What is the use of "static" keyword if "let" keyword used to define constants/immutables in swift?

I will break them down for you:

  • var : used to create a variable
  • let : used to create a constant
  • static : used to create type properties with either let or var. These are shared between all objects of a class.

Now you can combine to get the desired out come:

  • static let key = "API_KEY" : type property that is constant
  • static var cnt = 0 : type property that is a variable
  • let id = 0 : constant (can be assigned only once, but can be assigned at run time)
  • var price = 0 : variable

So to sum everything up var and let define mutability while static and lack of define scope. You might use static var to keep track of how many instances you have created, while you might want to use just varfor a price that is different from object to object. Hope this clears things up a bit.

Example Code:

class MyClass{
    static let typeProperty = "API_KEY"
    static var instancesOfMyClass = 0
    var price = 9.99
    let id = 5

}

let obj = MyClass()
obj.price // 9.99
obj.id // 5

MyClass.typeProperty // "API_KEY"
MyClass.instancesOfMyClass // 0

A static variable is shared through all instances of a class. Throw this example in playground:

class Vehicle {
    var car = "Lexus"
    static var suv = "Jeep"
}

// changing nonstatic variable
Vehicle().car // Lexus
Vehicle().car = "Mercedes"
Vehicle().car // Lexus

// changing static variable
Vehicle.suv // Jeep
Vehicle.suv = "Hummer"
Vehicle.suv // Hummer

When you change the variable for the static property, that property is now changed in all future instances.


Static Variables are belong to a type rather than to instance of class. You can access the static variable by using the full name of the type.

Code:

class IOS {

  var iosStoredTypeProperty = "iOS Developer"

  static var swiftStoredTypeProperty = "Swift Developer"

 }

 //Access the iosStoredTypeProperty by way of creating instance of IOS Class

let iOSObj = IOS()

print(iOSObj.iosStoredTypeProperty)  // iOS Developer


 //print(iOSObj.swiftStoredTypeProperty) 
 //Xcode shows the error 
 //"static member 'swiftStoredTypeProperty' cannot be used on instance of type IOS”


 //You can access the static property by using full name of the type
print(IOS.swiftStoredTypeProperty)  // Swift Developer

Hope this helps you..