How do I make an HTTP request in Swift?

Question

I read The Programming Language Swift by Apple in iBooks, but cannot figure out how to make an HTTP request (something like cURL) in Swift. Do I need to import Obj-C classes

Answer 1

In Swift 4.1 and Xcode 9.4.1.

JSON POST approach example. To check internet connection add Reachability.h & .m files from https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/samplecode/Reachability/Introduction/Intro.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/DTS40007324-Intro-DontLinkElementID_2

func yourFunctionName {
    //Check internet connection
    let networkReachability = Reachability.forInternetConnection()
    let networkStatus:Int = (networkReachability?.currentReachabilityStatus())!.rawValue
    print(networkStatus)
    if networkStatus == NotReachable.rawValue {
        let msg = SharedClass.sharedInstance.noNetMsg//Message
        //Call alert from shared class
        SharedClass.sharedInstance.alert(view: self, title: "", message: msg)
    } else {
        //Call spinner from shared class
        SharedClass.sharedInstance.activityIndicator(view: self.view)//Play spinner

        let parameters = "Your parameters here"
        var request = URLRequest(url: URL(string: url)!)

        request.setValue("application/x-www-form-urlencoded", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
        request.httpMethod = "POST"

        print("URL : \(request)")

        request.httpBody = parameters.data(using: .utf8)

        let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request) { data, response, error in guard let data = data, error == nil else { // check for fundamental networking error
            //Stop spinner
            SharedClass.sharedInstance.stopActivityIndicator() //Stop spinner
            //Print error in alert
            SharedClass.sharedInstance.alert(view: self, title: "", message: "\(String(describing: error!.localizedDescription))")
            return
            }

            SharedClass.sharedInstance.stopActivityIndicator() //Stop spinner

            if let httpStatus = response as? HTTPURLResponse, httpStatus.statusCode != 200 { // check for http errors
                print("statusCode should be 200, but is \(httpStatus.statusCode)")
                print("response = \(String(describing: response))")
            }

            do {
                let response = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: []) as? [String: AnyObject]
                print(response!)
                //Your code here                    
            } catch let error as NSError {
                print(error)
            }
        }

        task.resume()

    }

}

If you have interest to use this function in SharedClass

//My shared class
import UIKit
class SharedClass: NSObject {

static let sharedInstance = SharedClass()

func postRequestFunction(apiName: String , parameters: String, onCompletion: @escaping (_ success: Bool, _ error: Error?, _ result: [String: Any]?)->()) {

    var URL =  "your URL here/index.php/***?"

    URL = URL.replacingOccurrences(of: "***", with: apiName)

    var request = URLRequest(url: URL(string: URL)!)
    request.setValue("application/x-www-form-urlencoded", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
    request.httpMethod = "POST"
    print("shared URL : \(request)")
    request.httpBody = parameters.data(using: .utf8)

    var returnRes:[String:Any] = [:]
    let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request) { data, response, error in

        if let error = error {
            onCompletion(false, error, nil)
        } else {
            guard let data = data else {
                onCompletion(false, error, nil)
                return
            }

            if let httpStatus = response as? HTTPURLResponse, httpStatus.statusCode == 200 {
                do {
                   returnRes = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: []) as! [String : Any]
                    onCompletion(true, nil, returnRes)

                } catch let error as NSError {
                   onCompletion(false, error, nil)
                }
            } else {
                onCompletion(false, error, nil)
            }
        }
    }
    task.resume()
}


private override init() {

}

And finally call this function like this....

SharedClass.sharedInstance.postRequestFunction(apiName: "Your API name", parameters: parameters) { (success, error, result) in
    print(result!)
    if success {
        //Your code here
    } else {
        print(error?.localizedDescription ?? "")
    }
}