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swiftprotocols

How to extend protocol Optional, where Wrapped item is Array of Equatable generic elements?


I would say this problem is about proper declaration of extension.

I would like to extend Array filled with generic Elements, where Element conforms to Equatable. I've managed to do that by :

    extension Array where Element: Equatable{
        // my code
    }

However I'd like to know how to properly declare extension when the Array filled with Equatable elements is inside an Optional? I know that in this case I am actually extending protocol Optional, but I can't figure out the rest

I was thinking something like:

    extension Optional where Wrapped: Array  & Equatable {
      // my code
    }

Can't figure it out. Any ideas ?


Solution

  • Cristik provided a good solution. An alternative is to write an extension to an optional collection of equatable elements:

    extension Optional where Wrapped: Collection, Wrapped.Element: Equatable {
        func foo() { }
    }
    

    This would be applicable to arrays, array slices, and other collections.

    Depending on what the extension does, you may want to use a combination of Collection, MutableCollection, BidirectionalCollection, RandomAccessCollection.