dequeued UITableViewCell has incorrect layout until scroll (using autolayout)

Question

I have a custom UITableViewCell subclass which has had autolayout constraints applied to it in Interface Builder. The cell contains multiple views, including a

Answer 1

In accordance to this multiple lines UILabel GitHub issue, this is a lingering iOS bug.

I found that in iOS 9+, this situation mostly occurs in editing mode, with much unpredictability.

The following workaround only partially works: it requires redrawing the UITableView twice, and still does not cover all scenarios.

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    tableView.setNeedsLayout()
    tableView.layoutIfNeeded()
    tableView.reloadData()
}

---

Notes:

• Using UITextView is a great alternative to multiple line UILabel, without the bug. UITextView does not exhibit any of the IULabel other oddities either, like alignment errors or flickering.
• There is also an alternative solution on SO-25947146, which did not work for me but is worth mentioning.
• Seems to occur prominently when self.tableView.editing is true
• Using low values for tableView.estimatedRowHeight reduces the occurrence
• Demonstration of the bug on SwiftArchitect/TableViewControllerRowHeightBug gist

Answer 2

If you name a property on a UITableViewCell subclass textLabel or defaultTextLabel, then IB will ignore the constraints you have specified and override them with default ones, with no warnings issued.

This is the case even on cells designed in IB with the Custom style, which have no visible textLabel or detailTextLabel properties.

This also happen if add a property of type UIImageView property on a UITableViewCell subclass and name it imageView.