The Core iOS Developer’s Cookbook, Fifth Edition

Recipe: Adding Custom Input Views to Nontext Views

Although custom input views can be applied to text views and text fields, they are more valuable in other use cases. Input doesn’t have to be about text. In fact, by taking the system keyboard out of the equation, custom input views can range to whatever kind of scenario you need.

Think of input views as context-sensitive graphical menus that appear only when a particular view class becomes first responder. When you tap a warrior, perhaps a set of weapons scrolls onscreen, including a bow, a mace, and a sword. The user can select the kind of attack the warrior should apply. Or think of a graphics layout program. When a circle, square, or line is tapped, maybe an onscreen palette is revealed ...