objective-c _bridge_transfer, _bridge_retained, _bridge

• (__bridge_transfer <NSType>) op or alternatively CFBridgingRelease(op) is used to consume a retain-count of aCFTypeRef while transferring it over to ARC. This could also be represented byid someObj = (__bridge <NSType>) op; CFRelease(op);

• (__bridge_retained <CFType>) op or alternatively CFBridgingRetain(op) is used to hand anNSObject over to CF-land while giving it a +1 retain count. You should handle aCFTypeRef you create this way the same as you would handle a result ofCFStringCreateCopy(). This could also be represented byCFRetain((__bridge CFType)op); CFTypeRef someTypeRef = (__bridge CFType)op;

• __bridge just casts between pointer-land and Objective-C object-land. If you have no inclination to use the conversions above, use this one.

above is summary

A bridged cast is a C-style cast annotated with one of three keywords:

(__bridge T) op casts the operand to the destination type T. If T is a retainable object pointer type, then op must have a non-retainable pointer type. If T is a non-retainable pointer type, then op must have a retainable object pointer type. Otherwise the cast is ill-formed. There is no transfer of ownership, and ARC inserts no retain operations.

(__bridge_retained T) op casts the operand, which must have retainable object pointer type, to the destination type, which must be a non-retainable pointer type. ARC retains the value, subject to the usual optimizations on local values, and the recipient is responsible for balancing that +1.

(__bridge_transfer T) op casts the operand, which must have non-retainable pointer type, to the destination type, which must be a retainable object pointer type. ARC will release the value at the end of the enclosing full-expression, subject to the usual optimizations on local values.

These casts are required in order to transfer objects in and out of ARC control; see the rationale in the section on conversion of retainable object pointers.

Using a __bridge_retained or __bridge_transfer cast purely to convince ARC to emit an unbalanced retain or release, respectively, is poor form.