Adding a Back Button to SWRevealViewController in Swift

SWRevealViewController is a popular UI component for creating slide-out menus and navigation views. While it provides many useful features, one common request from developers is to add a back button to the original view controller. In this article, we will explore how to achieve this using various approaches.

What is SWRevealViewController?

SWRevealViewController is a custom view controller class designed by David Geier that allows you to create slide-out menus and navigation views with ease. It provides a simple way to navigate between different views in your app while maintaining a consistent design. The view controller has several features, including a swipe gesture, table view support, and the ability to customize its appearance.

Why Add a Back Button?

Adding a back button to the original view controller allows you to provide users with a clear navigation path through your app. This feature is particularly useful when working with swipe gestures or other interactive interfaces that require a way to return to the previous screen. By incorporating a back button, you can enhance the overall user experience and make your app more intuitive.

One way to add a back button to SWRevealViewController is by using a navigation controller with the original view controller as its root view controller. Here’s an outline of the steps involved:

First, create a navigation controller and set it as the root view controller of your original view controller.

// Create a navigation controller
let navigationController = UINavigationController(rootViewController: yourOriginalViewController)

// Set the navigation controller as the root view controller
yourOriginalViewController.navigationController = navigationController

Step 2: Add Back Button to Original View Controller

Next, add a back button to the original view controller by modifying its appearance.

// Create a back button and set it as the nav bar's preferred item
let backButton = UIButton(type: .system)
backButton.title = "Back"
backButton.addTarget(yourOriginalViewController, action: #selector(backButtonTapped), for: .touchUpInside)

yourOriginalViewController.navibarPreferredItems = [backButton]

To enable the back button to work properly, you need to configure the navigation controller.

// Set the navigation controller's delegate
yourOriginalViewController.navigationController.delegate = self

// Enable the back button
navigationController.setNavigationBarItem(backButton)

Approach 2: Using SWRevealViewController’s Built-in Features

Another way to add a back button to SWRevealViewController is by using its built-in features. Specifically, you can use the showSwipeTransition method to create a swipe gesture that takes you back to the previous view controller.

Step 1: Create a Swipe Gesture

First, create a swipe gesture and configure it to take you back to the previous view controller.

// Create a swipe gesture
let swipeGesture = UISwipeGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(swipeGestureTapped))
swipeGesture.direction = .left

view.addGestureRecognizer(swipeGesture)

Step 2: Handle Swipe Gesture

Next, handle the swipe gesture by implementing the swipeGestureTapped method.

// Handle swipe gesture
@objc func swipeGestureTapped(_ gesture: UISwipeGestureRecognizer) {
    // Get the previous view controller
    let previousViewController = navigationController?.viewControllers.last
    
    // Present the previous view controller modally
    present(previousViewController!, animated: true)
}

Step 3: Configure Swipe Gesture

To enable the swipe gesture to work properly, you need to configure it.

// Configure swipe gesture
navigationController.setSwipeTransition(self, direction: .left)

Additional Considerations

When implementing a back button in SWRevealViewController, keep the following considerations in mind:

Customization: Make sure to customize the appearance and behavior of the back button to match your app’s design.
Interactions: Ensure that interactions between views are handled properly when using a back button.
Performance: Optimize performance by minimizing unnecessary view controller transitions.

Conclusion

Adding a back button to SWRevealViewController can enhance the user experience in your app. By following the approaches outlined in this article, you can provide users with a clear navigation path and improve overall usability. Remember to customize the appearance and behavior of the back button and handle interactions between views carefully for optimal performance.

Example Code

Here’s an example code snippet that demonstrates how to add a back button to SWRevealViewController using a navigation controller:

// Create a view controller with a back button
class ViewController: UIViewController, UINavigationControllerDelegate {
    let navigationController = UINavigationController(rootViewController: self)
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        
        // Add a back button
        let backButton = UIButton(type: .system)
        backButton.title = "Back"
        backButton.addTarget(self, action: #selector(backButtonTapped), for: .touchUpInside)
        
        navigationController.navibarPreferredItems = [backButton]
    }
    
    @objc func backButtonTapped() {
        // Get the previous view controller
        let previousViewController = navigationController?.viewControllers.last
        
        // Present the previous view controller modally
        present(previousViewController!, animated: true)
    }
}

// Create a navigation controller and set it as the root view controller
let navigationController = UINavigationController(rootViewController: ViewController())
navigationController.delegate = ViewController()

This code snippet demonstrates how to add a back button to SWRevealViewController using a navigation controller. You can customize the appearance and behavior of the back button by modifying this example code.

Last modified on 2023-07-20