How can I use NSTimer in Swift?

Question

I tried

var timer = NSTimer()
timer(timeInterval: 0.01, target: self, selector: update, userInfo: nil, repeats: false)

But, I got an error saying

'(timeInterval: $T1, target: ViewController, selector: () -> (), userInfo: NilType, repeats: Bool) -> $T6' is not identical to 'NSTimer'

Answer 1

This will work:

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    // Swift block syntax (iOS 10+)
    let timer = Timer(timeInterval: 0.4, repeats: true) { _ in print("Done!") }
    // Swift >=3 selector syntax
    let timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(timeInterval: 0.4, target: self, selector: #selector(self.update), userInfo: nil, repeats: true)
    // Swift 2.2 selector syntax
    let timer = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(0.4, target: self, selector: #selector(MyClass.update), userInfo: nil, repeats: true)
    // Swift <2.2 selector syntax
    let timer = NSTimer.scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval(0.4, target: self, selector: "update", userInfo: nil, repeats: true)
}

// must be internal or public. 
@objc func update() {
    // Something cool
}

For Swift 4, the method of which you want to get the selector must be exposed to Objective-C, thus @objc attribute must be added to the method declaration.

Answer 2

Updated to Swift 4, leveraging userInfo:

class TimerSample {

    var timer: Timer?

    func startTimer() {
        timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(timeInterval: 5.0,
                                     target: self,
                                     selector: #selector(eventWith(timer:)),
                                     userInfo: [ "foo" : "bar" ],
                                     repeats: true)
    }

    // Timer expects @objc selector
    @objc func eventWith(timer: Timer!) {
        let info = timer.userInfo as Any
        print(info)
    }

}

Answer 3

SimpleTimer (Swift 3.1)

Why?

This is a simple timer class in swift that enables you to:

• Local scoped timer
• Chainable
• One liners
• Use regular callbacks

Usage:

SimpleTimer(interval: 3,repeats: true){print("tick")}.start()//Ticks every 3 secs

Code:

class SimpleTimer {/*<--was named Timer, but since swift 3, NSTimer is now Timer*/
    typealias Tick = ()->Void
    var timer:Timer?
    var interval:TimeInterval /*in seconds*/
    var repeats:Bool
    var tick:Tick

    init( interval:TimeInterval, repeats:Bool = false, onTick:@escaping Tick){
        self.interval = interval
        self.repeats = repeats
        self.tick = onTick
    }
    func start(){
        timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(timeInterval: interval, target: self, selector: #selector(update), userInfo: nil, repeats: true)//swift 3 upgrade
    }
    func stop(){
        if(timer != nil){timer!.invalidate()}
    }
    /**
     * This method must be in the public or scope
     */
    @objc func update() {
        tick()
    }
}

Answer 4

You will need to use Timer instead of NSTimer in Swift 3.

Here is an example:

Timer.scheduledTimer(timeInterval: 1, 
    target: self, 
    selector: #selector(YourController.update), 
    userInfo: nil, 
    repeats: true)

// @objc selector expected for Timer
@objc func update() {
    // do what should happen when timer triggers an event
}

Answer 5

NSTimer has been renamed to Timer in Swift 4.2. this syntax will work in 4.2:

let timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(timeInterval: 1.0, target: self, selector: #selector(UIMenuController.update), userInfo: nil, repeats: true)

Answer 6

In Swift 3 something like this with @objc:

func startTimerForResendingCode() {
    let timerIntervalForResendingCode = TimeInterval(60)
    Timer.scheduledTimer(timeInterval: timerIntervalForResendingCode,
                         target: self,
                         selector: #selector(timerEndedUp),
                         userInfo: nil,
                         repeats: false)
}




@objc func timerEndedUp() {
    output?.timerHasFinishedAndCodeMayBeResended()
}