title: What can the "Object" in Storyboard's Object Library do?
body: <p><strong>Short Question</strong></p>
  
  <p>There is a thing called <code>Object</code> in XCode's interface builder's Object Library. I wonder what kind of task can be achieved by using this "Object". </p>
  
  <p>Be specific, it is an <code>NSObject</code> in Storyboard (or xib). It's described as follow: </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Provides a template for objects that are not directly available in Interface Builder. You can turn this object into an instance of any class using the custom class inspector.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p><strong>Long Question</strong></p>
  
  <p>I'm trying to build a <code>UITableViewController</code> along with a <code>UISearchController</code>. Since they both require implement the <code>UITableViewDelegate</code> and <code>UITableViewDatasource</code> in their delegate, I wish I can assign the delegate of <code>UISearchController</code> to an Object other than the Main <code>UITableViewController</code>. </p>
  
  <p>I'm looking for a way to achieve this in Storyboard, rather than assign the delegate manually in <code>viewDidLoad</code>. Especially, by figuring out how the <code>Object</code> work in Storyboard. </p>
  
  <p>I understand that I can distinguish them by exam the UITableView's parents. But it is always good to separate the logic into different objects. It will be easier to implement, better efficiency, better structured and possible to be reused. </p>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance. </p>
  
  <p><strong>What I have tried</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Put an <code>Object</code> at the same level of the <code>UITableViewController</code> in the Storyboard (You cannot put the <code>Object</code> within another <code>UIViewController</code>).<br>
  Link it with an <code>@property (nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet NSObject *</code> in the <code>UITableViewController</code>.<br>
  The <code>NSObject *</code> turns out to be a <code>nil</code> pointer when I print it in <code>viewDidLoad</code>. No luck. </li>
  <li>By changing the property to <code>@property (nonatomic, strong)</code>, it become a <code>UICustomObject</code> instead of <code>nil</code>. Seems I'm on the right track. </li>
  </ul>