Accessing function defined within function in swift - function

Question

Say I have a class NamedShape defined like this:
class NamedShape {
var numberOfSides: Int = 0
var name: String
init(name: String) {
self.name = name
}
func simpleDescription() -> String {
return "A shape with \(numberOfSides) sides."
}
func containerFunc() -> Void{
println("strange world")
func subFunc() -> String {
return "sub function returns string"
}
println(subFunc())
}
}
I can initialize it like this:
let someNamedShape = NamedShape(name:"polynomial")
And invoke some method like this:
someNamedShape.containerFunc()
Now how can I invoke method subFunc within containerFunc on its object?
Compiler complains while trying this:
someNamedShape.containerFunc().subFunc()

Answer 1

It looks like it's not possible, unless you return the inner function from its containing function. Here's what the documentation says
Nested functions are hidden from the outside world by default, but can still be called and used by their enclosing function. An enclosing function can also return one of its nested functions to allow the nested function to be used in another scope.
This is how your code should look like in order to be able to call the subfunc
class NamedShape {
var numberOfSides: Int = 0
var name: String
init(name: String) {
self.name = name
}
func simpleDescription() -> String {
return "A shape with \(numberOfSides) sides."
}
func containerFunc() -> (() -> String) {
println("strange world")
func subFunc() -> String {
return "sub function returns string"
}
println(subFunc())
return subFunc
}
}
let someNamedShape = NamedShape(name:"polynomial")
let subfunc = someNamedShape.containerFunc()
subfunc()