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# NSStringDrawingContext

An object that manages metrics for drawing attributed strings.

```
class NSStringDrawingContext
```

## Overview

Prior to drawing, you can create an instance of this class and use it to specify the minimum scale factor and tracking adjustments for a string. After drawing, you can retrieve the actual values that were used during drawing.

To use this class, allocate and initialize a new instance, set the minimum values, and pass your object to one of the corresponding <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Foundation/NSAttributedString> methods that take the context object as a parameter. Upon completion of drawing, you can use the actual drawing values to make adjustments or record where the string was actually drawn.

## Topics

### Accessing the scale factors

[`minimumScaleFactor`](/documentation/UIKit/NSStringDrawingContext/minimumScaleFactor)

The scale factor that determines the smallest font size to use during drawing.

[`actualScaleFactor`](/documentation/UIKit/NSStringDrawingContext/actualScaleFactor)

The actual scale factor that the system applied to the font during drawing.

### Getting the drawing bounds

[`totalBounds`](/documentation/UIKit/NSStringDrawingContext/totalBounds)

The most recent bounding rectangle that the system used to draw the string.

### Deprecated

[`minimumTrackingAdjustment`](/documentation/UIKit/NSStringDrawingContext/minimumTrackingAdjustment)

The smallest amount of space, in points, to maintain between characters.

[`actualTrackingAdjustment`](/documentation/UIKit/NSStringDrawingContext/actualTrackingAdjustment)

The actual tracking value that the system applied during drawing.


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