(UIButton *)b:(CGFloat *)height:(NSArray *)arr:(NSString *)direction { btnSender = b; animationDirection = direction; self = [super init]; if (self) { // Initialization code CGRect btn = b.frame; self.list = [NSArray arrayWithArray:arr]; if ([direction isEqualToString:@"up"]) { self.frame = CGRectMake(btn.origin.x, btn.origin.y, btn.size.width, 0); self.layer.shadowOffset = CGSizeMake(-5, -5); }else if ([direction isEqualToString:@"down"]) { self.frame = CGRectMake(btn.origin.x, btn.origin.y+btn.size.height, btn.size.width, 0); self.layer.shadowOffset = CGSizeMake(-5, 5); } self.layer.masksToBounds = NO; self.layer.cornerRadius = 8; self.layer.shadowRadius = 5; self.layer.shadowOpacity = 0.5; table = [[UITableView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, btn.size.width, 0)]; table.delegate = self; table.dataSource = self; t…

Accepted Answer

If your method is an initializer, it must start with `init`:

`- (instancetype)initWithDropDown:(UIButton *)b:(CGFloat *)height:(NSArray *)arr:(NSString *)direction`

Otherwise, you can change it to be a class method, and return a new instance:

```
+ (instancetype)showDropDown:(UIButton *)b:(CGFloat *)height:(NSArray *)arr:(NSString *)direction
{
    btnSender = b;
    animationDirection = direction;
    YourClassName obj = [[self alloc] init];
    if (obj) {
        // Initialization code
        // …
    }
    return obj;
}
```

Cannot assign to self out of a method in the init family?

Solution

Problem