how can you build a multi level nested list with swiftUI? like a table view but it can have n numbers of levels

Asked on 08/02/2024

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To build a multi-level nested list in SwiftUI, similar to a table view with multiple levels, you can use a combination of List, ForEach, and Section views. SwiftUI's declarative syntax and view composition capabilities make it straightforward to create such complex structures.

Here's a basic example to get you started:

import SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        List {
            ForEach(data, id: \.self) { item in
                Section(header: Text(item.title)) {
                    ForEach(item.subItems, id: \.self) { subItem in
                        Text(subItem)
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

struct Item: Identifiable {
    var id = UUID()
    var title: String
    var subItems: [String]
}

let data = [
    Item(title: "Level 1 - Item 1", subItems: ["Level 2 - Item 1", "Level 2 - Item 2"]),
    Item(title: "Level 1 - Item 2", subItems: ["Level 2 - Item 3", "Level 2 - Item 4"])
]

struct ContentView_Previews: PreviewProvider {
    static var previews: some View {
        ContentView()
    }
}

Key Points from WWDC Sessions

  1. Composition: SwiftUI supports creating lists in various ways, including using ForEach for dynamic data. This allows you to nest views and create complex hierarchies. For more details, you can refer to the Demystify SwiftUI containers session.

  2. Sections: You can use Section views to organize your list into different sections, each with optional headers and footers. This is particularly useful for creating multi-level lists. More information can be found in the Demystify SwiftUI containers session.

  3. Declarative Syntax: SwiftUI's declarative syntax makes it easy to define complex UI hierarchies. You can use ViewBuilder closures to declare the children of a container, making it straightforward to nest multiple levels of lists. This is discussed in the SwiftUI essentials session.

Relevant Sessions

  1. Demystify SwiftUI containers
  2. SwiftUI essentials

By leveraging these techniques, you can create a multi-level nested list in SwiftUI that can handle an arbitrary number of levels.