Results won't append from JSON - ios

Question

The JSON file I am using: https://api.myjson.com/bins/49jw2
I am using SwiftyJSON for parsing.
The variable chores wont be populated outside the method parseJson
var chores: [String] = []
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
// Do any additional setup after loading the view.
tfWhat.delegate = self
tfHowMuch.delegate = self
loadJson()
// wont even print
for chore in self.chores {
print("beschrijving: " + chore)
}
// prints 0
print(chores.count)
}
func loadJson() -> Void {
let url = NSURL(string: "https://api.myjson.com/bins/49jw2")
NSURLSession.sharedSession().dataTaskWithURL(url!, completionHandler: { (data, response, error) in
if let error = error {
print("Error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
} else {
if let data = data {
let json = JSON(data: data)
self.parseJson(json["appdata"]["klusjes"][])
} else {
print("no data")
}
}
}).resume()
}
func parseJson(jsonObject : JSON) -> Void {
for (_, value) in jsonObject {
self.chores.append(value["beschrijving"].stringValue)
}
// prints:
// beschrijving: Heg knippen bij de overburen
// beschrijving: Auto van papa wassen
for chore in self.chores {
print("beschrijving: " + chore)
}
// prints:
// 2
print(chores.count)
}

Answer 1

When you call an asynchronous method like NSURLSession.sharedSession().dataTaskWithURL it gets executed in the background, so whatever you launch just after this instruction is actually executed while the background task is running, so your array is not populated yet when you look at it.
A simple way to overcome this mistake is to use a "callback": a closure that will be executed once the data is available.
For example, let's add a callback
(json: JSON)->()
to the loadJson method:
func loadJson(completion: (json: JSON)->())
and place the call where the data will be available:
func loadJson(completion: (json: JSON)->()) {
let url = NSURL(string: "https://api.myjson.com/bins/49jw2")
NSURLSession.sharedSession().dataTaskWithURL(url!, completionHandler: { (data, response, error) in
if let error = error {
print("Error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
} else {
if let data = data {
// the callback executes *when the data is ready*
completion(json: JSON(data: data))
} else {
print("no data")
}
}
}).resume()
}
and use it with a trailing closure like this:
loadJson { (json) in
// populate your array, do stuff with "json" here, this is the result of the callback
}