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# NSSearchFieldDelegate

A protocol that a search field delegate can use to determine when a search started or ended.

```
protocol NSSearchFieldDelegate : NSTextFieldDelegate
```

## Topics

### Detecting the Start and End of a Search

[`searchFieldDidStartSearching(_:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSSearchFieldDelegate/searchFieldDidStartSearching(_:))

The method that is called when the search field begins searching for content.

[`searchFieldDidEndSearching(_:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSSearchFieldDelegate/searchFieldDidEndSearching(_:))

The method that is called when the search field has ended its search for content.


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