1

I was hoping enum case assoc'ed value can have default like func parameter. Didn't find that but:

enum Foo {
    case a(Int = 1)     // what's this? why is .a => (Int) -> Foo
}

let x = Foo.a
print("type(of: x):", type(of: x), ", x:", x)   // type(of: x): (Int) -> Foo , x: (Function)

let y = x(123)
print("type(of: y):", type(of: y), ", y:", y)   // type(of: y): Foo , y: a(123)

Don't see this cover in the language guide enum section: Enumerations — The Swift Programming Language (Swift 5.7)

So why is .a is a closure? What's this useful for?

And for my original question: can enum case associated value have default?

2

When you declare a case with no associated values, you essentially get a static var:

enum Foo {
    case a
    // is equivalent to
    static var a: Self { ... }
}

But when you declare a case with associated values, you essentially declare a static func:

enum Foo {
    case a(Int = 1)
    // is equivalent to
    static func a(_ argument: Int = 1) -> Self { ... }
}

And so when there are associated values, you must use a as a function:

Foo.a() // use the default value
Foo.a(123) // use an explicit value
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