Save image from URL and make it persist IOS Swift

Question

I would like to save images from a URL and then use them inside my app.

I saved them in variables but how can I make them persist until the user deletes the app ?

Here is the code for saving images in variables

    let backgroundURL:NSURL? = NSURL(string: "http://i.imgur.com/4AiXzf8.jpg")
    DispatchQueue.global(qos: .userInitiated).async {
        let backgroundData:NSData? = NSData(contentsOf: backgroundURL as! URL)
        DispatchQueue.main.async {
            if (backgroundData != nil) {
                background = UIImage(data: backgroundData! as Data   
            }
        }
    }

How can I save the background image to persist ?

Thank you!

Answer 1

For Swift 3

// Assuming background is UIImage
if let image = background {
    if let data = UIImagePNGRepresentation(image) {
        let filename = getDocumentsDirectory().appendingPathComponent("copy.png")
        try? data.write(to: filename)
    }
}

That call to getDocumentsDirectory()

func getDocumentsDirectory() -> URL {
    let paths = FileManager.default.urls(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask)
    let documentsDirectory = paths[0]
    return documentsDirectory
}