can I split a numeric string using multiple separators in a Swift closure?

Question

I have a string array with fractional numbers and decimal numbers.

    let stringArray = [ \"0.0\", \"193.16\", \"5/4\", \"503.42\", \"696.58\", \"25/16\", \         


        

Answer 1

If your intention is to create floating point numbers from either a decimal representation or a fraction, then there is no need to split the string at the decimal point.

You can try to convert the string with Double(string), and if that fails, split it at the slash and convert numerator and denominator separately:

func doubleFromDecimalOrFraction(s: String) -> Double? {
    // Try to convert from decimal representation:
    if let value = Double(s) {
        return value
    }
    // Try to convert from fractional format:
    if let range = s.range(of: "/"),
        let num = Double(s.substring(to: range.lowerBound)),
        let den = Double(s.substring(from: range.upperBound)) {
        return num/den
    }
    // Invalid format
    return nil
}

(Instead of returning nil for invalid input you might also consider to throw an error, to abort the execution with fatalError(), or to return some default value.)

This "utility function" can then be applied each array element:

let strings = [ "0.0", "193.16", "5/4", "503.42", "696.58", "25/16", "1082.89", "2/1"]
let values = strings.flatMap(doubleFromDecimalOrFraction)

Answer 2

Define extension (Swift 4):

extension String {
    func split(separators: String) -> [String] {
        return components(separatedBy: CharacterSet(charactersIn: separators))
    }
}

Usage:

let str = "aaa-bbb_ccc/ffffd"
let arr = str.split(separators: "-_/")

Result :

["aaa", "bbb", "ccc", "ffffd"]

Answer 3

Split by more than one separator

Using split

Swift 4

let s = "[0, 1, 2, 1]"
let splitted = s.characters.split { [",", "[", "]"].contains($0.description) }

Swift 3

let s = "[0, 1, 2, 1]"
let splitted = s.characters.split { [",", "[", "]"].contains($0.description) }

Swift 2

let s = "[0, 1, 2, 1]"
let splitted = s.characters.split(isSeparator: {[",", "[", "]"].contains($0)}) }

---

Using characterSet

Swift 4

let str = "[0, 1, 2, 1]"
let separatorSet = CharacterSet(charactersIn: ",[]")
let comps = str.components(separatedBy: separatorSet)

Swift 3

let str = "[0, 1, 2, 1]"
let separatorSet = CharacterSet(charactersInString: ",[]")
let comps = str.components(separatedBy: separatorSet)

Swift 2

let str = "[0, 1, 2, 1]"
let separatorSet = NSCharacterSet(charactersInString: ",[]")
let comps = str.componentsSeparatedByCharactersInSet(separatorSet)

---

No matter what method we will use, and as a result, you will receive array. Without the information, which separator was used

If you need only convert String to Double then

let array = stringArray.compactMap { element -> Double? in
    if let value = Double(element) {
        return value
    }
    let parts = element.components(separatedBy: "/")
    guard parts.count == 2, 
          let dividend = Double(parts[0]), 
          let divisor = Double(parts[1]), 
          divisor != 0
    else {
        return nil
    }
    return dividend / divisor
}