Create UITableView programmatically in Swift

Question

I try to implement UITableView programmatically without use of xib or Storyboards. This is my code:

ViewController.swift

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController {

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        let table: UITableViewController = MyTableViewController()
        let tableView: UITableView = UITableView()
        tableView.frame = CGRect(x: 10, y: 10, width: 100, height: 500)
        tableView.dataSource = table
        tableView.delegate = table

        self.view.addSubview(tableView)
    }
}

MyTableViewController.swift

import UIKit

class MyTableViewController: UITableViewController {

    override func numberOfSectionsInTableView(tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
        NSLog("sections")
        return 2
    }

    override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        NSLog("rows")
        return 3
    }

    override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
        NSLog("get cell")
        let cell = UITableViewCell(style: UITableViewCellStyle.Value1, reuseIdentifier: "Cell")
        cell.textLabel!.text = "foo"
        return cell
    }  
}

But when I run app, all I get is empty table. In log I see a few lines of sections and rows, but no get cell. How can I fix this code to get table with 6 lines of foo text?

Why do you have both a `ViewController` with its own table view and a `MyTableViewController` which also have its own table view? — rmaddy, Oct 24 '16 at 14:26
`MyTableViewController` is getting released after the `viewDidLoad`. So try keeping a reference. — Sachin Vas, Oct 24 '16 at 14:31
If you are new to iOS and Swift I strongly recommend you follow a tutorial on either the web or iTunesU. The Stanford course on iTunesU called `Developing iOS 9 Apps with Swift` will explain about object graphs and how to use the iOS frameworks. — Robotic Cat, Oct 24 '16 at 14:32

Joe · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-03T12:13:09.817

Note: As you mentioned you just started programming in Swift. I created a tableView programmatically. Copy and paste below code into your viewController and run the project...

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource {

    private let myArray: NSArray = ["First","Second","Third"]
    private var myTableView: UITableView!

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        let barHeight: CGFloat = UIApplication.shared.statusBarFrame.size.height
        let displayWidth: CGFloat = self.view.frame.width
        let displayHeight: CGFloat = self.view.frame.height

        myTableView = UITableView(frame: CGRect(x: 0, y: barHeight, width: displayWidth, height: displayHeight - barHeight))
        myTableView.register(UITableViewCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: "MyCell")
        myTableView.dataSource = self
        myTableView.delegate = self
        self.view.addSubview(myTableView)
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {
        print("Num: \(indexPath.row)")
        print("Value: \(myArray[indexPath.row])")
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        return myArray.count
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "MyCell", for: indexPath as IndexPath)
        cell.textLabel!.text = "\(myArray[indexPath.row])"
        return cell
    }
}

Output:

i am getting an error when i try to register a prototype cell. any solution or work around. im using swift 4 — Zahurafzal Mirza, May 31 '18 at 08:36
@ZahurafzalMirza Above code should work fine in Swift 4. Whats your error log says? — Joe, May 31 '18 at 08:45
how customize the tableCell Element like adding Image ? and count of cell in each row ? — Criss, Sep 13 '19 at 05:38
@Criss You have to create a customTableviewCell to add image and etc. Follow this tutorial may help https://www.ralfebert.de/ios-examples/uikit/uitableviewcontroller/custom-cells/ — Joe, Sep 13 '19 at 05:44
Great example, only one thing: UIApplication.shared.statusBarFrame.size.height is deprecated you can use instead: view.window?.windowScene?.statusBarManager?.statusBarFrame.height ?? 0 — skantus, Aug 07 '20 at 14:16

score 24 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 19 '17 at 06:59

Updated for Swift 3

Option 1:

import UIKit
//
// MARK :- TableViewController
//
class TableViewController: UITableViewController {

    private let headerId = "headerId"
    private let footerId = "footerId"
    private let cellId = "cellId"

    //
    // MARK :- HEADER
    //
    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> CGFloat {

        return 150
    }

    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, viewForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> UIView? {

        let header = tableView.dequeueReusableHeaderFooterView(withIdentifier: headerId) as! CustomTableViewHeader
        return header
    }

    //
    // MARK :- FOOTER
    //
    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForFooterInSection section: Int) -> CGFloat {

        return 150
    }

    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, viewForFooterInSection section: Int) -> UIView? {

        let footer = tableView.dequeueReusableHeaderFooterView(withIdentifier: footerId) as! CustomTableViewFooter
        return footer
    }

    //
    // MARK :- CELL
    //
    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {

        return 1
    }

    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> CGFloat {

        return 150
    }

    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {

        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: cellId, for: indexPath) as! CustomTableCell
        return cell
    }

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        title = "TableView Demo"
        view.backgroundColor = .white
        setupTableView()
    }

    func setupTableView() {

        tableView.backgroundColor = .lightGray
        tableView.register(CustomTableViewHeader.self, forHeaderFooterViewReuseIdentifier: headerId)
        tableView.register(CustomTableViewFooter.self, forHeaderFooterViewReuseIdentifier: footerId)
        tableView.register(CustomTableCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: cellId)
    }
}

//
// MARK :- HEADER
//
class CustomTableViewHeader: UITableViewHeaderFooterView {

    override init(reuseIdentifier: String?) {
        super.init(reuseIdentifier: reuseIdentifier)

        contentView.backgroundColor = .orange
    }

    required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
        fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
    }
}

//
// MARK :- FOOTER
//
class CustomTableViewFooter: UITableViewHeaderFooterView {

    override init(reuseIdentifier: String?) {
        super.init(reuseIdentifier: reuseIdentifier)

        contentView.backgroundColor = .green
    }

    required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
        fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
    }
}

//
// MARK :- CELL
//
class CustomTableCell: UITableViewCell {

    override init(style: UITableViewCellStyle, reuseIdentifier: String?) {
        super.init(style: style, reuseIdentifier: reuseIdentifier)

        contentView.backgroundColor = .white
    }

    required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
        fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
    }
}

Option 2: replace above Option 1 TableViewController with this class

import UIKit
//
// MARK :- ViewController
//
class ViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource {

    private let headerId = "headerId"
    private let footerId = "footerId"
    private let cellId = "cellId"

    lazy var tableView: UITableView = {

        let tv = UITableView(frame: .zero, style: .plain)
        tv.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        tv.backgroundColor = .lightGray
        tv.delegate = self
        tv.dataSource = self
        tv.register(CustomTableViewHeader.self, forHeaderFooterViewReuseIdentifier: self.headerId)
        tv.register(CustomTableViewFooter.self, forHeaderFooterViewReuseIdentifier: self.footerId)
        tv.register(CustomTableCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: self.cellId)
        return tv
    }()

    //
    // MARK :- HEADER
    //
    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> CGFloat {

        return 150
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, viewForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> UIView? {

        let header = tableView.dequeueReusableHeaderFooterView(withIdentifier: headerId) as! CustomTableViewHeader
        return header
    }

    //
    // MARK :- FOOTER
    //
    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForFooterInSection section: Int) -> CGFloat {

        return 150
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, viewForFooterInSection section: Int) -> UIView? {

        let footer = tableView.dequeueReusableHeaderFooterView(withIdentifier: footerId) as! CustomTableViewFooter
        return footer
    }

    //
    // MARK :- CELL
    //
    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {

        return 1
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> CGFloat {

        return 150
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {

        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: cellId, for: indexPath) as! CustomTableCell
        return cell
    }

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        title = "TableView Demo"
        view.backgroundColor = .white
        view.addSubview(tableView)
        setupAutoLayout()
    }

    func setupAutoLayout() {

        tableView.leftAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.leftAnchor).isActive = true
        tableView.rightAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.rightAnchor).isActive = true
        tableView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.topAnchor).isActive = true
        tableView.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.bottomAnchor).isActive = true
    }
}

if you don't want header or footer, just removed the respective marks codes and comment the tableView.register line.. — iAj, Sep 29 '17 at 03:28
For option 2, in swift 4, adding the delegate and the dataSource inside the tableView declaration (e.g. tv.dataSource = self) throws an error. Instead, I had to define the dataSource and the delegate in viewDidLoad method. — George Bikas, Dec 30 '17 at 07:52
@GeorgeBikas kindly do with lazy var tableView instead of let tableView then it's working... — iAj, Jan 21 '18 at 04:42

budiDino · Answer 3 · 2019-06-01T02:46:11.977

Swift 4 compatible

Instead of adding a UITableView to your UIViewController, you should consider creating a UITableViewController and avoid setting up delegates:

class YourTVC: TableViewController {

  override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    // setup custom cells if you use them
    tableView.register(CustomTableViewCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: "yourCell")
  }

  // MARK: tableView
  override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    return 3 // set to value needed
  }

  override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
    let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "yourCell", for: indexPath) as! CustomTableViewCell
    cell.textLabel?.text = "Cell at row \(indexPath.row)"
    return cell
  }

}

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 24 '16 at 14:38

It makes no sense that you are using a UITableViewController as the data source and delegate for your view controller's table view. Your own view controller should be the table view's data source and delegate.

Since you seem to want a view controller with a table view that doesn't take up the entire view, move every thing to your view controller as follows:

ViewController.swift:

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDataSource, UITableViewDelegate {

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        let tableView: UITableView = UITableView()
        tableView.frame = CGRect(x: 10, y: 10, width: 100, height: 500)
        tableView.dataSource = self
        tableView.delegate = self

        self.view.addSubview(tableView)
    }

    func numberOfSectionsInTableView(tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
        NSLog("sections")
        return 2
    }

    func tableView(tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        NSLog("rows")
        return 3
    }

    func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
        NSLog("get cell")
        let cell = UITableViewCell(style: UITableViewCellStyle.Value1, reuseIdentifier: "Cell")
        cell.textLabel!.text = "foo"
        return cell
    }  
}

I think the OP wanted to create a struct ( or the data model ) away from the VC ? — aremvee, May 07 '17 at 03:27

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 24 '16 at 14:41

You don't need to make a separate class for UITableView. Just in your ViewController class implement protocols of UITableViewDelegate and UITableViewDataSource and then implement delegate methods. I think your code should be like

class ViewController: UIViewController , UITableViewDelegate , UITableViewDataSource {

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        let table: UITableViewController = MyTableViewController()
        let tableView: UITableView = UITableView()
        tableView.frame = CGRect(x: 10, y: 10, width: 100, height: 500)
        tableView.dataSource = table
        tableView.delegate = table

        self.view.addSubview(tableView)
    }
override func numberOfSectionsInTableView(tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
        NSLog("sections")
        return 2
    }

    override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        NSLog("rows")
        return 3
    }

    override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
        NSLog("get cell")
        let cell = UITableViewCell(style: UITableViewCellStyle.Value1, reuseIdentifier: "Cell")
        cell.textLabel!.text = "foo"
        return cell
    } 
}

Tell us more info or show logs if you still face issue.

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 30 '18 at 20:21

I had a similar issue in that the data would not populate for my programmatic UITableView. This was because I was using a delegate/dataSource without a strong reference. Once I kept a reference to it (I had one class implementing both UITableViewDataSource and UITableViewDelegate), the data was populated.

score 0 · Answer 7 · edited Dec 31 '18 at 19:17

import UIKit

class ViewController: UITableViewController {

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    tableView.register(TableCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: "cell")
}

override func numberOfSections(in tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
    return 1
}
override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    return 10
}

override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
    let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "cell", for: indexPath) as! TableCell
    cell.nameLabel.text = "TableViewCell programtically"
    cell.nameLabel.textAlignment = .center
    cell.nameLabel.textColor  = .white
    return cell
}

override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, heightForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> CGFloat {
    return 100
}
}

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Feb 06 '20 at 21:28

Simple solution

import UIKit

class CustomTableViewController: UICollectionViewController {
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        tableView.register(UITableViewCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: "Cell")
    }

    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        return 10
    }

    override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "Cell", for: indexPath as IndexPath)
        cell.textLabel!.text = "\(indexPath.row)"
        return cell
    }
}

Create UITableView programmatically in Swift

8 Answers8

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