Return response as object in swift - swift

Question

I have a function that connects to an API to retrieve data. The API takes two parameters accessCode (provided by user in a text box) and then UDID (UDID of their device). I can parse the data from within the function, but only locally. I need to store the values that are returned but am unsure on how to return them properly. Essentially I need this to return the json object as a dictionary (I think...) so it can be parsed outside of the async task. I've read through the swift documentation and that's where I found out how to do the requests, but I can't find a way to store the returned values in memory for access outside of the function.
func getResponse(accessCode:String, UDID:String, _ completion: #escaping (NSDictionary) -> ()) {
let urlPath = "https://apihosthere.com/api/validate?accessCode=" + accessCode + "&UDID=" + UDID
guard let url = URL(string: urlPath) else { return }
let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { (data, response, error) in
guard let data = data else { return }
do {
if let jsonResult = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions.mutableContainers) as? NSDictionary {
let results = jsonResult as? NSDictionary
print(results)
completion(results!)
}
} catch {
//Catch Error here...
}
}
task.resume()
}

Answer 1

First of all don't use NSDictionary in Swift, use native [String:Any] and declare the type as optional to return nil if an error occurs.
And never use .mutableContainers in Swift, the option is useless.
func getResponse(accessCode:String, UDID:String, completion: #escaping ([String:Any]?) -> Void)) {
let urlPath = "https://apihosthere.com/api/validate?accessCode=" + accessCode + "&UDID=" + UDID
guard let url = URL(string: urlPath) else { return }
let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { (data, response, error) in
if let error = error else {
print(error)
completion(nil)
return
}
do {
if let jsonResult = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!) as? [String:Any] {
print(jsonResult)
completion(jsonResult)
} else {
completion(nil)
}
} catch {
print(error)
completion(nil)
}
}
task.resume()
}
Your mistake is that you don't consider the closure, you have to execute the entire code inside the completion handler
#IBAction func StartWizard(_ sender: UIButton) {
//Store entered access code
let accessCode = AccessCodeField.text!
//Call API to validate Access Code
getResponse(accessCode:accessCode, UDID:myDeviceUDID) { [weak self] result in
if let accessCodeFound = result?["Found"] as? Bool {
print("Value of Found during function:")
//If access code is valid, go to License view
print(accessCodeFound)
if accessCodeFound {
//Load License View
DispatchQueue.main.async {
let storyboard = UIStoryboard(name: "Main", bundle: nil)
let licenseController = storyboard.instantiateViewController(identifier: "LicenseViewPanel")
self?.show(licenseController, sender: self)
}
}
}
}
}

Answer 2

Your completion closure should handle the obtained data. You would call the function like this:
getResponse(accessCode: "code", UDID: "udid", completion: { result in
// Do whatever you need to do with the dictionary result
}
Also, I'd recommend you to change your NSDictionary with a swift Dictionary.

Answer 3

This is what the API returns as a response
{
AccessCode = 00000000;
Client = "0000 - My Company Name";
EmailAddress = "brandon#brandonthomas.me";
FirstName = Brandon;
Found = 1;
LastName = Thomas;
Status = A;
UDIDregistered = 1;
}
And this is what calls the function. I am calling at after clicking a button after an access code is being entered in a text field.
#IBAction func StartWizard(_ sender: UIButton) {
//Store entered access code
let accessCode = AccessCodeField.text!
var accessCodeFound: Bool? = nil
//Call API to validate Access Code
getResponse(accessCode:accessCode, UDID:myDeviceUDID) { result in
accessCodeFound = result["Found"] as! Bool
print("Value of Found during function:")
print(accessCodeFound)
//accessCodeFound = true
}
//If access code is valid, go to License view
print("Value of Found after function:")
print(accessCodeFound)
//accessCodeFound = nil ???
//it seems the value is getting reset after the function completes
if accessCodeFound == true{
//Load License View
let storyboard = UIStoryboard(name: "Main", bundle: nil)
let licenseController = storyboard.instantiateViewController(identifier: "LicenseViewPanel")
self.show(licenseController, sender: Any?.self)
}
}