Callback with parameters with Kotlin
This really depends on how you define the callback method. If you use a standalone function, use the ::
operator. First (of course), I should explain the syntax:
(//these parenthesis are technically not necessary
(persons: Array<Person>, error: MyError?)//defines input arguments: an Array of Person and a nullable MyError
-> Unit//defines the return type: Unit is the equivalent of void in Java (meaning no return type)
)
So the method is defined as:
fun callback(persons: Array<CustomObject>, error: Exception?){
//Do whatever
}
And you call it like:
DataProvider.getPeople(
true,
results = this::callback
)
However, if you use anonymous callback functions, it's slightly different. This uses lambda as well:
getPeople(true, results={/*bracket defines a function. `persons, error` are the input arguments*/persons, error -> {
//do whatever
}})
Yes Kotlin has a great way of using callback functions which I will show you an example of how I use them below:
fun addMessageToDatabase(message: String, fromId: String, toId: String,
addedMessageSuccessHandler: () -> Unit,
addedMessageFailureHandler: () -> Unit) {
val latestMessageRef = mDatabase.getReference("/latest-messages/$fromId/$toId")
latestMessageRef.setValue(message).addOnSuccessListener {
latestMessageUpdateSuccessHandler.invoke()
}.addOnFailureListener {
latestMessageUpdateFailureHandler.invoke()
}
}
And finally you can utilise the new callbacks with the following code
databaseManager.updateLatestMessageForUsers(message, fromId, toId,
latestMessageUpdateSuccessHandler = {
// your success action
},
latestMessageUpdateFailureHandler = {
// your failure action
})
So basically when I successfully add a new row to my database I'm invoking a success or a failure response to the caller of the service. Hopefully this will help out someone.