---
title: "performActionForItem(at:)"
framework: appkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "appkit/nsmenu/performactionforitem(at:)"
---

# performActionForItem(at:)

Causes the application to send the action message of a specified menu item to its target.

## Declaration

```swift
func performActionForItem(at index: Int)
```

## Parameters

- `index`: The integer index of a menu item.

## Discussion

Discussion If a target is not specified, the message is sent to the first responder. As a side effect, this method posts willSendActionNotification and didSendActionNotification. In macOS 10.6 and later the performActionForItemAtIndex: no longer triggers menu validation. This is because validation is typically done during menu tracking or key equivalent matching, so the subsequent performActionForItemAtIndex: validation was redundant. To trigger validation explicitly, use invoke the update() method. In OS X v10.6 performActionForItemAtIndex:, when called, now triggers highlighting in the menu bar. It also sends out appropriate accessibility notifications indicating the item was selected.

## See Also

### Related Documentation

- [performKeyEquivalent(with:)](appkit/nsmenu/performkeyequivalent(with:).md)