Swift. Check if Any is value type or reference type

Question

Is it possible to check if an object (not as in OOP) is of reference type or value type?

let something : Any = getSomething() // func getSomething() -> Any
let isReferenceType : Bool = // how to check?

EDIT: As pointed out this is practically a duplicate of Check if `Any` value is object

I’d like to see a use case for this. Seems like a Bad Smell. — matt, Feb 27 '19 at 14:10
Actually, it seems `is AnyObject` is always and it does not really work. — Sulthan, Feb 27 '19 at 14:11
@Sulthan: Yes, a cast to AnyObject always succeeds. Discussed e.g. here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39033194/anyobject-not-working-in-xcode8-beta6 — Martin R, Feb 27 '19 at 14:13
@Sulthan Thanks for commenting, I was actually trying to prepare for this question https://stackoverflow.com/questions/54907488/swift-extension-with-hierarchy-of-where-clauses — iur, Feb 27 '19 at 14:18

Sulthan · Answer 1 · 2019-02-27T14:20:45.917

2

This is not so easy as it seems, see

let isReferenceType: Bool = type(of: something) is AnyClass

See How to test whether generic variable is of type AnyObject

However, if you need such things, then usually you have some big problem with your architecture that you should address instead. Using Any type should be the last resort for exceptional situations.

edited Feb 27 '19 at 14:20

answered Feb 27 '19 at 14:07

Sulthan

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True, I am in the process of writing a more specific question about where clauses for extending dictionary. – iur Feb 27 '19 at 14:08

Swift. Check if Any is value type or reference type

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