How to check validity of URL in Swift?

Question

Trying to make an app launch the default browser to a URL, but only if the URL entered is valid, otherwise it displays a message saying the URL is invalid.

How would

Answer 1

Version that works with Swift 4.2 and has reliable URL pattern matching ...

func matches(pattern: String) -> Bool
{
    do
    {
        let regex = try NSRegularExpression(pattern: pattern, options: [.caseInsensitive])
        return regex.firstMatch(in: self, options: [], range: NSRange(location: 0, length: utf16.count)) != nil
    }
    catch
    {
        return false
    }
}


func isValidURL() -> Bool
{
    guard let url = URL(string: self) else { return false }
    if !UIApplication.shared.canOpenURL(url) { return false }

    let urlPattern = "(http|ftp|https):\\/\\/([\\w+?\\.\\w+])+([a-zA-Z0-9\\~\\!\\@\\#\\$\\%\\^\\&\\*\\(\\)_\\-\\=\\+\\\\\\/\\?\\.\\:\\;\\'\\,]*)?"
    return self.matches(pattern: urlPattern)
}