Switching between Text fields on pressing return key in Swift

Ios Problem Overview

I'm designing an iOS app and I want that when the return key is pressed in my iPhone it directs me to the next following text field.

I have found a couple of similar questions, with excellent answers around but they all just happen to be in Objective-C and I'm looking for Swift code, now this is what I have up until now:

func textFieldShouldReturn(emaillabel: UITextField) -> Bool{
    return true
}

It's placed in the file that's connected and controller to the UIView that contains the text fields, but I'm not sure if thats the right place.

Okay, so I tried this out and got this error:
//could not find an overload for '!=' that accepts the supplied arguments

func textFieldShouldReturn(textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
    let nextTag: NSInteger = textField.tag + 1
    // Try to find next responder
    let nextResponder: UIResponder = textField.superview!.viewWithTag(nextTag)!
    if (nextResponder != nil) {
        // could not find an overload for '!=' that accepts the supplied arguments

        // Found next responder, so set it.
        nextResponder.becomeFirstResponder()
    } else {
        // Not found, so remove keyboard.
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
    }
    return false // We do not want UITextField to insert line-breaks.
}

Ios Solutions

Solution 1 - Ios

Make sure your UITextField delegates are set and the tags are incremented properly. This can also be done through the Interface Builder.

Here's a link to an Obj-C post I found: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1347779/how-to-navigate-through-textfields-next-done-buttons

class ViewController: UIViewController,UITextFieldDelegate {
   // Link each UITextField (Not necessary if delegate and tag are set in Interface Builder)
   @IBOutlet weak var someTextField: UITextField!

   override func viewDidLoad() {
	  super.viewDidLoad()
	  // Do the next two lines for each UITextField here or in the Interface Builder
	  someTextField.delegate = self
	  someTextField.tag = 0 //Increment accordingly
   }

   func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
	  // Try to find next responder
	  if let nextField = textField.superview?.viewWithTag(textField.tag + 1) as? UITextField {
		 nextField.becomeFirstResponder()
	  } else {
		 // Not found, so remove keyboard.
		 textField.resignFirstResponder()
	  }
	  // Do not add a line break
	  return false
   }
}

Solution 2 - Ios

Swift 5

You can easily switch to another TextField when clicking return key in keyboard.

First, Your view controller conforms to UITextFieldDelegate and add the textFieldShouldReturn(_:) delegate method in ViewController
Drag from TextField to ViewController in Interface Builder. Then select the delegate option. Note : Do this for all TextField

Create an IBOutlet for all TextFields

 class ViewController: UIViewController, UITextFieldDelegate {

   @IBOutlet weak var txtFieldName: UITextField!
   @IBOutlet weak var txtFieldEmail: UITextField!
   @IBOutlet weak var txtFieldPassword: UITextField!

   func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
     if textField == txtFieldName {
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
        txtFieldEmail.becomeFirstResponder()
     } else if textField == txtFieldEmail {
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
        txtFieldPassword.becomeFirstResponder()
     } else if textField == txtFieldPassword {
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
     }
    return true
   }
 }

Solution 3 - Ios

I suggest that you should use switch statement in textFieldShouldReturn(_:).

// MARK: UITextFieldDelegate

func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
	switch textField {
	case nameTextField:
		phoneTextField.becomeFirstResponder()
	case phoneTextField:
		emailTextField.becomeFirstResponder()
	case emailTextField:
		descriptionTextField.becomeFirstResponder()
	default:
		textField.resignFirstResponder()
	}
	return false
}

Solution 4 - Ios

This approach needs some changes in table views and collection views, but it's okay for simple forms I guess.

Connect your textFields to one IBOutletCollection, sort it by its y coordinate and in textFieldShouldReturn(_:) just jump to the next textfield until you reach the end:

@IBOutlet var textFields: [UITextField]!

...

textFields.sortInPlace { $0.frame.origin.y < $1.frame.origin.y }

...

func textFieldShouldReturn(textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
    if let currentIndex = textFields.indexOf(textField) where currentIndex < textFields.count-1 {
        textFields[currentIndex+1].becomeFirstResponder()
    } else {
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
    }
    return true
}

Or just look at sample project (xcode 7 beta 4)

Solution 5 - Ios

I have tried many codes and finally this worked for me in Swift 3.0 Latest [March 2017]

The "ViewController" class should inherited the "UITextFieldDelegate" for making this code working.

class ViewController: UIViewController,UITextFieldDelegate

Add the Text field with the Proper Tag nuber and this tag number is used to take the control to appropriate text field based on incremental tag number assigned to it.

override func viewDidLoad() {

 userNameTextField.delegate = self

        userNameTextField.tag = 0

        userNameTextField.returnKeyType = UIReturnKeyType.next

        passwordTextField.delegate = self

        passwordTextField.tag = 1


        passwordTextField.returnKeyType = UIReturnKeyType.go

}

In the above code, the "returnKeyType = UIReturnKeyType.next" where will make the Key pad return key to display as "Next" you also have other options as "Join/Go" etc, based on your application change the values.

This "textFieldShouldReturn" is a method of UITextFieldDelegate controlled and here we have next field selection based on the Tag value incrementation

func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool

    {

        if let nextField = textField.superview?.viewWithTag(textField.tag + 1) as? UITextField {

            nextField.becomeFirstResponder()

        } else {

            textField.resignFirstResponder()

            return true;

        }

        return false

    }

Solution 6 - Ios

Caleb's version in Swift 4.0

func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
    if let nextField = self.view.viewWithTag(textField.tag + 1) as? UITextField {
        nextField.becomeFirstResponder()
    } else {
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
    }
    return false
}

P.S. textField.superview? not working for me

Solution 7 - Ios

Swift & Programmatically

class MyViewController: UIViewController, UITextFieldDelegate {

    let textFieldA = UITextField()
    let textFieldB = UITextField()
    let textFieldC = UITextField()
    let textFieldD = UITextField()

    var textFields: [UITextField] {
        return [textFieldA, textFieldB, textFieldC, textFieldD]
    }

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        // layout textfields somewhere 
        // then set delegate
        textFields.forEach { $0.delegate = self }
    }
    
    func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
        if let selectedTextFieldIndex = textFields.firstIndex(of: textField), selectedTextFieldIndex < textFields.count - 1 {
            textFields[selectedTextFieldIndex + 1].becomeFirstResponder()
        } else {
            textField.resignFirstResponder() // last textfield, dismiss keyboard directly
        }
        return true
    }
}

Solution 8 - Ios

the easiest way to change to next text Field is this no need for long code

override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        emailTextField.delegate = self
        passwordTextField.delegate = self
    }


    func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
        if textField == emailTextField {
            passwordTextField.becomeFirstResponder()
        }else {
            passwordTextField.resignFirstResponder()
        }
            return true
    }

Solution 9 - Ios

I have a good solution for your question.

STEP:

1 - Set your return key from the storyboard.

2 - In your swift file.

func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
        if textField.returnKeyType == .next {
            Email.resignFirstResponder()
            Password.becomeFirstResponder()
        } else if textField.returnKeyType == .go {
            Password.resignFirstResponder()
            self.Login_Action()
        }
        return true
    }

3 - Don't forget to set the delegate of the Textfield.

Thank you :)

Solution 10 - Ios

Just use becomeFirstResponder() method of UIResponder class in your textFieldShouldReturn method. Every UIView objects are UIResponder's subclasses.

if self.emaillabel.isEqual(self.anotherTextField)
{
    self.anotherTextField.becomeFirstResponder()
}

You can find more information about becomeFirstResponder() method at Apple Doc's in here.

Solution 11 - Ios

Swift 4.2

This is a More Generic and Easiest Solution, you can use this code with any amount of TextFields. Just inherit UITextFieldDelegate and update the Textfield Tag according to the order and copy this function

func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
    let txtTag:Int = textField.tag
    
    if let textFieldNxt = self.view.viewWithTag(txtTag+1) as? UITextField {
        textFieldNxt.becomeFirstResponder()
    }else{
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
    }
    
    return true
}

Solution 12 - Ios

An alternative method for purists who don't like using tags, and wants the UITextField delegate to be the cell to keep the components separated or uni-directional...

Create a new protocol to link the Cell's and the TableViewController.

 protocol CellResponder {
   func setNextResponder(_ fromCell: UITableViewCell)
 }

Add the protocol to your cell, where your TextField Delegate is also the cell (I do this in the Storyboard).

 class MyTableViewCell: UITableViewCell, UITextFieldDelegate {
   var responder: CellResponder?

   func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
     responder?.setNextResponder(self)
     return true
   }
 }

Make your TableViewController conform to the CellResponder protocol (i.e. class MyTableViewController: UITableViewController, CellResponder) and implement the method as you wish. I.e. if you have different cell types then you could do this, likewise you could pass in the IndexPath, use a tag, etc.. Don't forget to set cell.responder = self in cellForRow..
```
 func setNextResponder(_ fromCell: UITableViewCell) {
   if fromCell is MyTableViewCell, let nextCell = tableView.cellForRow(at: IndexPath(row: 1, section: 0)) as? MySecondTableViewCell {
     
     nextCell.aTextField?.becomeFirstResponder()
     
   } ....
 }
```

Solution 13 - Ios

No any special, here is my currently using to change the textFiled. So the code in ViewController looks good :). #Swift4

final class SomeTextFiled: UITextField {

  public var actionKeyboardReturn: (() -> ())?

  override init(frame: CGRect) {
      super.init(frame: frame)
      super.delegate = self
  }

  required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
      super.init(coder: aDecoder)
      fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
  }

  func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
      self.resignFirstResponder()
      actionKeyboardReturn?()
      return true
   }
}

extension SomeTextFiled: UITextFieldDelegate {}


class MyViewController : UIViewController {

    var tfName: SomeTextFiled!
    var tfEmail: SomeTextFiled!
    var tfPassword: SomeTextFiled!

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        tfName = SomeTextFiled(frame: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 100, height: 100))
        tfName.actionKeyboardReturn = { [weak self] in
            self?.tfEmail.becomeFirstResponder()
        }
        tfEmail = SomeTextFiled(frame: CGRect(x: 100, y: 0, width: 100, height: 100))
        tfEmail.actionKeyboardReturn = { [weak self] in
            self?.tfPassword.becomeFirstResponder()
        }
        tfPassword = SomeTextFiled(frame: CGRect(x: 200, y: 0, width: 100, height: 100))
        tfPassword.actionKeyboardReturn = {
            /// Do some further code
        }
    }
}

Solution 14 - Ios

If you have a lot of textfield components my be it could be better to use an outlet collection, linking textfields and setting Return Key from interface builder

@IBOutlet var formTextFields: [UITextField]!

override func viewDidLoad() {
  for textField in formTextFields {
    textField.delegate = self
  }
}

extension RegisterViewController: UITextFieldDelegate {
  func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
    if let componentIndex = formTextFields.firstIndex(of: textField) {
      if textField.returnKeyType == .next,
        componentIndex < (formTextFields.count - 1) {
        formTextFields[componentIndex + 1].becomeFirstResponder()
      } else {
        textField.resignFirstResponder()
      }
    }
    return true
  }
}

Solution 15 - Ios

You can go with field tags. I think that's easier than other.

First of all you have enter code hereto give tag to your field.

On my code usernameField tag is 0 and passwordField tag is 1. And I check my tag. Then doing proccess.

func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
    if textField.tag == 0 {
        passwordField.becomeFirstResponder()
    } else if textField.tag == 1 {
        self.view.endEditing(true)
        loginFunc()
    } else {
        print("Hata var")
       
    }
     return false
}

If click return on username field, go password. Or If you click return when password field, run login function to login.

Solution 16 - Ios

Swift 4+ This piece of code will help you.

class YOURClass: UITextFieldDelegate {
  override func viewDidLoad() {

    //delegate your textfield in here
     choosenTextField1.delegate = self
     choosenTextField2.delegate = self

    }

  func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
        switch textField.tag {
          case 1:
            choosenTextField1.becomeFirstResponder()
          case 2:
            choosenTextField2.becomeFirstResponder()
          default:
            break   
        }
        
        return true
  }
}

Solution 17 - Ios

The viewWithTag is a bad solution because the superview may have views with tags set. This is better:

public extension Collection where Element: Equatable {
    func element(after element: Element) -> Element? {
        guard let index = firstIndex(of: element) else { return nil }
        let nextIndex = self.index(after: index)
        return nextIndex < endIndex ? self[nextIndex] : nil
    }
}

class Controller: UIViewController {

    @IBOutlet weak var firstNameTextField: UITextField!
    @IBOutlet weak var lastNameTextField: UITextField!
    @IBOutlet weak var companyTextField: UITextField!

    private lazy var primaryTextFields: [UITextField] = {
        [firstNameTextField, lastNameTextField, companyTextField]
    }()

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        primaryTextFields.forEach { $0.delegate = self }
    }
}

extension Controller: UITextFieldDelegate {
    func textFieldShouldReturn(_ textField: UITextField) -> Bool {
        if let next = primaryTextFields.element(after: textField) {
            next.becomeFirstResponder()
        } else if primaryTextFields.contains(textField) {
            textField.resignFirstResponder()
        }
        return true
    }
}

Content Type	Original Author	Original Content on Stackoverflow
Question	lucas rodriguez	View Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - Ios	Caleb	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - Ios	Vinoth Vino	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - Ios	kubacizek	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - Ios	libec	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - Ios	BHUVANESH MOHANKUMAR	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - Ios	coldembrace	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 7 - Ios	Tieda Wei	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 8 - Ios	mazenqp	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 9 - Ios	Parth Patel	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 10 - Ios	Candost	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 11 - Ios	Lahiru Pinto	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 12 - Ios	mm282	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 13 - Ios	Stephen Chen	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 14 - Ios	user8016538	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 15 - Ios	user11379934	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 16 - Ios	Ali Qaderi	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 17 - Ios	Rob C	View Answer on Stackoverflow