What are the differences between classes and structs in Swift?

What are the main differences between classes and structs in Swift?

Classes are reference types, while structs are value types. This means classes are shared, and structs are copied.

Can you explain what that means in practice?

Sure! When you assign a class instance to a new variable, both variables point to the same instance. With structs, a copy is made.

Are there any performance implications between using classes and structs?

Yes, structs can be more efficient for small data types due to their value type nature, while classes may incur overhead due to reference counting.

When should I use a class instead of a struct?

Use a class when you need inheritance, reference semantics, or when the object needs to be shared across different parts of your code.