Programmatic navigation in iOS Swift - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is programmatic navigation in iOS Swift?

Programmatic navigation means moving between screens (view controllers) using code instead of storyboard segues. It lets you control when and how to show new screens.

beginner

Which method is used to push a new view controller onto the navigation stack?

You use navigationController?.pushViewController(_:animated:) to show a new screen by adding it on top of the current one.

beginner

How do you present a view controller modally in Swift?

Use present(_:animated:completion:) on the current view controller to show another screen that covers it, like a popup or full screen.

intermediate

What is the difference between pushing and presenting a view controller?

Pushing adds a screen to the navigation stack with a back button. Presenting shows a screen modally without a back button, often for temporary tasks.

intermediate

Why is it important to check if navigationController is not nil before pushing?

Because pushing only works if the current view controller is inside a navigation controller. If nil, pushing will fail and crash the app.

Which method do you use to navigate to a new screen by adding it to the navigation stack?

A popViewController(animated:)

B present(_:animated:completion:)

C pushViewController(_:animated:)

D dismiss(animated:completion:)

pushViewController(_:animated:) adds a new view controller on top of the navigation stack.

What happens when you call present(_:animated:completion:)?

A It pushes a new screen with a back button.

B It shows a new screen modally over the current one.

C It removes the current screen.

D It reloads the current screen.

present(_:animated:completion:) shows a new screen modally, covering the current screen.

Before pushing a view controller, you should check if:

A The app is in background.

B The view controller is nil.

C The view controller is already visible.

D The navigationController property is not nil.

You must ensure navigationController is not nil to push safely.

Which navigation style provides a back button automatically?

A Pushing on navigation stack

B Modal presentation

C Presenting a popover

D Replacing root view controller

Pushing on a navigation stack adds a back button to return to the previous screen.

To close a modally presented view controller, you use:

A dismiss(animated:completion:)

B pushViewController(_:animated:)

C popViewController(animated:)

D present(_:animated:completion:)

dismiss(animated:completion:) closes a modally presented view controller.

Explain how to navigate from one screen to another programmatically in iOS using Swift.

Think about the two main ways: pushing on navigation stack and presenting modally.

Describe the difference between pushing a view controller and presenting it modally.

Consider how the user returns to the previous screen in each case.