# Defaults [![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/sindresorhus/Defaults.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/sindresorhus/Defaults) > Swifty and modern [UserDefaults](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/userdefaults) This package is used in production by the [Lungo](https://sindresorhus.com/lungo), [Battery Indicator](https://sindresorhus.com/battery-indicator), and [HEIC Converter](https://sindresorhus.com/heic-converter) app. ## Highlights - **Strongly typed:** You declare the type and default value upfront. - **Codable support:** You can store any [Codable](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swift/codable) value, like an enum. - **Debuggable:** The data is stored as JSON-serialized values. - **Observation:** Observe changes to keys. - **Lightweight:** It's only ~300 lines of code. ## Compatibility - macOS 10.12+ - iOS 10+ - tvOS 10+ - watchOS 3+ ## Install #### SwiftPM ```swift .package(url: "https://github.com/sindresorhus/Defaults", from: "2.0.2") ``` #### Carthage ``` github "sindresorhus/Defaults" ``` #### CocoaPods ```ruby pod 'Defaults' ``` ## Usage You declare the defaults keys upfront with type and default value. ```swift import Cocoa import Defaults extension Defaults.Keys { static let quality = Key("quality", default: 0.8) // ^ ^ ^ ^ // Key Type UserDefaults name Default value } ``` You can then access it as a subscript on the `defaults` global (note lowercase): ```swift defaults[.quality] //=> 0.8 defaults[.quality] = 0.5 //=> 0.5 defaults[.quality] += 0.1 //=> 0.6 defaults[.quality] = "🦄" //=> [Cannot assign value of type 'String' to type 'Double'] ``` You can also declare optional keys for when you don't want to declare a default value upfront: ```swift extension Defaults.Keys { static let name = OptionalKey("name") } if let name = defaults[.name] { print(name) } ``` ### Enum example ```swift enum DurationKeys: String, Codable { case tenMinutes = "10 Minutes" case halfHour = "30 Minutes" case oneHour = "1 Hour" } extension Defaults.Keys { static let defaultDuration = Key("defaultDuration", default: .oneHour) } defaults[.defaultDuration].rawValue //=> "1 Hour" ``` ### It's just UserDefaults with sugar This works too: ```swift extension Defaults.Keys { static let isUnicorn = Key("isUnicorn", default: true) } UserDefaults.standard[.isUnicorn] //=> true ``` ### Shared UserDefaults ```swift let extensionDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: "com.unicorn.app")! extension Defaults.Keys { static let isUnicorn = Key("isUnicorn", default: true, suite: extensionDefaults) } defaults[.isUnicorn] //=> true // Or extensionDefaults[.isUnicorn] //=> true ``` ### Use keys directly You are not required to attach keys to `Defaults.Keys`. ```swift let isUnicorn = Defaults.Key("isUnicorn", default: true) defaults[isUnicorn] //=> true ``` ### Observe changes to a key ```swift extension Defaults.Keys { static let isUnicornMode = Key("isUnicornMode", default: false) } let observer = defaults.observe(.isUnicornMode) { change in // Initial event print(change.oldValue) //=> false print(change.newValue) //=> false // First actual event print(change.oldValue) //=> false print(change.newValue) //=> true } defaults[.isUnicornMode] = true ``` In contrast to the native `UserDefaults` key observation, here you receive a strongly-typed change object. ### Default values are registered with UserDefaults When you create a `Defaults.Key`, it automatically registers the `default` value with normal UserDefaults. This means you can make use of the default value in, for example, bindings in Interface Builder. ```swift extension Defaults.Keys { static let isUnicornMode = Key("isUnicornMode", default: true) } print(UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: isUnicornMode.name)) //=> true ``` ## API ### `let defaults = Defaults()` #### `Defaults.Keys` Type: `class` Stores the keys. #### `Defaults.Key` *(alias `Defaults.Keys.Key`)* ```swift Defaults.Key(_ key: String, default: T, suite: UserDefaults = .standard) ``` Type: `class` Create a key with a default value. The default value is written to the actual `UserDefaults` and can be used elsewhere. For example, with Interface Builder binding. #### `Defaults.OptionalKey` *(alias `Defaults.Keys.OptionalKey`)* ```swift Defaults.OptionalKey(_ key: String, suite: UserDefaults = .standard) ``` Type: `class` Create a key with an optional value. #### `Defaults#clear` ```swift clear(suite: UserDefaults = .standard) ``` Type: `func` Clear the user defaults. #### `Defaults#observe` ```swift observe( _ key: Defaults.Key, options: NSKeyValueObservingOptions = [.initial, .old, .new], handler: @escaping (KeyChange) -> Void ) -> DefaultsObservation ``` ```swift observe( _ key: Defaults.OptionalKey, options: NSKeyValueObservingOptions = [.initial, .old, .new], handler: @escaping (OptionalKeyChange) -> Void ) -> DefaultsObservation ``` Type: `func` Observe changes to a key or an optional key. By default, it will also trigger an initial event on creation. This can be useful for setting default values on controls. You can override this behavior with the `options` argument. ## FAQ ### How is this different from [`SwiftyUserDefaults`](https://github.com/radex/SwiftyUserDefaults)? It's inspired by that package and other solutions. The main difference is that this module doesn't hardcode the default values and comes with Codable support. ## Related - [Preferences](https://github.com/sindresorhus/Preferences) - Add a preferences window to your macOS app in minutes - [LaunchAtLogin](https://github.com/sindresorhus/LaunchAtLogin) - Add "Launch at Login" functionality to your macOS app - [DockProgress](https://github.com/sindresorhus/DockProgress) - Show progress in your app's Dock icon - [Gifski](https://github.com/sindresorhus/Gifski) - Convert videos to high-quality GIFs on your Mac - [More…](https://github.com/search?q=user%3Asindresorhus+language%3Aswift)