This style guide is different from others you may see, because the focus is centered on readability for print and the web. We created this style guide to keep the code in our books, tutorials, and starter kits nice and consistent — even though we have many different authors working on the books.
Our overarching goals are conciseness, readability, and simplicity.
Table of Contents
Naming
Use descriptive names with camel case for classes, methods, variables, etc. Class names and constants in module scope should be capitalized, while method names and variables should start with a lower case letter.
Preferred:
let MaximumWidgetCount = 100
class WidgetContainer {
var widgetButton: UIButton
let widgetHeightPercentage = 0.85
}
Not Preferred:
let MAX_WIDGET_COUNT = 100
class app_widgetContainer {
var wBut: UIButton
let wHeightPct = 0.85
}
For functions and init methods, prefer named parameters for all arguments unless the context is very clear. Include external parameter names if it makes function calls more readable.
func dateFromString(dateString: NSString) -> NSDate
func convertPointAt(#column: Int, #row: Int) -> CGPoint
func timedAction(#delay: NSTimeInterval, perform action: SKAction) -> SKAction!
// would be called like this:
dateFromString("2014-03-14")
convertPointAt(column: 42, row: 13)
timedAction(delay: 1.0, perform: someOtherAction)
For methods, follow the standard Apple convention of referring to the first parameter in the method name:
class Guideline {
func combineWithString(incoming: String, options: Dictionary?) { ... }
func upvoteBy(amount: Int) { ... }
}
When referring to functions in prose (tutorials, books, comments) include the required parameter names from the caller’s perspective. If the context is clear and the exact signature is not important, you can use just the method name.
Call convertPointAt(column:row:) from your own initimplementation.
If you implement timedAction, remember to provide an appropriate delay value.
You shouldn’t call the data source methodtableView(_:cellForRowAtIndexPath:) directly.
When in doubt, look at how Xcode lists the method in the jump bar – our style here matches that.
Class Prefixes
Swift types are all automatically namespaced by the module that contains them. As a result, prefixes are not required in order to minimize naming collisions. If two names from different modules collide you can disambiguate by prefixing the type name with the module name:
import MyModule
var myClass = MyModule.MyClass()
You should not add prefixes to your Swift types.
If you need to expose a Swift type for use within Objective-C you can provide a suitable prefix (following our
Objective-C style guide) as follows:
@objc (RWTChicken) class Chicken {
...
}
Spacing
- Indent using 2 spaces rather than tabs to conserve space and help prevent line wrapping. Be sure to set this preference in Xcode as shown below:
- Method braces and other braces (
if/else/switch/while etc.) always open on the same line as the statement but close on a new line.
- Tip: You can re-indent by selecting some code (or ⌘A to select all) and then Control-I (or Editor\Structure\Re-Indent in the menu). Some of the Xcode template code will have 4-space tabs hard coded, so this is a good way to fix that.
Preferred:
if user.isHappy {
//Do something
} else {
//Do something else
}
Not Preferred:
if user.isHappy
{
//Do something
}
else {
//Do something else
}
- There should be exactly one blank line between methods to aid in visual clarity and organization. Whitespace within methods should separate functionality, but having too many sections in a method often means you should refactor into several methods.
Comments
When they are needed, use comments to explain why a particular piece of code does something. Comments must be kept up-to-date or deleted.
Avoid block comments inline with code, as the code should be as self-documenting as possible.Exception: This does not apply to those comments used to generate documentation.
Classes and Structures
Which one to use?
Remember, structs have
value semantics. Use structs for things that do not have an identity. An array that contains [a, b, c] is really the same as another array that contains [a, b, c] and they are completely interchangeable. It doesn’t matter whether you use the first array or the second, because they represent the exact same thing. That’s why arrays are structs.
Classes have
reference semantics. Use classes for things that do have an identity or a specific life cycle. You would model a person as a class because two person objects are two different things. Just because two people have the same name and birthdate, doesn’t mean they are the same person. But the person’s birthdate would be a struct because a date of 3 March 1950 is the same as any other date object for 3 March 1950. The date itself doesn’t have an identity.
Sometimes, things should be structs but need to conform to AnyObject or are historically modeled as classes already (NSDate, NSSet). Try to follow these guidelines as closely as possible.
Example definition
Here’s an example of a well-styled class definition:
class Circle: Shape {
var x: Int, y: Int
var radius: Double
var diameter: Double {
get {
return radius * 2
}
set {
radius = newValue / 2
}
}
init(x: Int, y: Int, radius: Double) {
self.x = x
self.y = y
self.radius = radius
}
convenience init(x: Int, y: Int, diameter: Double) {
self.init(x: x, y: y, radius: diameter / 2)
}
func describe() -> String {
return "I am a circle at \(centerString()) with an area of \(computeArea())"
}
override func computeArea() -> Double {
return M_PI * radius * radius
}
private func centerString() -> String {
return "(\(x),\(y))"
}
}
The example above demonstrates the following style guidelines:
- Specify types for properties, variables, constants, argument declarations and other statements with a space after the colon but not before, e.g.
x: Int, and Circle: Shape.
- Define multiple variables and structures on a single line if they share a common purpose / context.
- Indent getter and setter definitions and property observers.
- Don’t add modifiers such as
internal when they’re already the default. Similarly, don’t repeat the access modifier when overriding a method.
Use of Self
For conciseness, avoid using self since Swift does not require it to access an object’s properties or invoke its methods.
Use self when required to differentiate between property names and arguments in initializers, and when referencing properties in closure expressions (as required by the compiler):
class BoardLocation {
let row: Int, column: Int
init(row: Int,column: Int) {
self.row = row
self.column = column
let closure = { () -> () in
println(self.row)
}
}
}
Protocol Conformance
When adding protocol conformance to a class, prefer adding a separate class extension for the protocol methods. This keeps the related methods grouped together with the protocol and can simplify instructions to add a protocol to a class with its associated methods.
Also, don’t forget the // MARK comment to keep things well-organized!
Preferred:
class MyViewcontroller: UIViewController {
// class stuff here
}
// MARK: - UITableViewDataSource
extension MyViewcontroller: UITableViewDataSource {
// table view data source methods
}
// MARK: - UIScrollViewDelegate
extension MyViewcontroller: UIScrollViewDelegate {
// scroll view delegate methods
}
Not Preferred:
class MyViewcontroller: UIViewController, UITableViewDataSource, UIScrollViewDelegate {
// all methods
}
Function Declarations
Keep short function declarations on one line including the opening brace:
func reticulateSplines(spline: [Double]) -> Bool {
// reticulate code goes here
}
For functions with long signatures, add line breaks at appropriate points and add an extra indent on subsequent lines:
func reticulateSplines(spline: [Double], adjustmentFactor: Double,
translateConstant: Int, comment: String) -> Bool {
// reticulate code goes here
}
Closure Expressions
Use trailing closure syntax wherever possible. In all cases, give the closure parameters descriptive names:
return SKAction.customActionWithDuration(effect.duration) { node, elapsedTime in
// more code goes here
}
For single-expression closures where the context is clear, use implicit returns:
attendeeList.sort { a, b in
a > b
}
Types
Always use Swift’s native types when available. Swift offers bridging to Objective-C so you can still use the full set of methods as needed.
Preferred:
let width = 120.0 //Double
let widthString = (width as NSNumber).stringValue //String
Not Preferred:
let width: NSNumber = 120.0 //NSNumber
let widthString: NSString = width.stringValue //NSString
In Sprite Kit code, use CGFloat if it makes the code more succinct by avoiding too many conversions.
Constants
Constants are defined using the let keyword, and variables with the var keyword. Any value thatis a constant must be defined appropriately, using the let keyword. As a result, you will likely find yourself using let far more than var.
Tip: One technique that might help meet this standard is to define everything as a constant and only change it to a variable when the compiler complains!
Optionals
Declare variables and function return types as optional with ? where a nil value is acceptable.
Use implicitly unwrapped types declared with ! only for instance variables that you know will be initialized later before use, such as subviews that will be set up in viewDidLoad.
When accessing an optional value, use optional chaining if the value is only accessed once or if there are many optionals in the chain:
self.textContainer?.textLabel?.setNeedsDisplay()
Use optional binding when it’s more convenient to unwrap once and perform multiple operations:
if let textContainer = self.textContainer {
// do many things with textContainer
}
When naming optional variables and properties, avoid naming them like optionalStringormaybeView since their optional-ness is already in the type declaration.
For optional binding, shadow the original name when appropriate rather than using names likeunwrappedView or actualLabel.
Preferred:
var subview: UIView?
// later on...
if let subview = subview {
// do something with unwrapped subview
}
Not Preferred:
var optionalSubview: UIView?
if let unwrappedSubview = optionalSubview {
// do something with unwrappedSubview
}
Struct Initializers
Use the native Swift struct initializers rather than the legacy CGGeometry constructors.
Preferred:
let bounds = CGRect(x: 40, y: 20, width: 120, height: 80)
var centerPoint = CGPoint(x: 96, y: 42)
Not Preferred:
let bounds = CGRectMake(40, 20, 120, 80)
var centerPoint = CGPointMake(96, 42)
Prefer the struct-scope constants CGRect.infiniteRect, CGRect.nullRect, etc. over global constants CGRectInfinite, CGRectNull, etc. For existing variables, you can use the shorter.zeroRect.
Type Inference
The Swift compiler is able to infer the type of variables and constants. You can provide an explicit type via a type alias (which is indicated by the type after the colon), but in the majority of cases this is not necessary.
Prefer compact code and let the compiler infer the type for a constant or variable.
Preferred:
let message = "Click the button"
var currentBounds = computeViewBounds()
Not Preferred:
let message: String = "Click the button"
var currentBounds: CGRect = computeViewBounds()
NOTE: Following this guideline means picking descriptive names is even more important than before.
Syntactic Sugar
Prefer the shortcut versions of type declarations over the full generics syntax.
Preferred:
var deviceModels: [String]
var employees: [Int: String]
var faxNumber: Int?
Not Preferred:
var deviceModels: Array<String>
var employees: Dictionary<Int, String>
var faxNumber: Optional<Int>
Control Flow
Prefer the for-in style of for loop over the for-condition-increment style.
Preferred:
for _ in 0..<3 {
println("Hello three times")
}
for (index, person) in enumerate(attendeeList) {
println("\(person) is at position #\(index)")
}
Not Preferred:
for var i = 0; i < 3; i++ {
println("Hello three times")
}
for var i = 0; i < attendeeList.count; i++ {
let person = attendeeList[i]
println("\(person) is at position #\(i)")
}
Semicolons
Swift does not require a semicolon after each statement in your code. They are only required if you wish to combine multiple statements on a single line.
Do not write multiple statements on a single line separated with semicolons.
The only exception to this rule is the for-conditional-increment construct, which requires semicolons. However, alternative for-in constructs should be used where possible.
Preferred:
var swift = "not a scripting language"
Not Preferred:
var swift = "not a scripting language";
Language
Use US English spelling to match Apple’s API.
Preferred:
Not Preferred:
Smiley Face
Smiley faces are a very prominent style feature of the raywenderlich.com site! It is very important to have the correct smile signifying the immense amount of happiness and excitement for the coding topic. The closing square bracket ] is used because it represents the largest smile able to be captured using ASCII art. A closing parenthesis ) creates a half-hearted smile, and thus is not preferred.
Preferred:
:]
Not Preferred:
:)
