Text Field Enhancements (SwiftUI)

Four newer TextField APIs: the axis parameter for multiline growth, a selection binding of type TextSelection, macOS input suggestions, and control over Apple's Writing Tools.

Grow with the text: the axis parameter

Pass axis: .vertical and the field enlarges to fit its content. When it cannot grow further, it scrolls along that axis. This replaces the old wrap-a-TextEditor tricks.

TextField("Very long text", text: $text, axis: .vertical)

Read and write the selection

The selection parameter binds to a TextSelection?. SwiftUI fills it when the user selects text; set it yourself to select programmatically. TextEditor supports the same API.

@State private var selection: TextSelection?

TextField("Very long text here", text: $text, selection: $selection)
  .onChange(of: selection) {
    if let selection = selection.take(),
       case let .selection(range) = selection.indices {
      print(text[range])
    }
  }

Suggestions under the field (macOS only)

textInputSuggestions shows a @ViewBuilder list under the field. A tap inserts the string given by textInputCompletion, not the label text.

TextField("Search", text: $text)
  .textInputSuggestions {
    Label("Suggestion 1", systemImage: "01.circle")
      .textInputCompletion("text1")
    Label("Suggestion 2", systemImage: "02.circle")
      .textInputCompletion("text2")
  }

Writing Tools

Apple's Writing Tools attach to every text field automatically. Limit or disable them per field with writingToolsBehavior, for example .limited.

TextField("Very long text here", text: $text)
  .writingToolsBehavior(.limited)