Introduction to Swift: Optionals

This video explains optionals in three different ways. Once you understand them, skip ahead to 12:43!

Learn how to Swift deals with missing data, including unwrapping using “if let” and “guard let”.

[twostraws]

Questions? Comments? Tweet me @twostraws.

[DeirdreSM]

The explanation that made me get it: when a function returns an optional, it hands you a box. What you want is—maybe—inside the box. So you have to unwrap the box to see if there's a kitten inside. Because, cruelly, that function did not actually promise you a kitten. It said it could also return an empty box.

[jdholwick]

I found this extremely helpful in understanding optionals. -- Very clear and organized explanations!

[danielthompson]

What do we do if we're trying to unwrap the optional and it's actually nil?

[semilife]

Great explanation of an often misunderstood (Taylor) Swift concept.

[jasurrajabov]

Excellent explanation Paul. Thanks a lot!

[bitsurfer]

If I had a text field, I would then need to check if it contains a value before I force-unwrap it and use it for my purposes?

[kelly_browning]

Thank you Paul! The Taylor Swift album example was the one that made it click for me. Very straightforward and easy to grasp.

[salinas]

Didn`t get any of the explanations. Programming might not be for me!

[williamsquires]

Did anyone notice the message that the LLDB RPC server crashed? Looks like LLDB didn’t unwrap the optional - so sad. 😫

[bitsurfer]

How do you open Playground? I've used it but forget how to open it.

[reinioyeah]

Great explanation. Now I get it. Thank you!

[alias_onedepapel]

You really like Taylor Swift...🤣 I get the pun.haha

[lagustephen]

haaaa, I am hater of Taylor Shift, ahaha...

func hateTaylor() -> String {
print("I am not a hater of Taylor Swift")

}