In this article we will learn how to add search controller in navigation bar. Customizing search bar like placeholder text, title text, clear button.

Here we are going to use Large Title Navigation bar.

Adding Search Bar In Navigation Bar:

if #available(iOS 11.0, *) {
    navigationController?.navigationBar.prefersLargeTitles = true // Navigation bar large titles
    navigationItem.title = "Contacts"
    navigationController?.navigationBar.largeTitleTextAttributes = [NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor : UIColor.white]
    navigationController?.navigationBar.barTintColor = UIColor(displayP3Red: 0/255, green: 150/255, blue: 136/255, alpha: 1.0)
    
    let searchController = UISearchController(searchResultsController: nil) // Search Controller
    navigationItem.hidesSearchBarWhenScrolling = false
    navigationItem.searchController = searchController
}

Customizing Search Bar:

Change Search Bar Placeholder text & color:

UITextField.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UISearchBar.self]).attributedPlaceholder = NSAttributedString(string: "Search contacts", attributes: [NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: UIColor.orange])

Change search bar text color:

UITextField.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UISearchBar.self]).defaultTextAttributes = [NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor.rawValue: UIColor.white]

Change cancel button title & color:

searchController.searchBar.tintColor = UIColor.white
UIBarButtonItem.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UISearchBar.self]).title = "Dismiss"

Change clear icon:

searchController.searchBar.setImage(UIImage(named: "delete_icon"), for: UISearchBarIcon.clear, state: .normal)

Change search icon:

searchController.searchBar.setImage(UIImage(named: "search_icon"), for: UISearchBarIcon.search, state: .normal)

Change Search Bar background color:

For changing the background color add the following code:

if let textfield = searchController.searchBar.value(forKey: "searchField") as? UITextField {
    if let backgroundview = textfield.subviews.first {
        backgroundview.backgroundColor = UIColor.white
        backgroundview.layer.cornerRadius = 10
        backgroundview.clipsToBounds = true
    }
}