Is calling [self release] allowed to control object lifetime?

Question

I want to create an object in Objective C but I don\'t hold a reference to it.

Is it allowed to let the object control its own lifetime by calling [self release]?

Answer 1

Well part of the protocol is that if you send release to self, then you should have sent retain once as well, which I suppose you do. Then there is nothing fishy. I mean the allocing code must be able to control the lifetime of your instance; it itself can only prolong its life, never make it shorter (since making it shorter, then you'd suddenly leave the allocing owner of the instance with an invalid pointer).