Class

NSResponder

An abstract class that forms the basis of event and command processing in AppKit.

Overview

The core classes—NSApplication, NSWindow, and NSView—inherit from NSResponder, as must any class that handles events. The responder model is built around three components: event messages, action messages, and the responder chain.

NSResponder also plays an important role in the presentation of error information. The default implementations of the presentError(_:) and presentError(_:modalFor:delegate:didPresent:contextInfo:) methods send willPresentError(_:) to self, thereby giving subclasses the opportunity to customize the localized information presented in error alerts. NSResponder then forwards the message to the next responder, passing it the customized NSError object. The exact path up the modified responder chain depends on the type of application window:

Window owned by document: view > superviews > window > window controller > document object > document controller > the application object
Window with window controller but no documents: view > superviews > window > window controller > the application object
Window with no window controllers: view > superviews > window > the application object

NSApplication displays a document-modal error alert and, if the error object has a recovery attempter, gives it a chance to recover from the error. (A recovery attempter is an object that conforms to the NSErrorRecoveryAttempting informal protocol.)

Topics

Changing the First Responder

var acceptsFirstResponder: Bool

Whether the responder accepts first responder status.

func becomeFirstResponder() -> Bool

Notifies the receiver that it’s about to become first responder in its NSWindow.

func resignFirstResponder() -> Bool

Notifies the receiver that it’s been asked to relinquish its status as first responder in its window.

func validateProposedFirstResponder(NSResponder, for: NSEvent?) -> Bool

Allow controls to determine when they should become first responder.

Managing the Next Responder

var nextResponder: NSResponder?

The next responder after this one, or nil if it has none.

Responding to Mouse Events

func mouseDown(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has pressed the left mouse button.

func mouseDragged(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has moved the mouse with the left button pressed.

func mouseUp(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has released the left mouse button.

func mouseMoved(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the mouse has moved.

func mouseEntered(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the cursor has entered a tracking rectangle.

func mouseExited(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the cursor has exited a tracking rectangle.

func rightMouseDown(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has pressed the right mouse button.

func rightMouseDragged(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has moved the mouse with the right button pressed .

func rightMouseUp(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has released the right mouse button.

func otherMouseDown(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has pressed a mouse button other than the left or right one.

func otherMouseDragged(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has moved the mouse with a button other than the left or right button pressed.

func otherMouseUp(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has released a mouse button other than the left or right button.

Responding to Key Events

func keyDown(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has pressed a key.

func keyUp(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has released a key.

func interpretKeyEvents([NSEvent])

Invoked by subclasses from their keyDown(with:) method to handle a series of key events.

func performKeyEquivalent(with: NSEvent) -> Bool

Overridden by subclasses to handle a key equivalent.

func flushBufferedKeyEvents()

Overridden by subclasses to clear any unprocessed key events.

Responding to Pressure Changes

func pressureChange(with: NSEvent)

Invoked when a pressure change occurs as the result of a user input event on a system that supports pressure sensitivity.

Responding to Other Kinds of Events

func cursorUpdate(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the mouse cursor has moved into a cursor rectangle.

func flagsChanged(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has pressed or released a modifier key (Shift, Control, and so on).

func tabletPoint(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that a tablet-point event has occurred.

func tabletProximity(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that a tablet-proximity event has occurred.

func helpRequested(NSEvent)

Displays context-sensitive help for the receiver if such exists; otherwise passes this message to the next responder.

func scrollWheel(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the mouse’s scroll wheel has moved.

func quickLook(with: NSEvent)

Implemented by subclasses to perform a Quick Look on the content at location in the event.

Responding to Action Messages

func supplementalTarget(forAction: Selector, sender: Any?) -> Any?

This method is used in the process of finding a target for an action method.

protocol NSStandardKeyBindingRespondingBeta

Action Messages

Implement action messages in your first responders to handle common tasks.

Handling Window Restoration

func encodeRestorableState(with: NSCoder)

Saves the interface-related state of the responder.

func restoreState(with: NSCoder)

Restores the interface-related state of the responder.

class var restorableStateKeyPaths: [String]

Returns an array of key paths representing the restorable attributes of the responder.

func invalidateRestorableState()

Marks the responder’s interface-related state as dirty.

Supporting User Activities

var userActivity: NSUserActivity?

An object encapsulating a user activity supported by this responder.

func restoreUserActivityState(NSUserActivity)

Restores the state needed to continue the given user activity.

func updateUserActivityState(NSUserActivity)

Updates the state of the given user activity.

Presenting and Customizing Error Information

func presentError(Error) -> Bool

Presents an error alert to the user as an application-modal dialog.

func presentError(Error, modalFor: NSWindow, delegate: Any?, didPresent: Selector?, contextInfo: UnsafeMutableRawPointer?)

Presents an error alert to the user as a document-modal sheet attached to document window.

func willPresentError(Error) -> Error

Implemented by subclasses to return a custom version of the supplied error object that is more suitable for presentation in alert sheets and dialogs.

Dispatching Messages

func tryToPerform(Selector, with: Any?) -> Bool

Attempts to perform the action indicated method with a specified argument.

Managing a Responder’s Menu

var menu: NSMenu?

Returns the responder’s menu.

Updating the Services Menu

func validRequestor(forSendType: NSPasteboard.PasteboardType?, returnType: NSPasteboard.PasteboardType?) -> Any?

Overridden by subclasses to determine what services are available.

Getting the Undo Manager

var undoManager: UndoManager?

The undo manager for this responder.

Testing Events

func shouldBeTreatedAsInkEvent(NSEvent) -> Bool

Returns true if the specified event should be treated as an ink event, false if it should be treated as a mouse event.

Terminating the Responder Chain

func noResponder(for: Selector)

Handles the case where an event or action message falls off the end of the responder chain.

Touch and Gesture Events

func beginGesture(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has begun a touch gesture.

func endGesture(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has ended a touch gesture.

func magnify(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has begun a pinch gesture.

func rotate(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has begun a rotation gesture.

func swipe(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user has begun a swipe gesture.

func touchesBegan(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that new set of touches has been recognized.

func touchesMoved(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that one or more touches has moved.

func touchesCancelled(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that tracking of touches has been cancelled for any reason.

func touchesEnded(with: NSEvent)

Returns that a set of touches have been removed.

func wantsForwardedScrollEvents(for: NSEvent.GestureAxis) -> Bool

Returns whether to forward elastic scrolling gesture events up the responder.

func smartMagnify(with: NSEvent)

Informs the receiver that the user performed a smart zoom gesture.

func wantsScrollEventsForSwipeTracking(on: NSEvent.GestureAxis) -> Bool

Implement this method to track gesture scroll events such as a swipe.

enum NSEvent.GestureAxis

The gesture tracking axis.

Performing Text Find Actions

func performTextFinderAction(Any?)

Performs all find oriented actions.

Initializers

init()

init?(coder: NSCoder)

Instance Properties

var touchBar: NSTouchBar?

The NSTouchBar object associated with the responder.

Instance Methods

func encodeRestorableState(with: NSCoder, backgroundQueue: OperationQueue)

func makeTouchBar() -> NSTouchBar?

Your custom subclass of the NSResponder class should override this method to create and configure your subclass’s default NSTouchBar object.

func newWindowForTab(Any?)

Relationships

Inherits From

NSObject

Conforms To

Beta Software

This documentation contains preliminary information about an API or technology in development. This information is subject to change, and software implemented according to this documentation should be tested with final operating system software.

Learn more about using Apple's beta software