Add a cell only if certain conditions are met - swift

Question

So i have an array of struct where i add data from my json. There are different types of data in the same array.
struct PersonData {
let name: String
let age: String
let sex : String
}
What i want to do is to implement a pickerView that will reload the table view depending on what the user choose. Lets say i have 2 picker views where the user can choose sex and age.
So if he chose all males with 17 years old i want to show only that on the table view.
I can already get the count on the array but i can't return nil on the UITableViewCell method
I wanted to do something like this:
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "reuseCell", for: indexPath) as! CellTeatroTableViewCell
if(option == 0) //All persons. Default option
{
cell.name.text = dataArray[indexPath.row].name
return cell
}
else
{
if(dataArray[indexPath.row].age == agePickerOption || dataArray[indexPath.row].sex == sexPickerOption )
{
cell.name.text = dataArray[indexPath.row].name
return cell
}
}
return nil
}
I know i cant return nil since he is expecting a UITableViewCell but its possible to only increment the indexPath if certain conditions are met?
Or i need to add the cell and delete it right after? This doesn't sounds right.

Answer 1

I would have two data arrays:
allDataArray - all elements
filteredDataArray - elements that comply to your filter
If you use the filteredArray as a DataSource you dont have to put that logic in the cellForRow Method.
Instead, use the picker delegate methods to filter your allDataArray and put it on the filteredDataArray.