How to Fix WebImage Not Updating in SwiftUI with the Unsplash API

Struggling with `WebImage` not updating in SwiftUI? Learn how to properly refresh your images when changing the search query with this comprehensive guide!
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How to Fix WebImage Not Updating in SwiftUI with the Unsplash API

If you're developing an iOS application using SwiftUI and the Unsplash API, you may encounter issues where the WebImage does not update even after changing the search term. This problem can be frustrating, especially when you see that your data source is updating correctly but your view isn't reflecting those changes.

In this guide, we will explore the reasons behind this issue and how to resolve it, ensuring a smooth experience when working with images in your application.

Understanding the Problem

When using ObservedObject in SwiftUI, you might expect that changing the properties in your ObservableObject will automatically trigger the view to update. In this case, we are focusing on an application that fetches images from the Unsplash API based on a search term.

Here’s a brief outline of how the components in our application are structured:

SearchObjectController: Fetches images from Unsplash API.

MoodboardView: Displays images fetched based on a search term.

GenerateView: A secondary view to change the search term.

The problem arises when you change the searchText property of SearchObjectController but do not subsequently call the search method again. Therefore, the new values from the API do not refresh the images displayed in MoodboardView.

The Solution

1. Trigger a New Search After Changing the Term

After updating the searchText, you need to manually invoke the search() method again to fetch the new results. Here's how to implement this:

In your GenerateView, adjust the button action as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This simple addition ensures that whenever you change the search text, the associated images will refresh accordingly.

2. Simplifying Your Code with EnvironmentObject

If your application uses a single instance of SearchObjectController, you can simplify your code by using EnvironmentObject. This allows you to reference the shared instance of your object without repeatedly passing it around. Here’s how:

Add to the main Scene:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Updating MoodboardView to use EnvironmentObject:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

3. Consider Clearing Old Results

Note that if you simply append new results from the server to the existing results array, the old images will still be shown. If you'd prefer to see only the new search results, you can clear the existing results before fetching new ones:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can ensure that your WebImage updates properly whenever the search term is changed, providing users with a seamless experience. Implementing EnvironmentObject also simplifies your code structure, making it more maintainable.

Happy coding, and may your app's images always be up-to-date!