Placeholder Text for UITextView mixed w/ First Responder

Question

I currently have a text view with placeholder text that dissapears whenever a user taps on the text view and the text in the textview reappears whenever the first responder is resigned, if the text view is empty. (Heres the code I use for that in case anyone wants to use it)

*Note, first set the text color of the textview to light gray and set the placeholder text. Then use these methods:

func textViewShouldBeginEditing(_ textView: UITextView) -> Bool {
    //If it begins editing, then set the color to black
    if (textView.tag == 0){
        textView.text = ""
        textView.textColor = .black
        textView.tag = 1
    }
    return true
}


func textViewDidEndEditing(_ textView: UITextView) {
    if textView.text.isEmpty {
        textView.text = "Example: I started my career as a street wear model based in Maryland. After 3 years of working with some of the top companies there, I moved to LA, where I currently reside. I’ve been featured in shows, 12 magazines, commercials, and a number of music videos. Now, Im currently looking to continue working with clothing companies and campaigns."
        textView.textColor = .lightGray
        textView.tag = 0
    }
}

I wanted to step things up a notch. Right now, the text disappears whenever the text view becomes the first responder. I want the text to disappear whenever the user actually starts typing, not just when the text view is selected. When the screen appears, I automatically set the first responder to the text view and I plan on keeping it that way. But because its automatically set, you're not able to see the placeholder text. I only want the text view to disappear whenever the user presses a key, not because its selected.

Eduard Eduard · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-27T04:56:40

Here's the code

class ViewController: UIViewController {

    @IBOutlet weak var textView: UITextView!
    let placeholder = "Example: I started my career as a street wear model based in Maryland. After 3 years of working with some of the top companies there, I moved to LA, where I currently reside. I’ve been featured in shows, 12 magazines, commercials, and a number of music videos. Now, Im currently looking to continue working with clothing companies and campaigns."
    let start = NSRange(location: 0, length: 0)
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        textView.delegate = self
        textView.text = placeholder
    }
}

extension ViewController: UITextViewDelegate {
    func textViewDidChangeSelection(_ textView: UITextView) {
        // Moves cursor to start when tapped on textView with placeholder
        if textView.text == placeholder {
            textView.selectedRange = start
        }
    }
    func textViewDidChange(_ textView: UITextView) {
        // Manages state of text when changed
        if textView.text.isEmpty {
            textView.text = placeholder
            textView.textColor = .lightGray
        } else if textView.text != placeholder {
            textView.textColor = .black
        }
    }
    func textView(_ textView: UITextView, shouldChangeTextIn range: NSRange, replacementText text: String) -> Bool {
        // Called when you're trying to enter a character (to replace the placeholder)
        if textView.text == placeholder {
            textView.text = ""
        }
        return true
    }
}

Updated #1: Maximum length

func textView(_ textView: UITextView, shouldChangeTextIn range: NSRange, replacementText text: String) -> Bool {
    // Called when you're trying to enter a character (to replace the placeholder)
    if textView.text == placeholder {
        textView.text = ""
    } else if textView.text.count >= 175 && text.count > 0 {
        // Now it can delete symbols but can't enter new
        return false
    }
    return true
}

There's slight bug when trying to clear textView by holding erase button. Placeholder is not showing. Method textViewDidChange somehow is not called (goes out of sync with shouldChangeTextIn). Possible workaround https://stackoverflow.com/a/9169556/5228431

Placeholder Text for UITextView mixed w/ First Responder

2 Answers