Section headers and footers in iOS Swift - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ ui_behavior

intermediate

What is the output of this code for section header title?

Given this UITableViewDataSource method, what will be shown as the header title for section 0?

iOS Swift

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, titleForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> String? {
  return section == 0 ? "Fruits" : "Vegetables"
}

A "Fruits" for section 0, "Vegetables" for section 1

B "Vegetables" for section 0, "Fruits" for section 1

C No header titles shown

D Runtime error due to missing return

💡 Hint

Check the condition for section number in the return statement.

The method returns "Fruits" when section is 0, otherwise "Vegetables". So section 0 header is "Fruits".

❓ ui_behavior

intermediate

What will be the footer text for section 1 with this code?

Consider this UITableViewDelegate method. What footer text will appear for section 1?

iOS Swift

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, titleForFooterInSection section: Int) -> String? {
  if section == 1 {
    return "End of Vegetables"
  }
  return nil
}

A "End of Vegetables" for all sections

B "End of Vegetables" for section 1 footer

C No footer text for any section

D App crashes due to nil return

💡 Hint

Look at the condition checking section number.

The method returns footer text only for section 1, nil for others, so only section 1 has footer text.

❓ lifecycle

advanced

Which method is called to customize a section header view?

To provide a custom UIView as a section header in UITableView, which delegate method should you implement?

A tableView(_:titleForHeaderInSection:)

B tableView(_:heightForHeaderInSection:)

C tableView(_:viewForHeaderInSection:)

D tableView(_:willDisplayHeaderView:forSection:)

💡 Hint

Think about which method returns a UIView instead of a String.

The method tableView(_:viewForHeaderInSection:) returns a UIView to use as the header view.

❓ navigation

advanced

What happens if you return nil in viewForFooterInSection?

If you implement tableView(_:viewForFooterInSection:) and return nil for a section, what will the table show?

A Default footer title is shown if titleForFooterInSection is implemented

B No footer view is shown for that section

C App crashes with nil view error

D Footer view from previous section is reused

💡 Hint

Check interaction between viewForFooterInSection and titleForFooterInSection methods.

If viewForFooterInSection returns nil, the table uses titleForFooterInSection to show a default footer title if available.

📝 Syntax

expert

What error occurs with this incorrect header method signature?

Identify the error in this UITableViewDelegate method signature for section header view:

iOS Swift

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, viewForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> UIView {
  return UIView()
}

A No error, code compiles and runs

B Method name is incorrect

C Return type UIView is invalid, should be String

D Missing optional return type causes compile error

💡 Hint

Check the return type expected by the delegate method.

The delegate method expects an optional UIView? return type, not a non-optional UIView.