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iOS Swift Enums and Structs Enums Associated Values

Posted by Duc Tran
Duc Tran
Courses Plus Student 2,046 Points

A Question regarding the contents in the switch function

let downloadStatus = Status.Failure("Network connection unavailable")

switch downloadStatus {
case .Success(let success):
    println(success)
case .Failure(let failure):
    println(failure)

Why is there a need for the case . Success? The constant let downloadStatus = Status.Failure(String) is always a failure. I understand that switch has to be exhausted, but shouldn't it be a case default instead of .Success?

Thanks,

1 Answer

Brenden Konnagan
Brenden Konnagan
16,858 Points
Brenden Konnagan
Brenden Konnagan
16,858 Points

Hello Duc,

Really it would come down to at least two items:

  • API Design
  • Code Style | Readability

API Design

While at this time there may be no use for the "Success" call, perhaps there could be more functionality built in at a later date.

Code Style | Readability

This is a big one. While "Default:" will function fine it would not lead to very readable code as "Default:" does not necessarily convey to any reader when that could be called.

You are correct that a switch statement needs to be exhaustive. It is generally bad form to rely on "Default:" cases since a switch statement in itself is explicit.

Granted there are times where all cases are unknown or not able to be inferred and thus "Default:" is a great fit. Otherwise it is always best to account for all the cases explicitly.