What is swiftdata

Asked on 07/30/2024

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SwiftData is a framework introduced in iOS 17 that allows developers to model and persist their app's data across all of Apple's platforms using Swift. It provides a lightweight API that integrates naturally with Swift, enabling developers to define their data schema with minimal additions to their Swift classes. Key features of SwiftData include:

  • Persistence: It allows for the storage and retrieval of data across app launches.
  • Modeling and Migration: It supports the creation and evolution of data models.
  • Graph Management: It helps manage relationships between data entities.
  • Synchronization with CloudKit: It can sync data with Apple's CloudKit.
  • Custom Data Stores: Developers can use alternative backends like SQLite, remote web services, or JSON files.
  • History Tracking: It keeps track of all changes in the data store, useful for syncing with remote services or app extensions.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the following sessions from WWDC 2024:

  1. Platforms State of the Union
  2. What’s new in SwiftData
  3. Create a custom data store with SwiftData
  4. Track model changes with SwiftData history

These sessions cover various aspects of SwiftData, including its new features, how to adopt it in your app, and how to create custom data stores.