Features of Swift Standard Library

The Swift Standard Library includes fundamental data types (like Int, Double, String, and collections), algorithms, and protocols that enable writing high-performance and readable code. Key features include built-in support for collections, string manipulation, and low-level primitives, along with tools for debugging, encoding, decoding, and basic input/output. It also works with language features like generics, making it a comprehensive set for developers.

Core components and data types

Fundamental Types: Includes basic data types such as Int, Double, and Bool.

Collections: Provides common collection types like Array, Dictionary, and Set, along with the protocols that define them. Strings and Text: Offers robust support for working with strings and text data.

Low-level Primitives: Includes types like UnsafeMutablePointer for interacting with lower-level memory management when needed.

Algorithms and functionality

Algorithms: Contains a wide range of algorithms that operate on collections and other types.
Encoding and Decoding: Provides built-in support for encoding, decoding, and serializing data.
Time: Includes types and functions for working with time.

Tools and utilities

Debugging and Reflection: Offers tools to assist with debugging and inspecting the state of your code.
Input and Output: Provides functionality for basic input and output operations.
Initialization: Supports initialization with literals for many types.

Relationship to the language

Generics: The standard library leverages generics, allowing you to write flexible and reusable code that works with multiple types.
Protocols: Defines numerous protocols that describe common behaviors and are used throughout the library.
Extensions: Uses extensions to add functionality to existing types, making them more powerful.