What are Swift optionals and how do they compare to nil coalescing?

Can you explain what optionals are in Swift?

Sure! In Swift, optionals are a type that can hold either a value or nil, indicating the absence of a value.

How do optionals differ from using nil coalescing?

Nil coalescing is a way to provide a default value when an optional is nil. It uses the ?? operator.

Can you give me an example of using nil coalescing with optionals?

Absolutely! For example, let name: String? = nil and let displayName = name ?? "Guest" will set displayName to "Guest".

When should I use optionals instead of nil coalescing?

Use optionals when you want to represent a value that might be absent, and nil coalescing when you need a fallback value.