Can't figure out why I get a fatal error: unexpectedly found nil while unwrapping an Optional value - ios

Question

I keep getting this error :
fatal error: unexpectedly found nil while unwrapping an Optional value
and cannot figure out how to debug it!
Here's my code :
func readCSV() -> Array<String> {
// Creates a new array of strings
var csvArray : Array<String> = Array<String>()
if let url: NSURL = NSURL(string : "URLFROMCSV" ) {
// Creates an Input Stream that will load the datas from our URL
let data :NSData! = NSData(contentsOfURL: url)!
let stream : NSInputStream! = NSInputStream(data: data)
// Opens the receiving stream
stream.open()
// Sets a buffer with a given size size
let bufferSize = 1024
var buffer = Array <UInt8>(count: bufferSize, repeatedValue: 0)
// String variable initialization
var csvFullString : String = ""
// While the stream receives datas, parses datas, convert them into strings and then concatenate them into one big string
while (stream.hasBytesAvailable) {
let readSize = stream.read(&buffer, maxLength: bufferSize)
let csvRaw = NSString (bytes: &buffer, length: readSize, encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding)
let csvString = csvRaw as String!
csvFullString = csvFullString + csvString
}
// Fills the array with each strings. Separation between strings is made when a Θ character is parsed
csvArray = csvFullString.componentsSeparatedByString("Θ")
// Delete each null string
for(var i = 0 ; i < csvArray.count; i++) {
if(csvArray[i] == "") {
csvArray.removeAtIndex(i)
}
}
}
return csvArray
}
After searching on the web, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with unwrapping elements but the fact is when I debug it, i don't get any nil value anywhere.
PS: Would like to upload a screen but can't because i don't have 10 reputation, so bad!
Thanks in advance!
EDIT : Line let data :NSData! = NSData(contentsOfURL: url)! got the error.
Terry

Answer 1

You're probably creating the error in one of these two lines (though it may show up later):
let data :NSData! = NSData(contentsOfURL: url)!
let stream : NSInputStream! = NSInputStream(data: data)
You're assigning an optional value to an implicitlyUnwrappedOptional type and then using it without checking if you have a valid value.
This is why if let exists. It's a little funny that you've started to indent as if you're using if let but aren't.
Try this instead:
if let url = NSURL(string : "http://gorillaapplications.com/etablissements.csv" ) {
// Creates an Input Stream that will load the datas from our URL
if let data = NSData(contentsOfURL: url) {
let stream = NSInputStream(data: data)
stream.open()
// rest of your code here
}
else {
println("Didn't get a data object")
}
}
else {
println("Didn't get a URL object")
}
You really need to grasp Optionals for Swift. I'd recommend reading my Optionals chapter in this iBook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/swift-optionals-generics-for/id943445214?mt=11&uo=4&at=11lMGu
Update:
Since you added a bit more in your comments above, you're saying you get the error on this line: let data: NSData! = NSData(contentsOfURL: url)!. This is because of the ! at the end, which tells Swift you're sure that this function will return a valid value, so just use it, without checking if it's nil first. In your case, the function is returning nil and so your app crashes. Using the sample code I've provided above, you'll see that you'll no longer get a crash, but your code will execute the "Didn't get a data object" line. You'll need to correctly handle the case where you can't load data from that URL.