Swift and C# Quick Reference - Language Equivalents and Code Examples

Variables
Swift

C#

boolean

Bool

bool

constant

let

const

declaration

var

var

Float, Double

float, double

Int

int

float
integer
optional

? (optional)

? (nullable)

tuple

tuple

System.Tuple

string

String (value)

string (reference)

Optional and nullable reference variables

Swift: Only optional reference variables can be set to nil.
var optBox : Box? = nil
if let aBox = optBox {
println(aBox.top)
}
if optBox!.top > 4 {
println("Box is not at the origin.")
}
C#: All reference variables can be set to null.
string optString = null;
if (optString != null) {
Console.WriteLine(optString);
}
int? length = null;
if (length.HasValue) {
Console.WriteLine(length.Value);
}

Operators
Swift

C#

arithmetic

+, -, *, /, %

+, -, *, /, %

assignment

<<, >>, &, |, ~, ^,

<<, >>, <<=, >>= &, |, ^, ~

&+, &-, &*,

checked

&/, &%

unchecked

bitwise
overflow

var
var
var
var
var
var
var

world = "world"
helloWorld = hello + ", " + world
sayHello = "\(hello), \(world)"
capitalized = helloWorld.uppercaseString
numberOfChars = countElements(sayHello)
seventhChar = sayHello[advance(sayHello.startIndex, 7)]
startsWithHello = sayHello.hasPrefix("hello")

C#: String is an alias for System.String, a class with properties,

methods, and indexing. Strings can be concatenated with
String.Format or the + operator.
var
var
var
var
var
var
var
var

hello = "hello";
world = "world";
helloWorld = hello + ", " + world;
sayHello = string.Format("%s, %s", hello, world);
capitalized = helloWorld.ToUpper();
numberOfChars = sayHello.Length;
charN = sayHello[7];
startsWithHello = sayHello.StartsWith("hello");

Swift and C# are C-style languages that are

both productive and powerful. Using Swift,
you can create iOS applications using Xcode.
By leveraging your Swift skills, its an easy
transition to C#. Then using C# with Xamarin
and Visual Studio, you can create applications
that run on Windows, iOS, and Android.
Learn more at Cross-Platform Development
in Visual Studio (http://aka.ms/T71425) and
Understanding the Xamarin Mobile Platform
(http://aka.ms/Teumsa).

if

do-while

do-while

for

for

for-in

foreach-in

if

if

access
constructor
class
delegate
destructor

init

constructor

class

class

function types

delegate

deinit

destructor~

extension

extension

lock

extension

subscript

indexer

range

a..<b, ab

(no equivalent)

queries

(no equivalent)

LINQ

indexing

relational

==, !=, >, <

==, !=, >, <

private, public

public, private, protected, interal

AnyObject, Any

object

self

this

is, as, as?

cast, dynamic, as

typealias

using

Operator overloading

switch
try-catch, throw

switch,

switch

fallthrough
assert

try-catch, throw

inheritance
object
self

Swift: In this example, adding two boxes returns a box that

contains both boxes.

using

(no equivalent)

using

type casting

unsafe

(no equivalent)

unsafe

type alias

func + (r1: Box, r2: Box) -> Box {

return (Box(
top: min(r1.top, r2.top),
left: min(r1.left, r2.left),
bottom: max(r1.bottom, r2.bottom),
right: max(r1.right, r2.right)))
}
var boxSum = Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 1, right: 1)
+ Box(top: 1, left: 1, bottom: 3, right: 3)

while

while

while

yield

(no equivalent)

yield

C#: Adding two boxes returns a box that contains both boxes.
public static Box operator +(Box box1, Box box2)
{
return new Box(
(int)Math.Min(box1.Top, box2.Top),
(int)Math.Min(box1.Left, box2.Left),
(int)Math.Max(box1.Bottom, box2.Bottom),
(int)Math.Max(box1.Right, box2.Right));
}
var boxSum = new Box(0, 0, 1, 1) + new Box(1, 1, 3, 3);

var a
var b
if (b
a
}

= 6
= a
== 6) {
= 2

C#: Chain assignment is allowed and testing assignment

expressions is allowed.
int b = 2;
int a = b = 6;
if ((b = 6) == 6)
a = 2;

Range Operator
Swift: Use the range operator to create a range of values.
for i in 1...5 {
println(i)
}

Swift: By default, underflow and overflow produce an error at

runtime. You can use the overflow operators to suppress errors,
but the resulting calculation might not be what you expect.
// This code does not produce an error, but the
// resulting value is not the expected value.
var largeInt : Int = Int.max
var tooLarge : Int = largeInt &+ 1
C#: By default, underflow and overflow do not produce an error.
You can use the checked keyword so that an exception is thrown
at runtime. If you are using implicit variable declarations, the
runtime will create variables that can contain the underflow or
overflow value.
// This code throws an exception at runtime.
int largeInt = int.MaxValue;
checked {
int tooLarge = largeInt + 5;
}

Programs
Swift

C#

attribute

(no equivalent)

attributes

memory

automatic

tree-based

reference

garbage

counting
module

collection
library

(no equivalent)

namespace

namespace
preprocessor
directives

var squares = [Box]()

for var size : Int = 1; size < 6; size++ {
squares.append(
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: size, right: size))
}
for box in squares {
println(area(box))
}
for (index, value) in enumerate(squares) {
println("Area of box \(index) is \(area(value)).")
}

(no equivalent)

preprocessor
directives

Classes and inheritance

Swift: Classes support functions, properties, constructors, and
inheritance.
class Pet {
var name : String = ""
init(name : String) {
self.name = name
}
func speak() -> String {
return ""
}
}
class Dog : Pet {
override func speak() -> String {
return "woof"
}
}

C#: You can use C-style for loops and loops that iterate over
collections.

var spot = Dog(name: "Spot")

spot.speak()

vvar squares = new List<Box>();

for (int size = 1; size < 6; size++) {
squares.Add(new Box(0, 0, size, size));
}
foreach (var square in squares) {
Console.WriteLine(area(square));
}

C#: Classes support methods, properties, constructors, events,

and inheritance.

If statement
Swift: The test condition must return a Boolean value and the
execution statements must be enclosed in braces.

C#: C# allows non-Boolean test conditions and braces are not

required around the execution statements.
string[] strings = { "one", "two", "three" };
if (strings[0] == "one") {
Console.WriteLine("First word is 'one'.");
}

Swift: Cases do not fall through unless you use the fallthrough
keyword. Therefore, a break statement is not required. A default
case is usually required. Swift supports ranges in cases.

Overflow

module

Swift: Swift supports C-style for loops, loops that iterate over
collections, and loops that return (index, value) pairs.

Switch statement

foreach (int i in Enumerable.Range(1, 5).ToList())

{
Console.WriteLine(i);
}

management

For statement

var strings = ["one", "two", "three", "four"]

if (strings[0] == "one") {
println("First word is 'one'.");
}

C#: Use the Enumerable.Range method to generate a List of

integers.

Swift: String is a value type with properties and methods that also
provides all the functionality of the NSString type. Strings can be
concatenated with string interpolation or the + operator.

for-in

break, continue

C#

(no equivalent)

Swift: The assignment operator does not return a

value, therefore you cant use it as a conditional expression
and you cant do chain assignments.

Strings and characters

for

break, continue

Swift

locking

Swift: You create a tuple using Swifts tuple syntax. You access the
tuples values using the value names or indexing.

Tuple<int, double> Summary(Box box) {

return new Tuple<int,double>(box.Area(),
box.Diagonal());
}
var box = new Box(0, 0, 1, 1);
var summaryTuple = Summary(box);
var description = "Area is " + summaryTuple.Item1
+ " and diagonal is " + summaryTuple.Item2 + ".";

do-while

C#

Protocols

overloading

Equality and assignment

C#: You create a tuple by instantiating a Tuple object. You access

the type values using Item1, Item2, etc.

break, continue

Swift

Classes

overloading

overloading

Tuples

func summary(b : Box) -> (Int, Double) {

return (b.area(), b.diagonal())
}
var box = Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 1, right: 1)
var (area, diagonal) = summary(box)
var stats = (area, diagonal)
var description =
"Area is \(area) and diagonal is \(diagonal)."
var description2 =
"Area is \(stats.0) and diagonal is \(stats.1)."

Control flow

var aSquare = Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 4, right: 4)

var label = ""
switch SpecialBox.GetSpecialType(aSquare) {
case .Square : label = "Square"
case .Rectangle : label = "Rectangle"
case .GoldenRatio : label = "Golden Ratio"
default : label = "Error"
}
var size = ""
switch aSquare.area() {
case 0...9 : size = "small"
case 10...64 : size = "medium"
default : size = "large"
}
C#: Switch cases fall through by default. Therefore, you need to
add a break statement to each case where you dont want fall
through. A default case is not required.
var aSquare = new Box(0, 0, 4, 4);
var label = "";
switch (GetSpecialType(aSquare)) {
case SpecialBox.Square :
label = "Square"; break;
case SpecialBox.Rectangle :
label = "Rectangle"; break;
case SpecialBox.GoldenRatio :
label = "Golden Ratio"; break;
default : label = "Error"; break;
}

Exceptions
Swift: Swift does not provide a way to catch exceptions. Instead,
you should program so as to avoid exceptions
var length = 4
assert(length > 0, "Length cannot be 0.")
C#: You can use try-catch for exception-handling, but catching
exceptions has a significant performance impact.
try {
var div = 1 / i;
}
catch (DivideByZeroException) {
Console.WriteLine("You can't divide by zero.");
}

Swift

C#

closures

lambdas

class method

static

static

Protocols

method

func

method

Swift: A protocol is used to define a set of related functions that

another type can implement.

overloaded

overloading

overloading

override

override

override

protocol PrintSelf {
func ToString() -> String
}

ref parameter

inout, &

ref, &

parameter array

params

parameter array

struct Box : PrintSelf {

var top: Int = 0
var left: Int = 0
var height: Int = 0
func ToString() -> String {
return "The box is at (\(self.top), "
+ "\(self.left)), with height "
+ "\(self.height)."
}
}

return

return

return

protocol

Extension methods
Swift: You can add new methods to existing classes.
extension Box {
func area() -> Int { return abs((self.top - self.bottom)
* (self.left - self.right)) }
}
C#: You can add new methods to existing classes.
public static class BoxExtensions {
public static double Area(this Box box) {
return Math.Abs((box.Top - box.Bottom) *
(box.Left - box.Right));
}
}

Type casting
Swift: Use as for type casting and is for type checking. The
compiler will prevent you from using is if the compiler can
determined the type at compile time.
var something : Any
var rand = Int(arc4random_uniform(UInt32(10)))
if rand > 5 {
something = "hello"
}
else {
something = 5
}
if something is String {
}
var anumber = something as Int
var astring = something as String
C#: C# supports type casting and uses is for type checking.
object something;
var random = new System.Random();
var rand = random.Next(10);
if (rand > 5) {
something = 5;
} else {
something = "hello";
}
if (something is string) {
// do something
}
var astring = (string)something;
var anumber = (int)something;

Swift

C#

protocol

interface

var boxPrint = Box(top: 0, left: 0, height: 2)

var desc = boxPrint.ToString()

anonymous

Swift: Function overloading is supported wherever functions can

be declared.
func speak() -> String {
return "woof"
}
func speak(add : String) -> String {
return speak() + ", " + add
}
speak()
speak("friend")
C#: Methods can be overloaded inside a class or struct.
string Speak() {
return "woof";
}
string Speak(string add)
{
return Speak() + ", " + add;
}
Speak();
Speak("friend");

functions

Reference parameters

enum

static func

(no equivalent)

Enumerations
Swift: An enumeration is a type, and you can add functions to the
type definition.
enum SpecialBox {
case Rectangle
case Square
case GoldenRatio
static func GetSpecialType(r : Box) -> SpecialBox {
var width = abs(r.top - r.bottom)
var length = abs(r.left - r.right)
if (length == width) {
return SpecialBox.Square }
else if ((Double(length)/Double(width) == 1.6)
|| (Double(width)/Double(length) == 1.6)) {
return SpecialBox.GoldenRatio }
else {
return SpecialBox.Rectangle}
}
}
var isASquare = SpecialBox.GetSpecialType(
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 2, right: 2))
var s = "\(isASquare == SpecialBox.Square)"
C#: All enumerations are instances of System.Enum class that
provides several helper methods for enumerations.
enum SpecialBox {
Rectangle,
Square,
GoldenRatio
}
SpecialBox GetSpecialType(Box box) {
var width = Math.Abs(box.Top - box.Bottom);
var length = Math.Abs(box.Left - box.Right);
if (length == width)
return SpecialBox.Square;
else if (((double)length/(double)width == 1.6)
|| ((double)width/(double)length == 1.6))
return SpecialBox.GoldenRatio;
else
return SpecialBox.Rectangle;
}
var boxType = GetSpecialType(new Box(0, 0, 2, 2));
var isSquare = (boxType == SpecialBox.Square);
var goldenName = Enum.GetName(typeof(SpecialBox), 1);

initialization

object initializer

object initializer

array

List<T>

list

Swift: To change a value in a function, mark the parameter as

inout and use & on the parameter in the function call.
func canAdd(a : Int, b: Int, inout sum : Int) -> Bool {
sum = a + b
return true
}
var sum = 0
var success = canAdd(3, 4, &sum)
C#: To change a value in a function, mark the parameter as ref
and use & on the parameter in the function call.
bool CanAdd(int a, int b, ref int sum) {
sum = a + b;
return true;
}
var sum = 0;
var success = CanAdd(3, 4, ref sum);

Closures

Swift: An anonymous function in Swift is called a closure.

var boxes = [
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 2, right: 2),
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 3, right: 4) ]
var smallToLarge = sorted(boxes,
{ b1, b2 in return b1.area() < b2.area()})

C#: An anonymous method in C# is called a lambda.

Box[] boxes = {
new Box(0, 0, 1, 1),
new Box(0, 0, 3, 4) };
// sort smallest to largest
Array.Sort(boxes, (b1, b2) => b1.Area() - b2.Area());

Functional programming
Swift: Functions are first-class objects in Swift.
func tallestBox(b1 : Box, b2 : Box) -> Box {
return b1.height > b2.height ? b1 : b1
}
var box1 = Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 2, right: 2)
var box2 = Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 3, right: 4)
var compareBoxes : (Box, Box) -> Box = tallestBox
var tallest = compareBoxes(box1, box2)
C#: In C#, you create delegates that define function signatures.
Box TallestBox(Box box1, Box box2) {
return box1.Height > box2.Height ? box1 : box2;
}
delegate Box CompareBoxes(Box box1, Box box2);
var box1 = new Box(0, 0, 1, 1);
var box2 = new Box(0, 0, 2, 2);
CompareBoxes compareBoxes = TallestBox;
var tallestBox = compareBoxes(box1, box2);

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Math
Swift

C#

minimum

min

System.Math.Min

maximum

max

System.Math.Max

power

pow

System.Math.Pow

random

System.Random.Next

sin

System.Math.Sin

random numbers
trigonometry

Lists and arrays

Swift: You can create lists using the array data type. Use the
append function to add more elements to an existing array.

vvar noBoxes = new Box[]{}; // the empty array

Box[] boxes = {
new Box(0, 0, 1, 1),
new Box(0, 0, 2, 2),
new Box(0, 0, 3, 4) };
List<Box> moreBoxes = new List<Box>();
moreBoxes.Add(new Box(0, 0, 1, 1));
moreBoxes.Add(new Box(0, 0, 2, 2));
moreBoxes.Add(new Box(0, 0, 3, 4));

Overloading functions

enum

Dictionary<S,T>

func area(box : Box) -> Double {

return abs(Double((box.top - box.bottom)
* (box.left - box.right)))
}

struct Box : PrintSelf

{
public int Top;
public int Left;
public int Height;
public string PrintString()
{
return string.Format("The box is at (%d, %d), "
+ "with height %d.",
this.Top, this.Left, this.Height);
}
}
var box = new Box(0, 0, 1, 1);
var description = box.PrintString();

enumerations

dictionary

dictionary

C#: You can create lists using array or List objects. The List object
lets you add more elements to an existing List.

int area(Box box) {

return Math.Abs((box.Top - box.Bottom)
* (box.Left - box.Right));
}

C#

C#

Swift: Functions can be declared both as type members and in

top-level code.

C#: Methods are always declared inside a class or struct.

Swift

Swift

Functions

interface PrintSelf
{
string PrintString();
}

Enums

Collections

var boxes = [Box]() // the empty array

boxes = [
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 2, right: 2),
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 1, right: 1),
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 3, right: 4) ]
boxes.append(Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 5, right: 12))

C#: A protocol is used to define a set of related functions that

another type can implement.

class Pet {
protected string name = "";
public Pet() {
}
public Pet (string name) {
this.name = name;
}
public virtual string Speak() {
return "";
}
}
class Dog : Pet {
public Dog (string name) {
this.name = name;
}
public override string Speak() {
return "woof";
}
}

var spot = new Dog("Spot");

spot.Speak();

Functions

Dictionary
Swift: The dictionary is a built-in language type.
var emptyBoxDictionary = [Int : Box]()
var boxDictionary : [Int : Box] = [
1 : Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 2, right: 2),
2 : Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 1, right: 1),
3 : Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 3, right: 4),
4 : Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 5, right: 12)]
// add a new Box to the dictionary
boxDictionary[10] =
Box(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 10, right: 10)
var summary = "There are \(boxDictionary.count) boxes in
the dictionary."
// direct indexing into the dictionary
var box3 = boxDictionary[3]
var asum = area(box3!)
var boxStats =
"The area of the box is \(area(boxDictionary[3]!))."
C#: The .NET library provides the generic Dictionary object.
vvar emptyBoxDictionary = new Dictionary<int, Box>();
var boxDictionary = new Dictionary<int, Box> {
{ 1, new Box(0, 0, 2, 2)} ,
{ 2, new Box(0, 0, 1, 1)} ,
{ 3, new Box(0, 0, 3, 4)} ,
{ 4, new Box(0, 0, 5, 12)}};
// add a new box to the dictionary
boxDictionary[10] = new Box(0, 0, 10, 10);
var summary = "There are" + boxDictionary.Count
+ " boxes in the dictionary.";

Math functions
Swift: The math functions are global functions.
// min and max support n values
var smallest = min(box0.area(), box1.area(), box2.area())
var largest = max(box0.area(), box1.area(), box2.area())
// power
func diagonal(b : Box) -> Double {
return sqrt(pow(Double(b.height), 2.0)
+ pow(Double(b.width), 2.0))
}
// trigonometric functions
var cos0 = cos(0.0)
var sin0 = sin(0.0)
var cosPi = cos(M_PI)
C#: Math functions are provided in the System namespace.
// min and max support 2 values for comparison
var smallest = Math.Min(box1.Area(), box2.Area());
var largest = Math.Max(box1.Area(), box2.Area());
// pow
var diagonal = Math.Sqrt(
Math.Pow((box.Top - box.Bottom), 2)
+ Math.Pow((box.Left - box.Right), 2));
// trigonometric functions
var cos0 = Math.Cos(0.0);
var sin0 = Math.Sin(0.0);
var cosPi = Math.Cos(Math.PI);

Random numbers
Swift: Use the arc4random_uniform function to generate
uniformly distributed integers.
//generate 12 integers between 0 and 5
var rns = [UInt32]()
for i in 0...11 {
rns.append(arc4random_uniform(5))
}
C#: Use the Random.Next method to generate uniformly
distribted integers.
//generate 12 integers between 0 and 5
var rns = new List<int>();
var random = new System.Random();
for (int i = 0; i < 12; i++) {
rns.Add(random.Next(6));
}

// direct indexing into the dictionary

var box3 = boxDictionary[3];
// a more robust way to select an object
if (boxDictionary.TryGetValue(3, out box3)) {
var boxStats = "The area of box 3 is "
+ area(box3) + ".";
}

Generics

Library Collections
Swift: You can use additional collection types from the Foundation classes. language type.
// The NSSet collection is initialized with a set of
objects.
// You cannot add more objects after initialization.
var strings = ["one", "two", "three"]
var set : NSSet = NSSet(array: strings)
for str in set {
println(str)
}

function
type

Swift

C#

generic functions

generic functions

generic types

generic types

Functions

C#: You can use additional collections from the

System.Collections namespace.

Swift: Generic types and functions let you defer types until
runtime.

// The HashSet collection can be initialized empty or with

objects.
// You can add more objects after initialization.
string[] strings = { "one", "two" };
HashSet<string> set = new HashSet<string>(strings);
set.Add("three");
foreach (var str in set) {
Console.WriteLine(str);
}

// selects n items at random from an array, with replacement

func sample<T>(list : [T], n : Int) -> [T] {
var result = [T]()
for i in 1...n {
var rand = Int(arc4random_uniform(UInt32(list.count)))
result.append(list[rand])
}
return result
}
var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
var asample = sample(numbers, 3)

Using Generics
Swift: You can create typed-collections using generics.

var strings = ["one", "two", "three", "four"]

var ssample = sample(strings, 2)

class Sink<T> {
private var list : [T] = []
func Push(item : T) {
list.append(item)
}
}
var sink = Sink<Int>()
sink.Push(5)
sink.Push(10)

C#: Generic types and functions let you defer types until runtime.

C#: You can create typed-collections using generics.

public class Sink<T>
{
private List<T> list = new List<T>();
public void Push(T item) {
list.Add(item);
}
}
Sink<int> sink = new Sink<int>();
sink.Push(5);
sink.Push(10);

// selects n items at random from an array, with

replacement
List<T> Sample<T>(T[] list, int n)
{
var result = new List<T>();
Random random = new Random();
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
int r = random.Next(list.Length);
result.Add(list[r]);
}
return result;
}
int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 };
var asample = Sample(numbers, 3);
string[] strings = { "one", "two", "three", "four" };
var ssample = Sample(strings, 2);

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