How can I parse this JSON Pokemon Dictionary? (swift 3) - json

Question

I have an issue with parsing JSON data from new version of the Pokemon API, specifically with values of the "defense" and the"attack".
In Pokemon API v1 it was easy...
//JSON:
"attack": 45,
"defense": 65
//After parsing in Alamofire i'm got the next solution:
if let dict = response.result.value as? Dictionary<String, AnyObject> {
if let attack = dict["attack"] as? Int {
self._attack = attack
}
if let defense = dict["defense"] as? Int {
self._defense = defense
}
print(self._attack)
print(self._defense)
In Pokemon API v2 i have an issue with JSON format:
//JSON:
"stats": [
{
"stat": {
"url": "http://pokeapi.co/api/v2/stat/3/",
"name": "defense"
},
"effort": 0,
"base_stat": 45
},
{
"stat": {
"url": "http://pokeapi.co/api/v2/stat/2/",
"name": "attack"
},
"effort": 0,
"base_stat": 65
}
]
I have tried this option, but it doesn't work:
if let stats = dict["stats"] as? [Dictionary<String, AnyObject>], stats.count > 0 {
if let stat = stats[0]["stat"] as? Dictionary<String, String>{
if name = stat["defense"] {
if let defense = stats[0]["base_stat"] as? Int {
self._defense = defense
}
}
}
}
print(self._defense)
Please advise, how can I parse and get the value of "defense" correctly?

Answer 1

The problem is in this line if name = stat["defense"] { your JSON has key name and defense & attack are its value, so you need to get its value and need to check is it defense or attack.
if name = stat["name"] as? String, name == "defense" {
}
You can also reduce the code of getting base_stat with single if let like this.
if name = stat["name"] as? String, let score = stats[0]["base_stat"] as? Int, name == "defense" {
print("defense : \(score)")
}

Answer 2

Try this
guard let statsNode = dict["stats"] as? [[String: Any]] else { return }
for (index, statNode) in statsNode.enumerated() {
guard let statValue = statNode["base_stat"] as? Int else { continue }
switch index {
case 0:
self._defense = statValue
case 1:
self._attack = statValue
case 2:
self._someStat = statValue
....
default:
break
}
}
print(self._attack)
print(self._defense)
I've worked on a similar project when I started out in iOS Development.
These days I prefer guard let statements over if let statements when parsing JSON for information that's required in my project
I'm also assuming since the stats node is an array, the order of attack, defense, special attack, special defense, speed and HP won't change so the switch statement is an appropriate tool to use in this case.
It might also be helpful to put a print statement before return and continue in the guard statements' else block to see if you hit those else blocks in the program.