<!--
{
  "documentType" : "article",
  "framework" : "AppKit",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/AppKit/nspasteboard-detection-patterns",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "collectionGroup",
  "title" : "Pasteboard detection patterns"
}
-->

# Pasteboard detection patterns

Common types of data that the data detection system matches for a pasteboard.

## Topics

### Email and web values

[`var emailAddresses: [DDMatchEmailAddress]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/emailAddresses)

An array of email addresses that the data detection system identifies.

[`var links: [DDMatchLink]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/links)

An array of web links that the data detection system identifies.

[`var probableWebSearch: String`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/probableWebSearch)

A string that the data detection system identifies as a probable web search item, suitable for implementing “Paste and Search”.

[`var probableWebURL: String`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/probableWebURL)

A string that the data detection system identifies as a probable web URL, suitable for implementing “Paste and Go”.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternEmailAddress;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternEmailAddress)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains an email address.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternLink;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternLink)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains a URL.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternProbableWebSearch;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternProbableWebSearch)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string suitable for use as a web search term.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternProbableWebURL;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternProbableWebURL)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that consists of a web URL.

### Contact values

[`var phoneNumbers: [DDMatchPhoneNumber]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/phoneNumbers)

An array of phone numbers that the data detection system identifies.

[`var postalAddresses: [DDMatchPostalAddress]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/postalAddresses)

An array of postal addresses that the data detection system identifies.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternPhoneNumber;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternPhoneNumber)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains a phone number.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternPostalAddress;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternPostalAddress)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains a postal address.

### Calendar values

[`var calendarEvents: [DDMatchCalendarEvent]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/calendarEvents)

An array of calendar events that the data detection system identifies.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternCalendarEvent;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternCalendarEvent)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains a calendar event.

### Numeric values

[`var moneyAmounts: [DDMatchMoneyAmount]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/moneyAmounts)

An array of money amounts and currencies that the data detection system identifies.

[`var number: Double?`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/number)

A number that the data detection system identifies.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternMoneyAmount;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternMoneyAmount)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains an amount of money.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternNumber;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternNumber)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that consists of a numeric value.

### Transportation-related values

[`var flightNumbers: [DDMatchFlightNumber]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/flightNumbers)

An array of flight numbers that the data detection system identifies.

[`var shipmentTrackingNumbers: [DDMatchShipmentTrackingNumber]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/shipmentTrackingNumbers)

An array of parcel tracking numbers and carriers that the data detection system identifies.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternFlightNumber;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternFlightNumber)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains a flight number.

[`extern NSPasteboardDetectionPattern const NSPasteboardDetectionPatternShipmentTrackingNumber;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPatternShipmentTrackingNumber)

A pattern that indicates the pasteboard detects a string that contains a parcel tracking number and carrier.

### Patterns

[`var patterns: Set<PartialKeyPath<NSPasteboard.DetectedValues>>`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues/patterns)

A set of key paths that represent patterns that the data detection system identifies.

### Pattern type

[`struct DetectedValues`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboard/DetectedValues)

A type that contains common types of data that the data detection system matches for a pasteboard.

[`typedef NSString * NSPasteboardDetectionPattern;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSPasteboardDetectionPattern)

A pattern to detect on the pasteboard, such as a URL, text, or a number.



---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)