Search with searchable modifier in iOS Swift

Introduction

Adding a search bar helps users quickly find items in a list. The searchable modifier makes it easy to add this feature in SwiftUI.

You have a list of contacts and want users to find a name fast.

Your app shows a list of products and users want to search by keyword.

You display a list of messages and want to filter them by text.

You want to add a search bar to any scrollable content without extra setup.

Syntax

iOS Swift

List(items, id: \.self) { item in
    Text(item)
}
.searchable(text: $searchText, prompt: "Search items")

The searchable modifier is added to a view like List or ScrollView.

You bind a @State string variable to text to track the search input.

Examples

Basic searchable list with default prompt.

iOS Swift

@State private var searchText = ""

List(fruits, id: \.self) { fruit in
    Text(fruit)
}
.searchable(text: $searchText)

Search bar with a custom prompt message.

iOS Swift

@State private var searchText = ""

List(countries, id: \.self) { country in
    Text(country)
}
.searchable(text: $searchText, prompt: "Find a country")

Searchable modifier on a ScrollView with manual filtering.

iOS Swift

@State private var searchText = ""

ScrollView {
    VStack {
        ForEach(items.filter { searchText.isEmpty || $0.localizedCaseInsensitiveContains(searchText) }, id: \.self) { item in
            Text(item)
        }
    }
}
.searchable(text: $searchText)

Sample App

This app shows a list of fruits with a search bar on top. Typing in the search bar filters the list in real time.

iOS Swift

import SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    @State private var searchText = ""
    let fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry", "Date", "Fig", "Grape"]

    var filteredFruits: [String] {
        if searchText.isEmpty {
            return fruits
        } else {
            return fruits.filter { $0.localizedCaseInsensitiveContains(searchText) }
        }
    }

    var body: some View {
        NavigationView {
            List(filteredFruits, id: \.self) { fruit in
                Text(fruit)
            }
            .navigationTitle("Fruits")
            .searchable(text: $searchText, prompt: "Search fruits")
        }
    }
}

@main
struct MyApp: App {
    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()
        }
    }
}

Important Notes

The searchable modifier works on iOS 15 and later.

Filtering the list based on the search text is done manually in your code.

Use localizedCaseInsensitiveContains for case-insensitive search.

Summary

The searchable modifier adds a search bar to lists or scroll views.

Bind a @State string to track user input.

Filter your data based on the search text to update the displayed list.

Practice

1. What does the searchable modifier do in a SwiftUI view?

easy

A. Removes all items from the list when typing.

B. Automatically sorts the list items alphabetically.

C. Changes the background color of the list.

D. Adds a search bar to filter content in lists or scroll views.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of searchable

   The searchable modifier adds a search bar UI element to a list or scroll view.

2. Step 2: Identify its effect on content

   It allows users to type text to filter or search through the displayed content.

3. Final Answer:

   Adds a search bar to filter content in lists or scroll views. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   searchable = search bar added [OK]

Hint: searchable always adds a search bar UI [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking searchable sorts items automatically
• Confusing searchable with styling modifiers
• Assuming searchable removes items without filtering

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to add a searchable modifier with a binding to a @State variable named searchText?

easy

A. .searchable(searchText)

B. .searchable($searchText)

C. .searchable(text: $searchText)

D. .searchable(text: searchText)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the searchable syntax

   The searchable modifier requires a binding to a string, written as text: $variable.

2. Step 2: Match the correct binding syntax

   Using $searchText passes the binding, so the correct syntax is .searchable(text: $searchText).

3. Final Answer:

   .searchable(text: $searchText) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Binding uses $ with variable name [OK]

Hint: Use $ to bind @State variable in searchable [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting the text: label
• Not using $ for binding
• Passing variable without binding

3. Given this SwiftUI code snippet, what will be displayed when the user types "ap" in the search bar?

struct ContentView: View {
  @State private var searchText = ""
  let fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Grape", "Apricot"]

  var filteredFruits: [String] {
    if searchText.isEmpty { return fruits }
    return fruits.filter { $0.lowercased().contains(searchText.lowercased()) }
  }

  var body: some View {
    List(filteredFruits, id: \.self) { fruit in
      Text(fruit)
    }
    .searchable(text: $searchText)
  }
}

medium

A. ["Apple", "Apricot"]

B. ["Banana", "Grape"]

C. ["Apple", "Banana", "Grape", "Apricot"]

D. Empty list

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filtering logic

   The filter checks if each fruit contains the search text "ap" ignoring case.

2. Step 2: Apply filter to fruits list

   "Apple" and "Apricot" contain "ap" (case-insensitive), "Banana" and "Grape" do not match exactly.

3. Final Answer:

   ["Apple", "Apricot"] -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Filter by contains "ap" = Apple, Apricot [OK]

Hint: Filter checks contains ignoring case [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including fruits that don't contain "ap"
• Ignoring case sensitivity
• Returning full list regardless of search

4. Identify the error in this SwiftUI code using searchable:

struct ContentView: View {
  @State var searchText = ""
  let items = ["One", "Two", "Three"]

  var filteredItems: [String] {
    items.filter { $0.contains(searchText) }
  }

  var body: some View {
    List(filteredItems, id: \.self) { item in
      Text(item)
    }
    .searchable(text: searchText)
  }
}

medium

A. Missing $ to bind searchText in searchable modifier.

B. filteredItems should be a @State variable.

C. List requires a ForEach instead of direct array.

D. searchText should be a constant, not @State.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check searchable binding syntax

   The searchable modifier requires a binding, so it must be text: $searchText, not text: searchText.

2. Step 2: Verify other code parts

   filteredItems is computed correctly, List accepts array with id, and searchText should be @State.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing $ to bind searchText in searchable modifier. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Binding needs $ prefix [OK]

Hint: Always use $ for @State binding in searchable [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting $ in searchable binding
• Making filteredItems @State unnecessarily
• Confusing List requirements

5. You want to create a searchable list of contacts where typing filters by first or last name. Which code snippet correctly implements this behavior?

struct Contact: Identifiable {
  let id = UUID()
  let firstName: String
  let lastName: String
}

struct ContentView: View {
  @State private var searchText = ""
  let contacts = [Contact(firstName: "John", lastName: "Doe"), Contact(firstName: "Jane", lastName: "Smith"), Contact(firstName: "Alice", lastName: "Johnson")]

  var filteredContacts: [Contact] {
    if searchText.isEmpty { return contacts }
    return contacts.filter { contact in
      contact.firstName.lowercased().contains(searchText.lowercased()) || contact.lastName.lowercased().contains(searchText.lowercased())
    }
  }

  var body: some View {
    List(filteredContacts) { contact in
      Text("\(contact.firstName) \(contact.lastName)")
    }
    .searchable(text: $searchText)
  }
}

hard

A. Filters contacts only by first name and ignores last name.

B. Filters contacts by first or last name ignoring case and updates list dynamically.

C. Filters contacts but does not ignore case, so search is case-sensitive.

D. Does not filter contacts and always shows full list.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze filtering logic

   The filter checks if either firstName or lastName contains the search text, ignoring case.

2. Step 2: Confirm UI updates with searchable

   The searchable modifier binds to $searchText, so typing updates the filteredContacts list dynamically.

3. Final Answer:

   Filters contacts by first or last name ignoring case and updates list dynamically. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Filter by first or last name, case-insensitive [OK]

Hint: Filter with OR condition and ignore case for full search [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Filtering only by first name
• Not using lowercased() causing case sensitivity
• Forgetting to bind searchText with $