Random Elements from Dictionary - swift

Question

Here is my Array of Dictionary,
var myArrayOfDict = [["vegetables": ["CARROT","BEANS"], "fruits": ["APPLE","MANGO","BANANA"], "letters":["A","B","C","D"],"numbers":["ONE","TWO","THREE"],"shapes":["SQUARE","RECTANGLE","CIRCLE"]]]
How do i get the desired output, actually i need to get random selected elements of the specified range ...(i.e) when i need 3 elements randomnly from dictionary as like,
[["fruits": ["APPLE","MANGO","BANANA"],"shapes":["SQUARE","RECTANGLE","CIRCLE"],"numbers":["ONE","TWO","THREE"]]]
When i need just 2 elements randomnly like,
[["shapes":["SQUARE","RECTANGLE","CIRCLE"],"fruits": ["APPLE","MANGO","BANANA"]]]
Thanks in Advance,

Answer 1

Here is one solution using randomElement().
func randomSelection(from dict: [String: [String]], count: Int) -> [String: [String]] {
guard !dict.isEmpty else { return [:] }
var result = [String: [String]]()
for i in 0..<count {
let element = dict.randomElement()! //We know dictionary is not empty
result[element.key] = element.value
}
return result
}
The above solution might return less elements in a dictionary than expected if the same element is returned more than once from randomElemnt(). If this should be voided the below solution should work
func randomSelection(from dict: [String: [String]], count: Int) -> [String: [String]] {
guard !dict.isEmpty else { return [:] }
guard dict.count > count else { return dict }
var result = [String: [String]]()
while result.count < count {
let element = dict.randomElement()!
if result[element.key] == nil {
result[element.key] = element.value
}
}
return result
}
Since the function takes a dictionary as the first argument the array needs to be looped over
for d in myArrayOfDict {
print(randomSelection(from: d, count: 2))
}

Answer 2

Array myArrayOfDict contains a single Dictionary. So, it doesn't make sense getting a random element from it.
As your example explains, you need to get random elements from the Dictionary itself.
So, you can use randomElement to get that working.
let myArrayOfDict = ["vegetables": ["CARROT","BEANS"], "fruits": ["APPLE","MANGO","BANANA"], "letters":["A","B","C","D"],"numbers":["ONE","TWO","THREE"],"shapes":["SQUARE","RECTANGLE","CIRCLE"]]
var elements = [String : [String]]()
let count = 2
for _ in 0..<count {
if let element = myArrayOfDict.randomElement() {
elements[element.key] = element.value
}
}
print(elements)