User Guide

150 Creating Advanced Visual Components in ActionScript
The following table describes the invalidation methods:
When a component calls an invalidation method, it signals to Flex that the component must
be updated. When multiple components call invalidation methods, Flex coordinates updates
so that they all occur together during the next screen update.
Typically, component users do not call the invalidation methods directly. Instead, they are
called by the component’s setter methods, or by any other methods of a component class as
necessary. For more information and examples, see “Implementing the commitProperties()
method” on page 158.
About the component instantiation life cycle
The component instantiation life cycle describes the sequence of steps that occur when you
create a component object from a component class. As part of that life cycle, Flex
automatically calls component methods, dispatches events, and makes the component visible.
Invalidation method Description
invalidateProperties()
Marks a component so that its commitProperties() method gets
called during the next screen update.
invalidateSize()
Marks a component so that its measure() method gets called
during the next screen update.
invalidateDisplayList()
Marks a component so that its layoutChrome() and
updateDisplayList() methods get called during the next screen
update.