Core Data

Overview

Core principle: Core Data is a mature object graph and persistence framework. Use it when needing features SwiftData doesn't support, or when targeting older iOS versions.

When to use Core Data vs SwiftData:

• SwiftData (iOS 17+) — New apps, simpler API, Swift-native
• Core Data — iOS 16 and earlier, advanced features, existing codebases

Quick Decision Tree

Which persistence framework?

├─ Targeting iOS 17+ only?
│  ├─ Simple data model? → SwiftData (recommended)
│  ├─ Need public CloudKit database? → Core Data (SwiftData is private-only)
│  ├─ Need custom migration logic? → Core Data (more control)
│  └─ Existing Core Data app? → Keep Core Data or migrate gradually
│
├─ Targeting iOS 16 or earlier?
│  └─ Core Data (SwiftData unavailable)
│
└─ Need both? → Use Core Data with SwiftData wrapper (advanced)

Red Flags

If ANY of these appear, STOP:

• ❌ "Access managed objects on any thread" — Thread-confinement violation
• ❌ "Skip migration testing on real device" — Simulator hides schema issues
• ❌ "Use a singleton context everywhere" — Leads to concurrency crashes
• ❌ "Force lightweight migration always" — Complex changes need mapping models
• ❌ "Fetch in view body" — Use @FetchRequest or observe in view model

Core Data Stack Setup

Modern Stack (iOS 10+)

import CoreData

class CoreDataStack {
    static let shared = CoreDataStack()

    lazy var persistentContainer: NSPersistentContainer = {
        let container = NSPersistentContainer(name: "Model")

        // Configure for CloudKit if needed
        // container.persistentStoreDescriptions.first?.cloudKitContainerOptions =
        //     NSPersistentCloudKitContainerOptions(containerIdentifier: "iCloud.com.app")

        container.loadPersistentStores { description, error in
            if let error = error {
                // Handle appropriately for production
                fatalError("Failed to load store: \(error)")
            }
        }

        // Enable automatic merging
        container.viewContext.automaticallyMergesChangesFromParent = true
        container.viewContext.mergePolicy = NSMergeByPropertyObjectTrumpMergePolicy

        return container
    }()

    var viewContext: NSManagedObjectContext {
        persistentContainer.viewContext
    }

    func newBackgroundContext() -> NSManagedObjectContext {
        persistentContainer.newBackgroundContext()
    }
}

CloudKit Integration

import CoreData

class CloudKitStack {
    lazy var container: NSPersistentCloudKitContainer = {
        let container = NSPersistentCloudKitContainer(name: "Model")

        guard let description = container.persistentStoreDescriptions.first else {
            fatalError("No store description")
        }

        // Enable CloudKit sync
        description.cloudKitContainerOptions = NSPersistentCloudKitContainerOptions(
            containerIdentifier: "iCloud.com.yourapp"
        )

        // Enable history tracking for sync
        description.setOption(true as NSNumber,
                             forKey: NSPersistentHistoryTrackingKey)
        description.setOption(true as NSNumber,
                             forKey: NSPersistentStoreRemoteChangeNotificationPostOptionKey)

        container.loadPersistentStores { _, error in
            if let error = error {
                fatalError("CloudKit store failed: \(error)")
            }
        }

        container.viewContext.automaticallyMergesChangesFromParent = true

        return container
    }()
}

Concurrency Patterns

The Golden Rule

NEVER pass NSManagedObject across threads. Pass objectID instead.

// ❌ WRONG: Passing object across threads
let user = viewContext.fetch(...)  // Main thread
Task.detached {
    print(user.name)  // CRASH: Wrong thread
}

// ✅ CORRECT: Pass objectID, fetch on target context
let userID = user.objectID
Task.detached {
    let bgContext = CoreDataStack.shared.newBackgroundContext()
    let user = bgContext.object(with: userID) as! User
    print(user.name)  // Safe
}

Background Processing

// ✅ CORRECT: Background context for heavy work
func importData(_ items: [ImportItem]) async throws {
    let context = CoreDataStack.shared.newBackgroundContext()

    try await context.perform {
        for item in items {
            let entity = Entity(context: context)
            entity.configure(from: item)
        }

        try context.save()
    }
}

// Changes automatically merge to viewContext if configured

Async/Await (iOS 15+)

// Modern async context operations
func fetchUsers() async throws -> [User] {
    let context = CoreDataStack.shared.viewContext

    return try await context.perform {
        let request = User.fetchRequest()
        request.sortDescriptors = [NSSortDescriptor(key: "name", ascending: true)]
        return try context.fetch(request)
    }
}

Relationship Modeling

One-to-Many

// In User entity
@NSManaged var posts: NSSet?

// Convenience accessors
extension User {
    var postsArray: [Post] {
        (posts?.allObjects as? [Post]) ?? []
    }

    func addPost(_ post: Post) {
        mutableSetValue(forKey: "posts").add(post)
    }
}

Many-to-Man