How to Check Internet Connectivity in iOS Using Swift and Network Framework
1 min read
Summary
The guide provides a modern and Swift-based approach to checking for an active internet connection on iOS devices.
It explains the differences between network reachability and actual internet access, emphasizing the need to validate internet availability through an HTTP request.
It covers Apple’s Network framework and NWPathMonitor for detecting network connections, including types of connections, status values, and handling different scenarios such as no internet connection, limited or slow internet, and network changes, including VPNs.
To provide informative feedback to users, it recommends displaying UI alerts, modals, or snack bars, and offers a “Retry” option after a failure.
In order to optimize network usage, large data transfers should be avoided on slow networks, and background-friendly techniques should be used for downloads and uploads.
The article emphasizes the importance of starting and stopping NWPathMonitor appropriately, debouncing rapid status changes, and logging for debugging.
To ensure a smooth user experience and the reliability of iOS apps in different network conditions, developers are encouraged to follow these guidelines.