LayerHandle<T extends Layer> class

A handle to prevent a Layer's platform graphics resources from being disposed.

Layer objects retain native resources such as EngineLayers and Picture objects. These objects may in turn retain large chunks of texture memory, either directly or indirectly.

The layer's native resources must be retained as long as there is some object that can add it to a scene. Typically, this is either its Layer.parent or an undisposed RenderObject that will append it to a ContainerLayer. Layers automatically hold a handle to their children, and RenderObjects automatically hold a handle to their RenderObject.layer as well as any PictureLayers that they paint into using the PaintingContext.canvas. A layer automatically releases its resources once at least one handle has been acquired and all handles have been disposed. RenderObjects that create additional layer objects must manually manage the handles for that layer similarly to the implementation of RenderObject.layer.

A handle is automatically managed for RenderObject.layer.

If a RenderObject creates layers in addition to its RenderObject.layer and it intends to reuse those layers separately from RenderObject.layer, it must create a handle to that layer and dispose of it when the layer is no longer needed. For example, if it re-creates or nulls out an existing layer in RenderObject.paint, it should dispose of the handle to the old layer. It should also dispose of any layer handles it holds in RenderObject.dispose.

To dispose of a layer handle, set its layer property to null.