Swift Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide

Method Parameter Names

Recall from Chapter 12 that the first parameter name is by default not used when calling a function or method. This convention impacts both how we name functions and how we name parameters.

To see this in action, open Zombie.swift and add a new method to change the name and limp status of an instance of the Zombie class.

Listing 15.16  changeName(_:walksWithLimp:) (Zombie.swift)

class Zombie: Monster {
    var walksWithLimp = true

    final override func terrorizeTown() {
        town?.changePopulation(-10)
        super.terrorizeTown()
    }

    func changeName(name: String, walksWithLimp: Bool) {
        self.name = name
        self.walksWithLimp = walksWithLimp
    }
}

changeName(_:walksWithLimp:) is a simple method that allows a developer to change ...