Swift make method parameter mutable?

Question

How can I deal with this error without creating additional variable?

func reduceToZero(x:Int) -> Int {
    while (x != 0) {
        x = x-1            // ERROR: cannot assign to 'let' value 'x'
    }
    return x
}

I don't want to create additional variable just to store the value of x. Is it even possible to do what I want?

Answer 1

Swift3 answer for passing mutable array pointer.

Function:

func foo(array: inout Array<Int>) {
    array.append(1)
}

Call to function:

var a = Array<Int>()
foo(array:&a)

Answer 2

In Swift you just add the var keyword before the variable name in the function declaration:

func reduceToZero(var x:Int) -> Int { // notice the "var" keyword
    while (x != 0) {
        x = x-1            
    }
    return x
}

Refer to the subsection "Constant and Variable Parameters" in the "Functions" chapter of the Swift book (page 210 of the iBook as it is today).

Answer 3

As stated in other answers, as of Swift 3 placing var before a variable has been deprecated. Though not stated in other answers is the ability to declare an inout parameter. Think: passing in a pointer.

func reduceToZero(_ x: inout Int) {
    while (x != 0) {
        x = x-1     
    }
}

var a = 3
reduceToZero(&a)
print(a) // will print '0'

This can be particularly useful in recursion.

Apple's inout declaration guidelines can be found here.

Answer 4

Solution using Swift3 with Functional Programming...

func reduceToZeroFP(x:Int) -> Int {
    while (x > 0) {
        return reduceToZeroFP(x: x-1)
    }
    return x
}

Answer 5

For Swift 1 and 2 (for Swift 3 see answer by achi using an inout parameter): Argument of a function in Swift is let by default so change it to var if you need to alter the value i.e,

func reduceToZero(var x:Int) -> Int {
    while (x != 0) {
        x = x-1     
    }
    return x
}

Answer 6

'var' parameters are deprecated and will be removed in Swift 3. So assigning to a new parameter seems like the best way now:

func reduceToZero(x:Int) -> Int {
    var x = x
    while (x != 0) {
        x = x-1            
    }
    return x
}

as mentioned here: 'var' parameters are deprecated and will be removed in Swift 3