During startup in (-viewDidLoad or in storyboard) do:

self.tableView.allowsMultipleSelectionDuringEditing = NO;

Override to support conditional editing of the table view. This only needs to be implemented if you are going to be returning NO for some items. By default, all items are editable.

- (BOOL)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView canEditRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {    // Return YES if you want the specified item to be editable.    return YES;}// Override to support editing the table view.- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView commitEditingStyle:(UITableViewCellEditingStyle)editingStyle forRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {    if (editingStyle == UITableViewCellEditingStyleDelete) {        //add code here for when you hit delete    }    }

This answer has been updated to Swift 3

I always think it is nice to have a very simple, self-contained example so that nothing is assumed when I am learning a new task. This answer is that for deleting UITableView rows. The project performs like this:

This project is based on the UITableView example for Swift.

Add the Code

Create a new project and replace the ViewController.swift code with the following.

import UIKitclass ViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource {    // These strings will be the data for the table view cells    var animals: [String] = ["Horse", "Cow", "Camel", "Pig", "Sheep", "Goat"]    let cellReuseIdentifier = "cell"    @IBOutlet var tableView: UITableView!    override func viewDidLoad() {        super.viewDidLoad()        // It is possible to do the following three things in the Interface Builder        // rather than in code if you prefer.        self.tableView.register(UITableViewCell.self, forCellReuseIdentifier: cellReuseIdentifier)        tableView.delegate = self        tableView.dataSource = self    }    // number of rows in table view    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {        return self.animals.count    }    // create a cell for each table view row    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {        let cell:UITableViewCell = self.tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: cellReuseIdentifier) as UITableViewCell!        cell.textLabel?.text = self.animals[indexPath.row]        return cell    }    // method to run when table view cell is tapped    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {        print("You tapped cell number \(indexPath.row).")    }    // this method handles row deletion    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, commit editingStyle: UITableViewCellEditingStyle, forRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {        if editingStyle == .delete {            // remove the item from the data model            animals.remove(at: indexPath.row)            // delete the table view row            tableView.deleteRows(at: [indexPath], with: .fade)        } else if editingStyle == .insert {            // Not used in our example, but if you were adding a new row, this is where you would do it.        }    }}

The single key method in the code above that enables row deletion is the last one. Here it is again for emphasis:

// this method handles row deletionfunc tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, commit editingStyle: UITableViewCellEditingStyle, forRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) {    if editingStyle == .delete {        // remove the item from the data model        animals.remove(at: indexPath.row)        // delete the table view row        tableView.deleteRows(at: [indexPath], with: .fade)    } else if editingStyle == .insert {        // Not used in our example, but if you were adding a new row, this is where you would do it.    }}

Storyboard

Add a UITableView to the View Controller in the storyboard. Use auto layout to pin the four sides of the table view to the edges of the View Controller. Control drag from the table view in the storyboard to the @IBOutlet var tableView: UITableView! line in the code.

Finished

That's all. You should be able to run your app now and delete rows by swiping left and tapping "Delete".

Variations

Change the "Delete" button text

Add the following method:

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, titleForDeleteConfirmationButtonForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> String? {    return "Erase"}

Custom button actions

Add the following method.

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, editActionsForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> [UITableViewRowAction]? {    // action one    let editAction = UITableViewRowAction(style: .default, title: "Edit", handler: { (action, indexPath) in        print("Edit tapped")    })    editAction.backgroundColor = UIColor.blue    // action two    let deleteAction = UITableViewRowAction(style: .default, title: "Delete", handler: { (action, indexPath) in        print("Delete tapped")    })    deleteAction.backgroundColor = UIColor.red    return [editAction, deleteAction]}

Note that this is only available from iOS 8. See this answer for more details.

Updated for iOS 11

Actions can be placed either leading or trailing the cell using methods added to the UITableViewDelegate API in iOS 11.

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView,                leadingSwipeActionsConfigurationForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UISwipeActionsConfiguration? {     let editAction = UIContextualAction(style: .normal, title:  "Edit", handler: { (ac:UIContextualAction, view:UIView, success:(Bool) -> Void) in             success(true)         })editAction.backgroundColor = .blue         return UISwipeActionsConfiguration(actions: [editAction]) } func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView,                trailingSwipeActionsConfigurationForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UISwipeActionsConfiguration? {     let deleteAction = UIContextualAction(style: .normal, title:  "Delete", handler: { (ac:UIContextualAction, view:UIView, success:(Bool) -> Void) in         success(true)     })     deleteAction.backgroundColor = .red     return UISwipeActionsConfiguration(actions: [deleteAction]) }

Further reading

• How To Make A Swipeable Table View Cell With Actions – Without Going Nuts With Scroll Views
• Documentation

This code shows how to implement the delete.

#pragma mark - UITableViewDataSource// Swipe to delete.- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView commitEditingStyle:(UITableViewCellEditingStyle)editingStyle forRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath{    if (editingStyle == UITableViewCellEditingStyleDelete) {        [_chats removeObjectAtIndex:indexPath.row];        [tableView deleteRowsAtIndexPaths:@[indexPath] withRowAnimation:UITableViewRowAnimationAutomatic];    }}

Optionally, in your initialization override, add the line below to show the Edit button item:

self.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = self.editButtonItem;