---
title: leftView
framework: uikit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: uikit/uitextfield/leftview
---

# leftView

The overlay view that displays on the left (or leading) side of the text field.

## Declaration

```swift
var leftView: UIView? { get set }
```

## Discussion

Discussion You can use the left overlay view to indicate the intended behavior of the text field. For example, you might display a magnifying glass in this location to indicate that the text field is a search field. The left overlay view flips automatically in a right-to-left user interface. The left overlay view is placed in the rectangle returned by the leftViewRect(forBounds:) method of the receiver. The image associated with this property should fit the given rectangle. If it does not fit, it is scaled to fit. If you specify a control for your view, the control tracks and sends actions as usual.

## See Also

### Related Documentation

- [leftViewRect(forBounds:)](uikit/uitextfield/leftviewrect(forbounds:).md)

### Managing overlay views

- [clearButtonMode](uikit/uitextfield/clearbuttonmode.md)
- [leftViewMode](uikit/uitextfield/leftviewmode.md)
- [rightView](uikit/uitextfield/rightview.md)
- [rightViewMode](uikit/uitextfield/rightviewmode.md)
- [UITextField.ViewMode](uikit/uitextfield/viewmode.md)