Map, filter, reduce patterns in Swift

Introduction

Map, filter, and reduce help you work with lists of data easily. They let you change, pick, or combine items without writing loops.

You want to change every item in a list, like doubling numbers.

You want to keep only some items, like all even numbers.

You want to combine all items into one value, like adding all numbers.

Syntax

Swift

let newArray = oldArray.map { item in
    // change item and return new item
}

let filteredArray = oldArray.filter { item in
    // return true to keep item, false to skip
}

let result = oldArray.reduce(initialValue) { partialResult, item in
    // combine partialResult and item, return new partialResult
}

Use map to transform each item.

Use filter to select items that match a condition.

Use reduce to combine all items into one value.

Examples

This doubles each number in the list.

Swift

let numbers = [1, 2, 3]
let doubled = numbers.map { $0 * 2 }

This keeps only even numbers.

Swift

let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]
let evens = numbers.filter { $0 % 2 == 0 }

This adds all numbers together, starting from 0.

Swift

let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]
let sum = numbers.reduce(0) { $0 + $1 }

Sample Program

This program shows how to use map, filter, and reduce on a list of numbers. It doubles numbers, filters numbers greater than 3, and sums all numbers.

Swift

import Foundation

let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

// Double each number
let doubled = numbers.map { $0 * 2 }
print("Doubled: \(doubled)")

// Keep only numbers greater than 3
let filtered = numbers.filter { $0 > 3 }
print("Filtered (>3): \(filtered)")

// Sum all numbers
let sum = numbers.reduce(0) { $0 + $1 }
print("Sum: \(sum)")

Important Notes

You can use shorthand like $0 for the first parameter in closures.

Map, filter, and reduce do not change the original list; they create new results.

Reduce needs a starting value to begin combining items.

Summary

Map changes each item in a list.

Filter picks items that match a rule.

Reduce combines all items into one value.

Practice

1. What does the map function do in Swift when applied to an array?

easy

A. It changes each item in the array based on a rule.

B. It removes items that don't match a condition.

C. It combines all items into a single value.

D. It sorts the array in ascending order.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of map

   The map function applies a transformation to each element in the array, creating a new array with the changed items.

2. Step 2: Compare with other functions

   Unlike filter which removes items, or reduce which combines items, map changes each item individually.

3. Final Answer:

   It changes each item in the array based on a rule. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   map = change each item [OK]

Hint: Map transforms every item, filter picks, reduce combines [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing map with filter or reduce
• Thinking map removes items
• Assuming map combines items into one

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to use filter on an array numbers to keep only even numbers?

easy

A. let evens = numbers.map { $0 % 2 == 0 }

B. let evens = numbers.filter($0 % 2 == 0)

C. let evens = numbers.reduce(0) { $0 % 2 == 0 }

D. let evens = numbers.filter { $0 % 2 == 0 }

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct filter syntax

   The filter method uses a closure with a condition inside curly braces, like { $0 % 2 == 0 }, to keep items matching the condition.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   let evens = numbers.filter { $0 % 2 == 0 } correctly uses filter with the closure. let evens = numbers.map { $0 % 2 == 0 } uses map which changes items, not filters. let evens = numbers.reduce(0) { $0 % 2 == 0 } misuses reduce. let evens = numbers.filter($0 % 2 == 0) misses the closure braces.

3. Final Answer:

   let evens = numbers.filter { $0 % 2 == 0 } -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   filter syntax = filter { condition } [OK]

Hint: Filter needs braces and a condition inside { } [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using map instead of filter
• Omitting braces in closure
• Using reduce incorrectly for filtering

3. What is the output of this Swift code?

let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]
let result = numbers.reduce(0) { $0 + $1 }
print(result)

medium

A. 0

B. [1, 2, 3, 4]

C. 10

D. Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand reduce with initial value 0

   The reduce starts with 0 and adds each number in the array: 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

2. Step 2: Calculate the sum

   Adding all numbers: 0 + 1 = 1, 1 + 2 = 3, 3 + 3 = 6, 6 + 4 = 10.

3. Final Answer:

   10 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Sum of [1,2,3,4] = 10 [OK]

Hint: Reduce with + sums all items starting from initial value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing reduce with map or filter output
• Forgetting initial value in reduce
• Expecting array output instead of single value

4. Identify the error in this Swift code snippet:

let words = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
let filtered = words.filter { word in
    word.count > 5
}
print(filtered)

medium

A. No error, code runs correctly

B. Incorrect use of filter instead of map

C. Using word.count instead of word.length

D. Missing return keyword inside filter closure

Solution

1. Step 1: Check filter closure syntax

   The closure uses implicit return because it is a single expression, so no explicit return is needed.

2. Step 2: Verify property usage

   word.count is the correct way to get string length in Swift, so no error there.

3. Final Answer:

   No error, code runs correctly -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Single-expression closures return implicitly [OK]

Hint: Single-expression closures return automatically, no return needed [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding unnecessary return keyword
• Confusing count with length property
• Thinking filter needs map syntax

5. Given an array of integers, how would you use map, filter, and reduce together to find the sum of squares of only the odd numbers? Choose the correct Swift code.

hard

A. let sum = numbers.map { $0 * $0 }.filter { $0 % 2 != 0 }.reduce(0, +)

B. let sum = numbers.filter { $0 % 2 != 0 }.map { $0 * $0 }.reduce(0, +)

C. let sum = numbers.reduce(0) { $0 + $1 * $1 }

D. let sum = numbers.filter { $0 % 2 == 0 }.map { $0 * $0 }.reduce(0, +)

Solution

1. Step 1: Filter odd numbers first

   We want only odd numbers, so use filter { $0 % 2 != 0 } to keep them.

2. Step 2: Map to square each odd number

   Use map { $0 * $0 } to get squares of the filtered odd numbers.

3. Step 3: Reduce to sum all squares

   Use reduce(0, +) to add all squared values into one sum.

4. Final Answer:

   let sum = numbers.filter { $0 % 2 != 0 }.map { $0 * $0 }.reduce(0, +) -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Filter odds, map squares, reduce sum [OK]

Hint: Filter odds first, then map squares, finally reduce sum [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mapping before filtering odd numbers
• Filtering even numbers by mistake
• Using reduce without mapping squares