When should I access properties with self in swift?

In a simple example like this, I can omit self for referencing backgroundLayer because it's unambiguous which backgroundLayer the backgroundColor is set on.

class SpecialView: UIView {
    let backgroundLayer = CAShapeLayer()

    init() {
        backgroundLayer.backgroundColor = UIColor.greenColor().CGColor
    }
}

But, just like in Objective-C, we can confuse things by adding local variables (or constants) named similarly. Now the backgroundColor is being set on the non-shape layer:

class SpecialView: UIView {
    let backgroundLayer = CAShapeLayer()

    init() {
        var backgroundLayer = CALayer()

        backgroundLayer.backgroundColor = UIColor.greenColor().CGColor
    }
}

(this is resolved by using self.backgroundLayer.backgroundColor)

In Objective-C I always eschewed ivars for properties and properties were always prefixed with self for clarity. I don't have to worry about ivars in swift but are there other considerations for when I should use self in swift?

The only times self is required are when referencing a property inside a closure and, as you pointed out, to differentiate it from a local variable with the same name.

However, personally, I prefer to always write "self" because:

1. That is an instant and obvious sign that the variable is a property. This is important because it being a property means that its state can vary more widely and in different ways than a local variable. Also, changing a property has larger implications than changing a local variable.
2. The code does not need to be updated if you decide to introduce a parameter or variable with the same name as the property
3. Code can be easily copied in and out of closures that do require self

Most of the time we can skip self. when we access class properties.

1. However there is one time when we MUST use it: when we try to set self.property in a closure:

   dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), {
       // we cannot assign to properties of self
       self.view = nil 
   
       // but can access properties
       someFunc(view)
   })
   

2. one time when we SHOULD use it: so you don't mess a local variable with class property:

   class MyClass {
       var someVar: String = "class prop"
   
       func setProperty(someVar:String = "method attribute") -> () {
           print(self.someVar) // Output: class property
           print(someVar) // Output: method attribute
       }
   }
   

3. other places where we CAN use self. before property just to be expressive about were variable/constant comes from.

Looking at Ray Wenderlich's style guide

Use of Self

For conciseness, avoid using self since Swift does not require it to access an object's properties or invoke its methods.

Use self only when required by the compiler (in @escaping closures, or in initializers to disambiguate properties from arguments). In other words, if it compiles without self then omit it.

Swift documentation makes the same recommendation.

The self Property

Every instance of a type has an implicit property called self, which is exactly equivalent to the instance itself. You use the self property to refer to the current instance within its own instance methods.

The increment() method in the example above could have been written like this:

func increment() {
    self.count += 1
}

In practice, you don’t need to write self in your code very often. If you don’t explicitly write self, Swift assumes that you are referring to a property or method of the current instance whenever you use a known property or method name within a method. This assumption is demonstrated by the use of count (rather than self.count) inside the three instance methods for Counter.

The main exception to this rule occurs when a parameter name for an instance method has the same name as a property of that instance. In this situation, the parameter name takes precedence, and it becomes necessary to refer to the property in a more qualified way. You use the self property to distinguish between the parameter name and the property name.

Here, self disambiguates between a method parameter called x and an instance property that is also called x:

struct Point {
    var x = 0.0, y = 0.0

    func isToTheRightOf(x: Double) -> Bool {
        return self.x > x
    }
}

let somePoint = Point(x: 4.0, y: 5.0)
if somePoint.isToTheRightOf(x: 1.0) {
    print("This point is to the right of the line where x == 1.0")
}

// Prints "This point is to the right of the line where x == 1.0"

I'm going to go against the flow and not use self unless absolutely required.

The reason why is that two of the main reasons to use self is

• When capturing self in a block
• When setting self as a delegate

In both cases, self will be captured as a strong reference. This might be what you want, but in many cases, you actually want to use a weak one.

Therefor, forcing the developer to use self as an exception and not a rule will make this strong capture more conscious, and let him reflect on this decision.