Index
1. Swift Coding3 min 8 sec read 2. Variables in Swift
2 min 12 sec read 3. Swift Optionals
3 min 11 sec read 4. Swift Constants
2 min 19 sec read 5. Guard in Swift
1 min 6 sec read 6. Swift if, if...else Statement
2 mins 51 sec read 7. Swift Array
6 min 2 sec read 8. Swift Dictionary
3 min 16 sec read
Swift Optionals
Consider Optionals as a kind of "parcel". Before you "unwrap" it you won't know if it contains something or not. Optional in Swift is used to handle optional values. Sometimes values may be present, sometimes not. They are indicated using ? (question) mark after optional name.
Syntax :-
Optionals are indicated using ? at the end of variable type.
/* Optional Integer declaration */ var age: Int? /* Optional String declaration */ var name: String?
Now consider this, one with Optional string
var name: String? = "Jazz"
Another one with a Non-Optional string
var name: String = "Jazz"
Though both versions Optional and Non-Optional look same but they are not. An optional String is not a String with some "optional" setting turned on. It's not a special variety of String. A String and an optional String are completely different types.
What is forced unwrapping?
Unwrapping of an optional value can be done by using ! (exclamation) mark at the end of variable type. Consider this example for better understanding of Forced Unwrapping
1) Before Unwrapping :-
import UIKit var name:String? name = "Manish" if name != nil { print(name) }else { print("Your Name has nil value") }
Output :-
Optional("Manish")
2) After Unwrapping:
import UIKit var name:String? name = "Manish" if name != nil { /* Exclamation mark is added at the end */ print(name!) }else { print("Your Name has nil value") }
Output :-
Manish
Automatic Unwrapping
To avoid using "!" mark at every optional variable , you can do this instead ,
var name:String!
Instead of using ? just declare ! mark at the time of declaration of an Optional variable. Simple and easy :)
Example of Automatic unwrapping:
import UIKit /* Instead of writing ? mark, use ! mark for automatic unwrapping */ var name:String! name = "Manish" if name != nil{ print(name) } else { print("Your Name has nil value") }
Output :-
Manish
Why Optionals ?
Optionals have two use cases:
1) Things that can fail (I was expecting something but I got nothing)
2) Things that are nothing now but might be something later (and vice-versa)
Some examples:
1) Trying to read a file's contents (which normally returns the file's data) but the file doesn't exist in the library
2) Searching for a match in an array but it may or may not returns data.
3) A property which may or may not available like middle name or spouse in a Person class
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