JSON parsing in its own separate function is not working - ios

Question

All the tutorials that I have seen or read about Swift 3 JSON parsing include placing JSON parsing code inside viewDidLoad() func/method and it works great. I want to place JSON parsing code in its own function and call it from viewDidLoad(). Check below example:
class ViewController: UIViewController {
var ArrayImages = [String]();
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
var json = ParseJson();
print("My Array = \(ArrayImages)");
}
// NEW FUNCTION
func ParseJson() {
let url = URL(string: "http://etasawoq.com/go_categories.php")!
URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { (data, response, error) in
if (error != nil){
print("Error Found Creating URLSession : \(error)")
} else {
if let ParsedJson = data {
do {
let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: ParsedJson, options: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions.mutableContainers) as! NSArray
for x in json {
let row = x as! NSDictionary;
let imageUrl = row["image_url"] as! String
self.ArrayImages.append(imageUrl);
}
} catch {
print("Json Processing failed \(error)");
}
}
}
}.resume() // start session
}
}
Unfortunately, the "ArrayImages" is not being populated when calling the ParseJson function. The print output is "My Array = []". Why is that? How can I solve this problem while keeping JSON parsing code in a separate function?

Answer 1

Your response getting through block so you need to print array in side the block not outside as below .
do {
let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: ParsedJson, options: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions.mutableContainers) as! NSArray
for x in json {
let row = x as! NSDictionary;
let imageUrl = row["image_url"] as! String
self.ArrayImages.append(imageUrl);
}
print("My Array = \(ArrayImages)");
}