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Struct vs Class in Swift

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Your question is Struct vs Class in Swift. Take a moment with it on the right.

Talk me through your thinking if you like. When you're confident, submit your answer and I'll grade it like a real screen (7/10 or better passes).

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Problem

Context

In Alten iOS codebases, choosing between struct and class affects correctness, maintainability, and performance. Interviewers want to know whether you understand Swift value semantics rather than just memorizing rules.

Core question

Explain when you would use a struct versus a class in Swift for an iOS app. In your answer, cover:

  1. The difference between value semantics and reference semantics.
  2. How identity, mutation, and copying behavior influence the choice.
  3. Typical Alten iOS examples where one is clearly better than the other.

Scope guidance

A strong answer should compare the two directly, mention practical tradeoffs such as shared mutable state and ARC, and give concrete examples like models, view state, delegates, and coordinators. You do not need to discuss every Swift language feature, but you should show clear judgment about when each type is appropriate.