CODEWITHSUNDEEP
iosswiftgenerics
Andrey M.
Andrey M.

Reputation: 3069

Is it possible to pass AnyClass to generic function

Im trying to pass AnyClass to generic function like this:

if let arrayObjectClass = NSClassFromString("arrayObjectTypeName") {
    foo(type: arrayObjectClass)
}

where foo looks like this:

func foo<T>(type: T.Type) {
    ...
}

but it fails to compile with error: Cannot convert value of type 'AnyClass' (aka 'AnyObject.Type') to expected argument type 'T.Type'

Upvotes: 2

Views: 154

Answers (1)

user652038
user652038

Reputation:

The compiler needs a type for your T there. Your AnyClass instance is not a type. So your foo will need to know what the class is supposed to be. This must be done at runtime.

if let arrayObjectClass = NSClassFromString("arrayObjectTypeName") {
  try foo(class: arrayObjectClass, arrayObjectTypeName.self)
}

func foo<T>(class: AnyClass, _: T.Type) throws {
  if let error = CastError(`class`, desired: T.self)
  { throw error }
}

/// An error that represents casting gone wrong. 🧙‍♀️🙀
public enum CastError: Error {
  /// An undesired cast is possible.
  case possible

  /// An desired cast is not possible.
  case impossible
}

public extension CastError {
  /// `nil` if  an `Instance` can be cast to `Desired`. Otherwise, `.impossible`.
  init?<Instance, Desired>(_: Instance, desired _: Desired.Type) {
    self.init(Instance.self, desired: Desired.self)
  }

  /// `nil` if  a `Source` can be cast to `Desired`. Otherwise, `.impossible`.
  init?<Source, Desired>(_: Source.Type, desired _: Desired.Type) {
    if Source.self is Desired.Type
    { return nil }

    self = .impossible
  }

  /// `nil` if  an `Instance` cannot be cast to `Undesired`. Otherwise, `.possible`.
  init?<Instance, Undesired>(_: Instance, undesired _: Undesired.Type) {
    self.init(Instance.self, undesired: Undesired.self)
  }

  /// `nil` if  a `Source` cannot be cast to `Undesired`. Otherwise, `.possible`.
  init?<Source, Undesired>(_: Source.Type, undesired _: Undesired.Type) {
    guard Source.self is Undesired.Type
    else { return nil }

    self = .possible
  }
}

Upvotes: 2

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