How to get current string of search bar while typing

Question

On pressing the searchbar I want to get the string that has already been entered. For that I am currently using this method:

- (BOOL)searchBar:(UISearchBar *)searchBar shouldChangeTextInRange:(NSRange)range     replacementText:(NSString *)text
{
    NSLog(@"String:%@",mainSearchBar.text);
    return YES;
}

But it is returning the previous string. For example id i type "jumbo", it shows jumb and when i press backspace to delete one item and make it "jumb", it shows jumbo. i.e the previous string on the searchbar.

What should I do to get the current string? plsease help. Thanks

Answer 1

Inside the method you get the entered text with:

NSString* newText = [searchBar.text stringByReplacingCharactersInRange:range withString:text]

Swift 3:

let newText = (searchBar.text ?? "" as NSString).replacingCharacters(in: range, with: text)

Answer 2

The most convenient delegate method to retrieve the new text from is:

- (void)searchBar:(UISearchBar *)searchBar textDidChange:(NSString *)searchText

Both [searchBar text] and searchText will return the newly typed text. shouldChangeTextInRange intentionally reports the old text because it permits you to cancel the edit before it happens.