title: Objective-c: Questions about self = [super init]
body: <p><br/>
  I have seen <code>self = [super init]</code> in init methods. I don't understand why. Wouldn't <code>[super init]</code> return the superclass? And if we point <code>self = [super init]</code>, are we not getting <code>self = superclass</code>? <br/>
  Here's an example code fragment</p>
  
  <pre><code>- (id)init 
  {
      if (self = [super init]) {
          creationDate = [[NSDate alloc] init];
      }
      return self;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Hope someone can clarify this for me. Thank you. </p>