Why isn't my Swift app showing weather details from an API?

Other Questions API
1

I’m having trouble getting my Swift app to display weather info from an API. Here’s what I’ve tried:

if let weatherData = jsonData as? [String: Any],
   let weatherArray = weatherData["weather"] as? [[String: Any]],
   let firstWeather = weatherArray.first {
    
    print("Weather info:", firstWeather)
    
    DispatchQueue.main.async {
        self.weatherLabel.text = firstWeather["description"] as? String ?? "Unknown"
    }
}

The API response looks like this:

{
  "weather": [
    {
      "id": 800,
      "main": "Clear",
      "description": "clear sky",
      "icon": "01n"
    }
  ]
}

The code runs without errors, but nothing shows up in the app. What am I doing wrong? How can I get the weather description to display?

2

I’ve faced similar issues before, and it’s often related to how you’re handling the API response.

First, make sure your API call is actually successful. Add some print statements or breakpoints to confirm you’re getting the expected data.

Next, verify that your weatherLabel outlet is properly connected in your Storyboard or programmatically. A common mistake is forgetting to link the UI element.

Also, consider wrapping your entire JSON parsing block in a do-catch statement to handle potential errors. Sometimes, silent failures can occur without proper error handling.

Lastly, double-check that you’re calling this code from the correct place in your view lifecycle. If it’s too early, the label might not be ready to update.

If none of these solve it, try setting a background color on your label to ensure it’s visible on screen. Sometimes layout issues can hide elements.

3

Have you checked if your API request is actually successful? It’s possible the data isn’t being fetched correctly. Try adding some logging or breakpoints to verify the API response.

Also, make sure your weatherLabel is properly initialized and added to the view hierarchy. Sometimes UI elements don’t show up because they’re not correctly set up in the view.

Another thing to consider is the main thread dispatch. While you’re updating the label on the main thread, the entire JSON parsing could be happening on a background thread. Ensure your API call is structured correctly.

Lastly, have you implemented error handling? Adding a do-catch block around your JSON parsing could reveal hidden errors. This might give you more insight into what’s going wrong.

If you’re still stuck, posting your full API request code could help identify the issue.

4

yo man, check ur API call. sometimes the data doesnt come thru right. also, make sure ur label is actually on the screen lol. i had that happen once and felt like an idiot. oh and try printin the data before u try to show it. thatll help u see whats goin on