NSUserDefaults - How to tell if a key exists

Question

I\'m working on a small iPhone app, and I am using NSUserDefaults as my data persistence. It only has to keep track of a few things, such as some names and som

Answer 1

Swift 3 / 4:

Here is a simple extension for Int/Double/Float/Bool key-value types that mimic the Optional-return behavior of the other types accessed through UserDefaults.

(Edit Aug 30 2018: Updated with more efficient syntax from Leo's suggestion.)

extension UserDefaults {
    /// Convenience method to wrap the built-in .integer(forKey:) method in an optional returning nil if the key doesn't exist.
    func integerOptional(forKey: String) -> Int? {
        return self.object(forKey: forKey) as? Int
    }
    /// Convenience method to wrap the built-in .double(forKey:) method in an optional returning nil if the key doesn't exist.
    func doubleOptional(forKey: String) -> Double? {
        return self.object(forKey: forKey) as? Double
    }
    /// Convenience method to wrap the built-in .float(forKey:) method in an optional returning nil if the key doesn't exist.
    func floatOptional(forKey: String) -> Float? {
        return self.object(forKey: forKey) as? Float
    }
    /// Convenience method to wrap the built-in .bool(forKey:) method in an optional returning nil if the key doesn't exist.
    func boolOptional(forKey: String) -> Bool? {
        return self.object(forKey: forKey) as? Bool
    }
}

They are now more consistent alongside the other built-in get methods (string, data, etc.). Just use the get methods in place of the old ones.

let AppDefaults = UserDefaults.standard

// assuming the key "Test" does not exist...

// old:
print(AppDefaults.integer(forKey: "Test")) // == 0
// new:
print(AppDefaults.integerOptional(forKey: "Test")) // == nil

Answer 2

Swift version to get Bool?

NSUserDefaults.standardUserDefaults().objectForKey(DefaultsIsGiver) as? Bool

Answer 3

Try this little crumpet:

-(void)saveUserSettings{
NSNumber*   value;

value = [NSNumber numberWithFloat:self.sensativity];
[[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] setObject:value forKey:@"sensativity"];
}
-(void)loadUserSettings{
    NSNumber*   value;
    value = [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] objectForKey:@"sensativity"];
    if(value == nil){
        self.sensativity = 4.0;
    }else{
        self.sensativity = [value floatValue];
    }
}

Treat everything as an object. Seems to work for me.

Answer 4

The objectForKey: method will return nil if the value does not exist. Here's a simple IF / THEN test that will tell you if the value is nil:

if([[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] objectForKey:@"YOUR_KEY"] != nil) {
    ...
}

Answer 5

In Swift3, I have used in this way

var hasAddedGeofencesAtleastOnce: Bool {
    get {
        return UserDefaults.standard.object(forKey: "hasAddedGeofencesAtleastOnce") != nil
    }
}

The answer is great if you are to use that multiple times.

I hope it helps :)