TextKit 2 Reference

Complete reference for TextKit 2 covering architecture, migration from TextKit 1, Writing Tools integration, and SwiftUI TextEditor with AttributedString through iOS 26.

Architecture

TextKit 2 uses MVC pattern with new classes optimized for correctness, safety, and performance.

Model Layer

NSTextContentManager (abstract)

• Generates NSTextElement objects from backing store
• Tracks element ranges within document
• Default implementation: NSTextContentStorage

NSTextContentStorage

• Uses NSTextStorage as backing store
• Automatically divides content into NSTextParagraph elements
• Generates updated elements when text changes

NSTextElement (abstract)

• Represents portion of content (paragraph, attachment, custom type)
• Immutable value semantics
• Properties cannot change after creation
• Default implementation: NSTextParagraph

NSTextParagraph

• Represents single paragraph
• Contains range within document

Controller Layer

NSTextLayoutManager

• Replaces TextKit 1's NSLayoutManager
• NO glyph APIs (abstracts away glyphs entirely)
• Takes elements, lays out into container, generates layout fragments
• Always uses noncontiguous layout

NSTextLayoutFragment

• Immutable layout information for one or more elements
• Key properties:
  • textLineFragments — array of NSTextLineFragment
  • layoutFragmentFrame — layout bounds within container
  • renderingSurfaceBounds — actual drawing bounds (can exceed frame)

NSTextLineFragment

• Measurement info for single line of text
• Used for line counting and geometric queries

View Layer

NSTextViewportLayoutController

• Source of truth for viewport layout
• Coordinates visible-only layout
• Calls delegate methods: willLayout, configureRenderingSurface, didLayout

NSTextContainer

• Provides geometric information for layout destination
• Can define exclusion paths (non-rectangular layout)

Object-Based Ranges

NSTextLocation (protocol)

• Represents single location in text
• Replaces integer indices
• Supports structured documents (e.g., DOM with nested elements)

NSTextRange

• Start and end locations (end is excluded)
• Can represent nested structure
• Incompatible with NSRange for non-linear documents

NSTextSelection

• Contains: granularity, affinity, possibly disjoint ranges
• Read-only properties
• Immutable value semantics

NSTextSelectionNavigation

• Performs actions on selections
• Returns new NSTextSelection instances
• Handles bidirectional text correctly

Core Design Principles

1. Correctness — No Glyph APIs

From WWDC 2021:

"TextKit 2 abstracts away glyph handling to provide a consistent experience for international text."

Why no glyphs?

Problem: In scripts like Kannada and Arabic:

• One glyph can represent multiple characters (ligatures)
• One character can split into multiple glyphs
• Glyphs reorder during shaping
• No correct character→glyph mapping

Example (Kannada word "October"):

• Character 4 splits into 2 glyphs
• Glyphs reorder before ligature application
• Glyph 3 becomes conjoining form and moves below another glyph

Solution: Use NSTextLocation, NSTextRange, NSTextSelection instead of glyph indices.

2. Safety — Value Semantics

Immutable objects:

• NSTextElement
• NSTextLayoutFragment
• NSTextLineFragment
• NSTextSelection

Benefits:

• No unintended sharing
• No side effects from mutations
• Easier to reason about state

Pattern: To change layout/selection, create new instances with desired changes.

3. Performance — Viewport Layout

Always Noncontiguous: TextKit 2 performs layout only for visible content + overscroll region.

TextKit 1:

• Optional noncontiguous layout (boolean property)
• No visibility into layout state
• Can't control which parts get laid out

TextKit 2:

• Always noncontiguous
• Viewport defines visible area
• Consistent layout info for viewport
• Notifications for viewport layout updates

Viewport Delegate Methods:

1. textViewportLayoutControllerWillLayout(_:) — setup before layout
2. textViewportLayoutController(_:configureRenderingSurfaceFor:) — per fragment
3. textViewportLayoutControllerDidLayout(_:) — cleanup after layout

Migration from TextKit 1

Key Paradigm Shift

TextKit 1	TextKit 2
Glyphs	Elements
NSRange	NSTextLocation/NSTextRange
NSLayoutManager	NSTextLayoutManager
Glyph APIs	NO glyph APIs
Optional noncontiguous	Always noncontiguous
NSTextStorage directly	Via NSTextContentManager

API Naming Heuristics

From WWDC 2022:

• .offset in name → TextKit 1
• .location in name → TextKit 2

NSRange ↔ NSTextRange Conversion

NSRange → NSTextRange:

// UITextView/NSTextView
let nsRange = NSRange(location: 0, length: 10)

// Via content manager
let startLocation = textContentManager.location(
    textContentManager.documentRange.location,
    offsetBy: nsRange.location
)!
let endLocation = textContentManager.location(
    startLocation,
    offsetBy: nsRange.length
)!
let textRange = NSTextRange(location: startLocation, end: endLocation)

NSTextRange → NSRange:

let startOffset = textContentManager.offset(
    from: textContentManager.documentRange.location,
    to: textRange.location
)
let length = textContentManager.offset(
    from: textRange.location,
    to: textRange.endLocation
)
let nsRange = NSRange(location: startOffset, length: length)

Glyph API Replacements

NO direct glyph API equivalents. Must use higher-level structures.

Example (TextKit 1 - counting lines):

// TextKit 1 - iterate glyphs
var lineCount = 0
let glyphRange = layoutManager.glyphRange(for: textContainer)
for glyphIndex in glyphRange.location..<NSMaxRange(glyphRange) {
    let lineRect = layoutManager.lineFragmentRect(
        forGlyphAt: glyphIndex,
        effectiveRange: nil
    )
    // Count unique rects...
}

Replacement (TextKit 2 - enumerate fragments):

// TextKit 2 - enumerate layout fragments
var lineCount = 0
textLayoutManager.enumerateTextLayoutFragments(
    from: textLayoutManager.documentRange.location,
    options: [.ensuresLayout]
) { fragment in
    lineCount += fragment.textLineFragments.count
    return true
}

Compatibility Mode (UITextView/NSTextView)

Automatic Fallback to TextKit 1: Happens when you access .layoutManager property.

Warning (WWDC 2022):

"Accessing textView.layoutManager triggers TK1 fallback"

Once fallback occurs:

• No automatic way back to TextKit 2
• Expensive to switch
• Lose UI state (selection, scroll position)
• One-way operation

Prevent Fallback:

1. Check .textLayoutManager first (TextKit 2)
2. Only access .layoutManager in else clause
3. Opt out at initialization if TK1 required

// Check TextKit 2 first
if let textLayoutManager = textView.textLayoutManager {
    // TextKit 2 code
} else if let layoutManager = textView.layoutManager {
    // TextKit 1 fallback (old OS versions)
}

Debug Fallback:

• UIKit: Breakpoint on _UITextViewEnablingCompatibilityMode
• AppKit: Subscribe to willSwitchToNSLayoutManagerNotification

NSTextView Opt-In (macOS)

Create TextKit 2 NSTextView:

let textLayoutManager = NSTextLayoutManager()
let textContainer = NSTextContainer()
textLayoutManager.textContainer = textContainer

let textView = NSTextView(frame: .zero, textContainer: textContainer)
// textView.textLayoutManager now available

New Convenience Constructor:

// iOS 16+ / macOS 13+
let textView = UITextView(usingTextLayoutManager: true)
let nsTextView = NSTextView(usingTextLayoutManager: true)

Delegate Hooks

NSTextContentStorageDelegate

Customize attributes without modifying storage:

func textContentStorage(
    _ textContentStorage: NSTextContentStorage,
    textParagraphWith range: NSRange
) -> NSTextParagraph? {
    // Modify attributes for display
    var attributedString = textContentStorage.attributedString!
        .attributedSubstring(from: range)

    // Add custom attributes
    if isComment(range) {
        attributedString.addAttribute(
            .foregroundColor,
            value: UIColor.systemIndigo,
            range: NSRange(location: 0, length: attributedString.length)
        )
    }

    return NSTextParagraph(attributedString: attributedString)
}

Filter elements (hide/show content):

func textContentManager(
    _ textContentManager: NSTextContentManager,
    shouldEnumerate textElement: NSTextElement,
    options: NSTextContentManager.EnumerationOptions
) -> Bool {
    // Return false to hide element
    if hideComments && isComment(textElement)