CODEWITHSUNDEEP
swift
DefinitelyNotAPlesiosaur
DefinitelyNotAPlesiosaur

Reputation: 598

Class as Function Parameter

Is it possible to pass a class as a function parameter? I currently have a base class which I'll refer to as BaseClass. Right now, here's what I can do:

func someFunction(instanceParameter: BaseClass) {
    // code
}

The parameter would be some class that inherits from BaseClass. However, I would like to pass a class type itself as a parameter. Here's some pseudo-code:

func someFunction(classParameter: Class) {
    // code
}

The parameter would be ClassThatInheritsFromBaseClass instead of an instance of ClassThatInheritsFromBaseClass.

On top of that, would it be possible to restrict the class parameter to classes that inherit from BaseClass? The pseudo-code below shows what I mean.

func someFunction(classParameter: BaseClass_Class_Not_Instance) {
    // code
}

Upvotes: 4

Views: 116

Answers (1)

Stuart
Stuart

Reputation: 37053

You're looking for the metatype type - .Type:

func someFunction(classParameter: Class.Type) {
    // code
}

You may be able to restrict to only subclasses using generics, but I haven't tested this just yet:

func someFunction<T: BaseClass where T != BaseClass>(classParameter: T.Type) { ... }

Upvotes: 2

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