CLion 2021.1 Help

Code Style. Swift

Use this page to configure code style options for Swift files. When you change these settings, the Preview pane shows how this will affect your code.

Set from...

Click this link to reveal the list of languages to be used as the base for the current language code style. Only the settings that are applicable to the current language are taken. All the other settings are not affected.

Click Reset to discard changes and return to the initial set of code style settings.

Tabs and Indents

ItemDescription
Use tab character
  • If this checkbox is selected, tab characters are used:

    • On pressing the Tab key

    • For indentation

    • For code reformatting

  • When the checkbox is cleared, CLion uses spaces instead of tabs.

Smart tabs
  • If this checkbox is selected, the part of indentation defined by the nesting of code blocks, is made of the tabs and (if necessary) spaces, while the part of indentation defined by the alignment is made only of spaces.

  • If this checkbox is cleared, only tabs are used. This means that a group of spaces that fits the specified tab size is automatically replaced with a tab, which may result in breaking fine alignment.

The Smart tabs checkbox is available if the Use tab character checkbox is selected.

Tab sizeIn this field, specify the number of spaces included in a tab.
IndentIn this field, specify the number of spaces to be inserted for each indent level.
Continuation indentIn this field, specify the number of spaces to be inserted between the elements of an array, in expressions, method declarations and method calls.
Keep indents on empty linesIf this checkbox is selected, CLion will keep indents on the empty lines as if they contained some code.
If this checkbox is cleared, CLion will delete the tab characters and spaces.
Indent multiline stringsIf this checkbox is selected, the multiline strings will be indented.
DirectivesFollow code indent: if the checkbox is selected, conditional compilation blocks will be indented to match the surrounding code.
Indent children: if the checkbox is selected, the statements within conditional compilation blocks will be indented.
The option is available when the Follow code indent is selected.

Spaces

Use this tab to specify where you want spaces in your code. To have CLion automatically insert a space at a location, select the checkbox next to this location in the list. The results are displayed in the preview pane.

Wrapping and braces

In this tab, customize the code style options, which CLion will apply on reformatting the source code. The left-hand pane contains the list of exceptions (Keep when reformatting), and placement and alignment options for the various code constructs (lists, statements, operations, annotations, and so on) The right-hand pane shows the preview.

Alignment takes precedence over indentation options.

Hard wrap at

Use the Hard wrap at field to specify a margin space required on the right side of an element. If you select the Default option, then a value of the right margin from the global settings is used.

Wrap on typing

Use the Wrap on typing settings to specify how the edited text is fitted in the specified Hard wrap at:

  • Default: in this case CLion uses the Wrap on typing option that is specified in the global settings.

  • Yes: in this case CLion uses the value specified in the Right Margin field.

  • No: in this case this option is switched off and a line can exceed the value specified in the right margin.

Visual guides

Use the Visual guides field to specify multiple right margins. You can leave a default value or enter the number of spaces for your margin. If you want to specify several margins, enter numbers separated by comma.

Keep when reformatting

Use the checkboxes to configure exceptions that CLion will make when reformatting the source code. For example, by default, the Line breaks checkbox is selected. If your code contains lines that are shorter than a standard convention, you can convert them by disabling the Line breaks checkbox before you reformat the source code.

Alignment options

ItemDescription
Align when multilineIf this checkbox is selected, a code construct starts at the same column on each next line. Otherwise, the position of a code construct is determined by the current indentation level.
Align parenthesised when multilineIf this checkbox is selected, a parenthesised code construct starts at the column of the opening parenthesis each next line. Otherwise, the position of a code construct is determined by the current indentation level.
<character(s)> on next lineSelect this checkbox to have the specified character or characters moved to the next line when the lines are wrapped.
'else' on new lineUse this checkbox to have the corresponding statements or characters moved to the next line.
New line after <character>Select this checkbox to have the code after the specified character moved to a new line.
Special else if treatment

If this checkbox is selected, else if statements are located in the same line.

Otherwise, else if statements are moved to the next line to the corresponding indent level.

Indent case branchesIf this checkbox is selected, the case statement is located at the corresponding indent level. Otherwise, case statement is placed at the same indent level with switch.

Braces placement options

ItemDescription
Braces placement style

Use this list to specify the position of the opening brace in class declarations, function declarations and other types of declarations. The available options are:

  • End of line: select this option to have the opening brace placed at the declaration line end.

  • Next line if wrapped: select this option to have the opening brace placed at the beginning of the line after the multiline declaration line.

  • Next line: select this option to have the opening brace placed at the beginning of the line after the declaration line.

  • Next line shifted: select this option to have the opening brace placed at the line after the declaration line being shifted to the corresponding indent level.

  • Next line, each shifted: select this option to have the opening brace placed at the line after the declaration line being shifted to the corresponding indent level, and have the next line shifted to the next indent level as well.

Force braces

From this list, choose the braces introduction method for if, for, while, and do () while statements. The available options are:

  • Do not force: select this option to suppress introducing braces automatically.

  • When multiline: select this option to have braces introduced automatically if a statement occupies more than one line. Note that CLion analyzes the number of lines in the entire statement but not only its condition.

    For example, if the code is

    int foo (int Days) { if ((Days % 10) == 3) return 1; else return 0; }

    CLion will insert braces automatically:

    int foo (int Days) { if ((Days % 10) == 3) { return 1; } else { return 0; } }
  • Always: select this checkbox to have braces always introduced automatically.

Blank lines

Use this tab to define where and how many blank lines you want CLion to retain and insert in your code after reformatting. For each type of location, specify the number of blank lines to be inserted. The results are displayed in the preview pane.

ItemDescription
Keep maximum blank linesIn this area, specify the number of blank lines to be kept after reformatting in the specified locations.
Minimum blank lines

In this area, specify the number of blank lines to be present in the specified locations.

Code generation

General

ItemDescription
Prefer Void over ()Select this checkbox to have the Void return type instead of () in generated code.
Prefer Void over (): ONPrefer Void over (): OFF
override func dismiss( animated flag: Bool, completion: (() -> Void)? ) { // ... }
override func dismiss( animated flag: Bool, completion: (() -> ())? ) { // ... }
Prefer explicit return

Select this checkbox to have the return keyword in generated single-expression functions.

If you want to get rid of explicit return keywords in your existing code, use the Redundant return inspection(Preferences | Editor | Inspections | Swift).

Prefer explicit return: ONPrefer explicit return: OFF
override func isProxy() -> Bool { return super.isProxy() }
override func isProxy() -> Bool { super.isProxy() }

Comment code

ItemDescription
Line comment at first columnSelect this checkbox to have generated line comments placed in the first column.
Add a space at comment startSelect this checkbox to have a space placed after // in generated line comments.
This option is available only if the Line comment at first column checkbox is cleared.
Block comment at first columnSelect this checkbox to have generated block comments placed in the first column.
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Last modified: 08 March 2021