function with dataTask returning a value - swift

Question

I wan't to check if my url statusCode equals to 200, I created a function returning a Boolean if the statusCode equals to 200, I'm using a dataTask, but I don't know how to return a value:
class func checkUrl(urlString: String) -> Bool{
let urlPath: String = urlString
var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
var request: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(url: url as URL)
var response: URLResponse?
let session = Foundation.URLSession.shared
var task = session.dataTask(with: request as URLRequest, completionHandler: {(data, response, error) in
if let error = error {
print(error)
}
if let data = data{
print("data =\(data)")
}
if let response = response {
print("url = \(response.url!)")
print("response = \(response)")
let httpResponse = response as! HTTPURLResponse
print("response code = \(httpResponse.statusCode)")
if httpResponse.statusCode == 200{
return true
} else {
return false
}
}
})
task.resume()
}
The returns in if else are returning an error:
Unexpected non-void return value in void function

Answer 1

in order to return value you should use blocks. Try declaring your function like this:
class func checkUrl(urlString: String, finished: ((isSuccess: Bool)->Void) {
let urlPath: String = urlString
var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
var request: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(url: url as URL)
var response: URLResponse?
let session = Foundation.URLSession.shared
var task = session.dataTask(with: request as URLRequest, completionHandler: {(data, response, error) in
if let error = error {
print(error)
}
if let data = data{
print("data =\(data)")
}
if let response = response {
print("url = \(response.url!)")
print("response = \(response)")
let httpResponse = response as! HTTPURLResponse
print("response code = \(httpResponse.statusCode)")
if httpResponse.statusCode == 200{
finished(isSuccess: true)
} else {
finished(isSuccess: false)
}
}
})
task.resume()
}
And then call it like this:
checkUrl("http://myBestURL.com", finished { isSuccess in
// Handle logic after return here
})
Hope that this will help.

Answer 2

Consider semaphore if you want to keep your original return pattern.
func checkUrl(urlString: String) -> Bool {
if let url = URL(string: fileUrl) {
var result: Bool!
let semaphore = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0) //1. create a counting semaphore
let session = URLSession.shared
session.dataTask(with: url, completionHandler: { (data, response, error) in
result = true //or false in case
semaphore.signal() //3. count it up
}).resume()
semaphore.wait() //2. wait for finished counting
return result
}
return false
}

Answer 3

Swift4, work in my case
Try to add guard let data = data else { return } in dataTask like:
URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request) { (data, response, error) in
guard let data = data else { return }
print("get some data")
}.resume()

Answer 4

You're returning a value from a Void function that is the completionHandler closure of dataTask(_:, _:)
Regarding your code, there is something wrong: you can't return that value because it's executed on a different thread, it's an asynchronous operation. Please take a look at this thread: Returning data from async call in Swift function