arkts-observed-and-objectlink.md

# \@Observed and \@ObjectLink Decorators: Observing Attribute Changes in Nested Class Objects


The decorators described above can observe only the changes of the first layer. However, in real-world application development, the application may encapsulate its own data model based on development requirements. In the case of multi-layer nesting, for example, a two-dimensional array, an array item class, or a class insider another class as an attribute, the attribute changes at the second layer cannot be observed. This is where the \@Observed and \@ObjectLink decorators come in handy.


> **NOTE**
>
> Since API version 9, these two decorators are supported in ArkTS widgets.


## Overview

\@ObjectLink and \@Observed class decorators are used for two-way data synchronization in scenarios involving nested objects or arrays:

- Regarding classes decorated by \@Observed, the attribute changes can be observed.

- The \@ObjectLink decorated state variable in the child component is used to accept the instance of the \@Observed decorated class and establish two-way data binding with the corresponding state variable in the parent component. The instance can be an \@Observed decorated item in the array or an \@Observed decorated attribute in the class object.

- Using \@Observed alone has no effect. Combined use with \@ObjectLink for two-way synchronization or with [\@Prop](arkts-prop.md) for one-way synchronization is required.


## Restrictions

Using \@Observed to decorate a class changes the original prototype chain of the class. Using \@Observed and other class decorators to decorate the same class may cause problems.

## Decorator Description

| \@Observed Decorator| Description                               |
| -------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Decorator parameters         | None.                                |
| Class decorator          | Decorates a class. You must use **new** to create a class object before defining the class.|

| \@ObjectLink Decorator| Description                                      |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Decorator parameters            | None.                                       |
| Synchronization type             | No synchronization with the parent component.                        |
| Allowed variable types        | Objects of \@Observed decorated classes. The type must be specified.<br>Simple type variables are not supported. Use [\@Prop](arkts-prop.md) instead.<br>An \@ObjectLink decorated variable accepts changes to its attributes, but assignment is not allowed. In other words, an \@ObjectLink decorated variable is read-only and cannot be changed.|
| Initial value for the decorated variable        | Not allowed.                                    |

Example of a read-only \@ObjectLink decorated variable:


```ts
// The \@ObjectLink decorated variable accepts changes to its attribute.
this.objLink.a= ...
// Value assignment is not allowed for the \@ObjectLink decorated variable.
this.objLink= ...
```

> **NOTE**
>
> Value assignment is not allowed for the \@ObjectLink decorated variable. To assign a value, use [@Prop](arkts-prop.md) instead.
>
> - \@Prop creates a one-way synchronization from the data source to the decorated variable. It takes a copy of its source tp enable changes to remain local. When \@Prop observes a change to its source, the local value of the \@Prop decorated variable is overwritten.
>
> - \@ObjectLink creates a two-way synchronization between the data source and the decorated variable. An \@ObjectLink decorated variable can be considered as a pointer to the source object inside the parent component. If value assignment of an \@ObjectLink decorated variable occurs, the synchronization chain is interrupted.


## Variable Transfer/Access Rules

| \@ObjectLink Transfer/Access| Description                                      |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Initialization from the parent component          | Mandatory.<br>To initialize an \@ObjectLink decorated variable, a variable in the parent component must meet all the following conditions:<br>- The variable type is an \@Observed decorated class.<br>- The initialized value must be an array item or a class attribute.<br>- The class or array of the synchronization source must be decorated by \@State, \@Link, \@Provide, \@Consume, or \@ObjectLink.<br>For an example where the synchronization source is an array item, see [Object Array](#object-array). For an example of the initialized class, see [Nested Object](#nested-object).|
| Synchronize with the source           | Two-way.                                     |
| Subnode initialization         | Supported; can be used to initialize a regular variable or \@State, \@Link, \@Prop, or \@Provide decorated variable in the child component.|


  **Figure 1** Initialization rule 


![en-us_image_0000001502255262](figures/en-us_image_0000001502255262.png)


## Observed Changes and Behavior


### Observed Changes

If the attribute of an \@Observed decorated class is not of the simple type, such as class, object, or array, it must be decorated by \@Observed. Otherwise, the attribute changes cannot be observed.


```ts
class ClassA {
  public c: number;

  constructor(c: number) {
    this.c = c;
  }
}

@Observed
class ClassB {
  public a: ClassA;
  public b: number;

  constructor(a: ClassA, b: number) {
    this.a = a;
    this.b = b;
  }
}
```

In the preceding example, **ClassB** is decorated by \@Observed, and the value changes of its member variables can be observed. In contrast, **ClassA** is not decorated by \@Observed, and therefore its attribute changes cannot be observed.


```ts
@ObjectLink b: ClassB

// The value assignment can be observed.
this.b.a = new ClassA(5)
this.b.b = 5

// ClassA is not decorated by @Observed, and its attribute changes cannot be observed.
this.b.a.c = 5
```

\@ObjectLink: \@ObjectLink can only accept instances of classes decorated by \@Observed. The following can be observed:

- Value changes of the attributes that **Object.keys(observedObject)** returns. For details, see [Nested Object](#nested-object).

- Replacement of array items for the data source of an array and changes of class attributes for the data source of a class. For details, see [Object Array](#object-array).


### Framework Behavior

1. Initial render:
   1. \@Observed causes all instances of the decorated class to be wrapped with an opaque proxy object, which takes over the setter and getter methods of the attributes on the class.
   2. The \@ObjectLink decorated variable in the child component is initialized from the parent component and accepts the instance of the \@Observed decorated class. The \@ObjectLink decorated wrapped object registers itself with the \@Observed decorated class.

2. Attribute update: When the attribute of the \@Observed decorated class is updated, the system uses the setter and getter of the proxy, traverses the \@ObjectLink decorated wrapped objects that depend on it, and notifies the data update.


## Application Scenarios


### Nested Object

The following is the data structure of a nested class object.


```ts
// objectLinkNestedObjects.ets
let NextID: number = 1;

@Observed
class ClassA {
  public id: number;
  public c: number;

  constructor(c: number) {
    this.id = NextID++;
    this.c = c;
  }
}

@Observed
class ClassB {
  public a: ClassA;

  constructor(a: ClassA) {
    this.a = a;
  }
}
```


  The following component hierarchy presents this data structure.

```ts
@Component
struct ViewA {
  label: string = 'ViewA1';
  @ObjectLink a: ClassA;

  build() {
    Row() {
      Button(`ViewA [${this.label}] this.a.c=${this.a.c} +1`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.a.c += 1;
        })
    }
  }
}

@Entry
@Component
struct ViewB {
  @State b: ClassB = new ClassB(new ClassA(0));

  build() {
    Column() {
      ViewA({ label: 'ViewA #1', a: this.b.a })
      ViewA({ label: 'ViewA #2', a: this.b.a })

      Button(`ViewB: this.b.a.c+= 1`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.b.a.c += 1;
        })
      Button(`ViewB: this.b.a = new ClassA(0)`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.b.a = new ClassA(0);
        })
      Button(`ViewB: this.b = new ClassB(ClassA(0))`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.b = new ClassB(new ClassA(0));
        })
    }
  }
}
```


Event handlers in **ViewB**:


- this.b.a = new ClassA(0) and this.b = new ClassB(new ClassA(0)): Change to the \@State decorated variable **b** and its attributes.

- this.b.a.c = ... : Change at the second layer. Though [@State](arkts-state.md#observed-changes) cannot observe the change at the second layer, the change of an attribute of \@Observed decorated ClassA, which is attribute **c** in this example, can be observed by \@ObjectLink.


Event handlers in **ViewA**:


- this.a.c += 1: Changes to the \@ObjectLink decorated variable cause the button label to be updated. Unlike \@Prop, \@ObjectLink does not have a copy of its source. Instead, \@ObjectLink creates a reference to its source.

- The \@ObjectLink decorated variable is read-only. Assigning **this.a = new ClassA(...)** is not allowed. Once value assignment occurs, the reference to the data source is reset and the synchronization is interrupted.


### Object Array

An object array is a frequently used data structure. The following example shows the usage of array objects.


```ts
@Component
struct ViewA {
  // The type of @ObjectLink of the child component ViewA is ClassA.
  @ObjectLink a: ClassA;
  label: string = 'ViewA1';

  build() {
    Row() {
      Button(`ViewA [${this.label}] this.a.c = ${this.a.c} +1`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.a.c += 1;
        })
    }
  }
}

@Entry
@Component
struct ViewB {
  // ViewB has the @State decorated ClassA[].
  @State arrA: ClassA[] = [new ClassA(0), new ClassA(0)];

  build() {
    Column() {
      ForEach(this.arrA,
        (item) => {
          ViewA({ label: `#${item.id}`, a: item })
        },
        (item) => item.id.toString()
      )
      // Initialize the @ObjectLink decorated variable using the array item in the @State decorated array, which is an instance of ClassA decorated by @Observed.
      ViewA({ label: `ViewA this.arrA[first]`, a: this.arrA[0] })
      ViewA({ label: `ViewA this.arrA[last]`, a: this.arrA[this.arrA.length-1] })

      Button(`ViewB: reset array`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.arrA = [new ClassA(0), new ClassA(0)];
        })
      Button(`ViewB: push`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.arrA.push(new ClassA(0))
        })
      Button(`ViewB: shift`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.arrA.shift()
        })
      Button(`ViewB: chg item property in middle`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.arrA[Math.floor(this.arrA.length / 2)].c = 10;
        })
      Button(`ViewB: chg item property in middle`)
        .onClick(() => {
          this.arrA[Math.floor(this.arrA.length / 2)] = new ClassA(11);
        })
    }
  }
}
```

- this.arrA[Math.floor(this.arrA.length/2)] = new ClassA(..): The change of this state variable triggers two updates.
  1. ForEach: The value assignment of the array item causes the change of [itemGenerator](arkts-rendering-control-foreach.md#api-description) of **ForEach**. Therefore, the array item is identified as changed, and the item builder of ForEach is executed to create a **ViewA** component instance.
  2. ViewA({ label: ViewA this.arrA[first], a: this.arrA[0] }): The preceding update changes the first element in the array. Therefore, the **ViewA** component instance bound to **this.arrA[0]** is updated.

- this.arrA.push(new ClassA(0)): The change of this state variable triggers two updates with different effects.
  1. ForEach: The newly added Class A object is unknown to the **ForEach** [itemGenerator](arkts-rendering-control-foreach.md#api-description). The item builder of **ForEach** will be executed to create a **View A** component instance.
  2. ViewA({ label: ViewA this.arrA[last], a: this.arrA[this.arrA.length-1] }): The last item of the array is changed. As a result, the second **View A** component instance is changed. For **ViewA({ label: ViewA this.arrA[first], a: this.arrA[0] })**, a change to the array does not trigger a change to the array item, so the first **View A** component instance is not refreshed.

- this.arrA[Math.floor (this.arrA.length/2)].c: [@State](arkts-state.md#observed-changes) cannot observe changes at the second layer. However, as **ClassA** is decorated by \@Observed, the change of its attributes will be observed by \@ObjectLink.


### Two-Dimensional Array

@Observed class decoration is required for a two-dimensional array. You can declare an \@Observed decorated class that extends from **Array**.


```ts
@Observed
class StringArray extends Array<String> {
}
```

 

Declare a class that extends from **Array**: **class StringArray extends Array\<String> {}** and create an instance of **StringArray**. The use of the **new** operator is required for the \@Observed class decorator to work properly.


```ts
@Observed
class StringArray extends Array<String> {
}

@Component
struct ItemPage {
  @ObjectLink itemArr: StringArray;

  build() {
    Row() {
      Text('ItemPage')
        .width(100).height(100)

      ForEach(this.itemArr,
        item => {
          Text(item)
            .width(100).height(100)
        },
        item => item
      )
    }
  }
}

@Entry
@Component
struct IndexPage {
  @State arr: Array<StringArray> = [new StringArray(), new StringArray(), new StringArray()];

  build() {
    Column() {
      ItemPage({ itemArr: this.arr[0] })
      ItemPage({ itemArr: this.arr[1] })
      ItemPage({ itemArr: this.arr[2] })

      Divider()

      ForEach(this.arr,
        itemArr => {
          ItemPage({ itemArr: itemArr })
        },
        itemArr => itemArr[0]
      )

      Divider()

      Button('update')
        .onClick(() => {
          console.error('Update all items in arr');
          if (this.arr[0][0] !== undefined) {
            // We should have a real ID to use with ForEach, but we do no.
            // Therefore, we need to make sure the pushed strings are unique.
            this.arr[0].push(`${this.arr[0].slice(-1).pop()}${this.arr[0].slice(-1).pop()}`);
            this.arr[1].push(`${this.arr[1].slice(-1).pop()}${this.arr[1].slice(-1).pop()}`);
            this.arr[2].push(`${this.arr[2].slice(-1).pop()}${this.arr[2].slice(-1).pop()}`);
          } else {
            this.arr[0].push('Hello');
            this.arr[1].push('World');
            this.arr[2].push('!');
          }
        })
    }
  }
}
```