How can I check what is stored in my Core Data Database?

If you use sqlite as the storage media for Core Data, you can run your app in simulator and try to check the database file which is located in the sandbox's Library folder.

The path shall be something like: ~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/5.1/Applications/3BF8A4B3-4959-4D8F-AC12-DB8EF4C3B6E1/Library/YourAppName.sqlite

To open the sqlite file, you need a tool. I use a free tool called Liya (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/liya/id455484422?mt=12).

Swift 4, 5

Add this line in AppDelegate >> didFinishLaunchingWithOptions function:

print("Documents Directory: ", FileManager.default.urls(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask).last ?? "Not Found!")

Your modelName.sqlite file will be there.

You can open it with any SQLite browser tools like http://sqlitebrowser.org/ that is free.

The other solutions are either old or does not direct you easily or quickly to the SQLite files, so I came up with my own solution using FileManager.SearchPathDirectory.applicationSupportDirectory that gets the exact path where the sqlite file will be.

Solution #1 using FileManager.default:

func whereIsMySQLite() {
    let path = FileManager
        .default
        .urls(for: .applicationSupportDirectory, in: .userDomainMask)
        .last?
        .absoluteString
        .replacingOccurrences(of: "file://", with: "")
        .removingPercentEncoding
    
    print(path ?? "Not found")
}

Solution #2 using NSPersistentContainer.defaultDirectoryURL():

func whereIsMySQLite() {
    let path = NSPersistentContainer
        .defaultDirectoryURL()
        .absoluteString
        .replacingOccurrences(of: "file://", with: "")
        .removingPercentEncoding

    print(path ?? "Not found")
}

Either whereIsMySQLite() will print the path which you can simply copy-paste on your Mac here:

Finder > Go > Go to folder

Here is my solution(works on iOS 9):

I use an automator/bash script that open the database in sqllitebrowser. the script finds the latest installed app in the simulator. Instructions:

1. Install DB Browser for SQLite (http://sqlitebrowser.org/)
2. Create new workflow in Apple Automator.
3. Drag "Run Shell script block" and paste this code:

cd ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/
cd `ls -t | head -n 1`/data/Containers/Data/Application 
cd `ls -t | head -n 1`/Documents
open -a DB\ Browser\ for\ SQLite ./YOUR_DATABASE_NAME.sqlite

4. (Optional) Convert this workflow to application, save it and drag it to your dock. To refresh the database just click on the app icon.