---
title: Introduction to Text Input Management
framework: cocoa
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/InputManager
---

# Introduction to Text Input Management

Explains how to use the input management technology that has been replaced by the Input Method Kit and NSTextInputClient.

## Who Should Read This Document

Read this document if you want to create a custom input server for your Cocoa application or if you want to implement text input capabilities in a view.

## Organization of This Document

The text input management system is described in the following articles:

- [Text Input Management Architecture](Concepts/InputManagerArchitecture.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001036-BAJCFIFF) provides an overview of the text input management system. - [About Key Bindings](Concepts/KeyBindings.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008902-BAJCDFFI) explains how the text input management system binds keystrokes to character data.

Detailed information about creating and delivering a custom input server is covered in the following articles:

- [Creating Input Servers](Tasks/InputServerCreation.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001038-BAJHJAFH) explains how to implement an input server. - [Deploying Input Servers](Tasks/InputServerDeployment.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001039-BCIIAEDD) explains how to install an input server.

If you want to create a custom view to handle text input capabilities, read this article:

- [Creating Custom Views](Tasks/TextViewTask.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008901-BCICEFGE) explains how to add keyboard input capabilities to a custom view.

## See Also

For more information, refer to the following documents:

- *[Text Editing Programming Guide](../TextEditing/TextEditing.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000157i)* describes the text-editing process, including text-input key event processing through the input management system. - NSInputServer, NSInputManager, and [NSTextView](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nstextview) are the primary classes that interact to provide text input management for Cocoa applications.

[Next](Concepts/InputManagerArchitecture.html)

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