Multiple lines of text in UILabel

Question

Is there a way to have multiple lines of text in UILabel like in the UITextView or should I use the second one instead?

Greenfield

Note that UILineBreakModeWordWrap was deprecated in iOS 6. You should now use NSLineBreakByWordWrapping = 0 See the documentation here – Harty

check this Question #2313399 – Birdseed

Answer 1

Set the line break mode to word-wrapping and the number of lines to 0:

// Swift
textLabel.lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0

// Objective-C
textLabel.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByWordWrapping;
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

// C# (Xamarin.iOS)
textLabel.LineBreakMode = UILineBreakMode.WordWrap;
textLabel.Lines = 0;  

Restored old answer (for reference and devs willing to support iOS below 6.0):

textLabel.lineBreakMode = UILineBreakModeWordWrap;
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

On the side: both enum values yield to 0 anyway.

Greenfield

UILineBreakModeWordWrap is actually the default so you don't need the first line. – Jayjaycee

For those using swift: cell.textLabel?.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakMode.ByWordWrapping and cell.textLabel?.numberOfLines = 0 – Rodenticide

Thanks for also providing Xamarin-Code. Autocompletion didn't work because they chose to abbreviate that property... +1 – Hokku

I agree with Jarred Olson, NSLineBreakByWordWrapping is default. I added property sizeToFit like the guide of Gurumoorthy Arumugam to fix it. If you want the font inside your label to adjust itself to fit into the boundaries of the label. You can use : textLabel.adjustsFontSizeToFitWidth = YES; Thanks all. – Inebriety

@JarredOlson Docs say " This property is set to byTruncatingTail by default." – Peruzzi

It does not work. I can see just one line. – Ambulacrum

Answer 2

In IB, set number of lines to 0 (allows unlimited lines)

When typing within the text field using IB, use "alt-return" to insert a return and go to the next line (or you can copy in text already separated out by lines).

Cornea

[As he knowingly digs up a more-than-one-year-old thread …] One thing I sometimes wish I could do in IB is enter text without embedded line breaks, set UILineBreakModeWordWrap and numberOfLines = 0, and then have the label auto-size the height automagically, all the while still designing in IB. I'm thinking of the case where the view is resized to landscape, where line breaks in the label might be problematic. Or ... I could be misusing IB! Perhaps having the labels auto-size within IB causes more problems than it solves? (Also, you can't invoke sizeToFit at this point anyway.) – Bultman

The "0" thing I got from the docs for UILabel, the alt-return from a friend who has been using Interface Builder for many years. – Cornea

+1 for being the only answer to mention "alt-return". In particular "ctrl-return" seems like it's going to work but does not. – Morelock

Translation for Mac users: "alt-return" is equivalent to "option-return" – Delocalize

Answer 3

The best solution I have found (to an otherwise frustrating problem that should have been solved in the framework) is similar to vaychick's.

Just set number of lines to 0 in either IB or code

myLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

This will display the lines needed but will reposition the label so its centered horizontally (so that a 1 line and 3 line label are aligned in their horizontal position). To fix that add:

CGRect currentFrame = myLabel.frame;
CGSize max = CGSizeMake(myLabel.frame.size.width, 500);
CGSize expected = [myString sizeWithFont:myLabel.font constrainedToSize:max lineBreakMode:myLabel.lineBreakMode]; 
currentFrame.size.height = expected.height;
myLabel.frame = currentFrame;

Butyraldehyde

Solve my Query with the help of you and @Ilya Suzdalnitski. Thanks a lot. – Viddah

Answer 4

Use this to have multiple lines of text in UILabel:

textLabel.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByWordWrapping;
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

Swift:

textLabel.lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0

Sinistrorse

Answer 5

myUILabel.numberOfLines = 0;
myUILabel.text = @"your long string here";
[myUILabel sizeToFit];

Papyrology

Answer 6

If you have to use the:

myLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

property you can also use a standard line break ("\n"), in code, to force a new line.

Stake

Answer 7

You can use \r to go to next line while filling up the UILabel using NSString.

UILabel * label;


label.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@ \r %@",@"first line",@"seconcd line"];

Woodbury

Answer 8

lets try this

textLabel.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakModeWordWrap; // UILineBreakModeWordWrap deprecated     
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;                          

Urbanize

also this can be set throughout IB 'Lines' attribute to 0 on UILabel. – Gervase

Answer 9

textLabel.lineBreakMode = UILineBreakModeWordWrap;
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

The solution above does't work in my case. I'm doing like this:

- (CGFloat)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView heightForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    // ...

    CGSize size = [str sizeWithFont:[UIFont fontWithName:@"Georgia-Bold" size:18.0] constrainedToSize:CGSizeMake(240.0, 480.0) lineBreakMode:UILineBreakModeWordWrap];
    return size.height + 20;
}

- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    UITableViewCell *cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];

    if (cell == nil)
    {
        // ...
        cell.textLabel.lineBreakMode = UILineBreakModeWordWrap;
        cell.textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;
        cell.textLabel.font = [UIFont fontWithName:@"Georgia-Bold" size:18.0];
    }

    // ...

    UILabel *textLabel = [cell textLabel];
    CGSize size = [text sizeWithFont:[UIFont fontWithName:@"Georgia-Bold" size:18.0]
                                        constrainedToSize:CGSizeMake(240.0, 480.0)
                                            lineBreakMode:UILineBreakModeWordWrap];

    cell.textLabel.frame = CGRectMake(0, 0, size.width + 20, size.height + 20);

    //...
}

Diabolo

Answer 10

Swift 3
Set number of lines zero for dynamic text information, it will be useful for varying text.

var label = UILabel()
let stringValue = "A label\nwith\nmultiline text."
label.text = stringValue
label.numberOfLines = 0
label.lineBreakMode = .byTruncatingTail // or .byWrappingWord
label.minimumScaleFactor = 0.8 . // It is not required but nice to have a minimum scale factor to fit text into label frame

Success

Thank You Krunal it's Working For me ! – Procopius

Answer 11

Try using this:

lblName.numberOfLines = 0;
[lblName sizeToFit];

Vineyard

sizeToFit does not work when numberOfLine is different than 0. It's interesting. – Recession

Answer 12

Use story borad : select the label to set number of lines to zero......Or Refer this

Cornflower

Answer 13

UILabel *helpLabel = [[UILabel alloc] init];
NSAttributedString *attrString = [[NSAttributedString alloc] initWithString:label];
helpLabel.attributedText = attrString;
// helpLabel.text = label;

helpLabel.textAlignment = NSTextAlignmentCenter;
helpLabel.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByWordWrapping;
helpLabel.numberOfLines = 0;

For some reasons its not working for me in iOS 6 not sure why. Tried it with and without attributed text. Any suggestions.

Mew

Answer 14

Method 1:

extension UILabel {//Write this extension after close brackets of your class
    func lblFunction() {
        numberOfLines = 0
        lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping//If you want word wraping
        //OR
        lineBreakMode = .byCharWrapping//If you want character wraping
    }
}

Now call simply like this

myLbl.lblFunction()//Replace your label name 

EX:

Import UIKit

class MyClassName: UIViewController {//For example this is your class. 

    override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

        myLbl.lblFunction()//Replace your label name 

    }

}//After close of your class write this extension.

extension UILabel {//Write this extension after close brackets of your class
    func lblFunction() {
        numberOfLines = 0
        lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping//If you want word wraping
        //OR
        lineBreakMode = .byCharWrapping//If you want character wraping
    }
}

Method 2:

Programmatically

yourLabel.numberOfLines = 0
yourLabel.lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping//If you want word wraping
//OR
yourLabel.lineBreakMode = .byCharWrapping//If you want character wraping

Method 3:

Through Story board

To display multiple lines set 0(Zero), this will display more than one line in your label.

If you want to display n lines, set n.

See below screen.

If you want to set minimum font size for label Click Autoshrink and Select Minimum Font Size option

See below screens

Here set minimum font size

EX: 9 (In this image)

If your label get more text at that time your label text will be shrink upto 9

Selfforgetful

Answer 15

These things helped me

Change these properties of UILabel

label.numberOfLines = 0;
label.adjustsFontSizeToFitWidth = NO;
label.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByWordWrapping;

And while giving input String use \n to display different words in different lines.

Example :

 NSString *message = @"This \n is \n a demo \n message for \n stackoverflow" ;

Idle

Answer 16

Swift 4:

label.lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping

label.numberOfLines = 0

label.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false

label.preferredMaxLayoutWidth = superview.bounds.size.width - 10 

Psychogenic

Answer 17

UILabel *labelName = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, 100, 30)];
[labelName sizeToFit];
labelName.numberOfLines = 0;
labelName.text = @"Your String...";
[self.view addSubview:labelName];

Tripartition

don't forget to add: [labelName setLineBreakMode:NSLineBreakByWordWrapping]; – Schade

Answer 18

You can do that via the Storyboard too:

1. Select the Label on the view controller
2. In the Attribute Inspector, increase the value of the Line option (Press Alt+Cmd+4 to show Attributes Inspector)
3. Double click the Label in the view controller and write or paste your text
4. Resize the Label and/or increase the font size so that the whole text could be shown

Halima

and set Lines to 0, otherwise it will only show text that can be put into the number of lines specified, others will be omitted. – Seldon

Answer 19

you should try this:

-(CGFloat)dynamicLblHeight:(UILabel *)lbl
{
    CGFloat lblWidth = lbl.frame.size.width;
    CGRect lblTextSize = [lbl.text boundingRectWithSize:CGSizeMake(lblWidth, MAXFLOAT)
                                               options:NSStringDrawingUsesLineFragmentOrigin
                                            attributes:@{NSFontAttributeName:lbl.font}
                                               context:nil];
    return lblTextSize.size.height;
}

Portion

Answer 20

Oh, in 2021 I'm trapped by a label text unable to change lines for 1 hour, then realize I forget to set label's width, WTF.

let stepLabel: UILabel = {
    let label = UILabel()
    label.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
    label.textAlignment = .center
    label.lineBreakMode = .byWordWrapping
    label.numberOfLines = 0
    label.text = "Put your device and computer under same Wi-Fi network."
    
    return label
}()

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    
    view.backgroundColor = .white
    view.addSubview(stepLabel)

    NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
        stepLabel.centerXAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.centerXAnchor),
        stepLabel.centerYAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.centerYAnchor),
        stepLabel.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.widthAnchor, multiplier: 0.7)
    ])
}

Parish

This is one of the most important information from this thread. ;) – Acidimetry

Answer 21

UILabel *textLabel = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, 150, 30)];
[textLabel sizeToFit];
textLabel.numberOfLines = 0;
textLabel.text = @"Your String...";

Tripartition

Answer 22

Already answered, but you can do it manually in the storyboard too. Under Attributes Inspector for the Label, you can change Line Breaks to Word Wrap (or character wrap).

Atlanta

Answer 23

In this function pass string that you want to assign in label and pass font size in place of self.activityFont and pass label width in place of 235, now you get label height according to your string. it will work fine.

-(float)calculateLabelStringHeight:(NSString *)answer
{
    CGRect textRect = [answer boundingRectWithSize: CGSizeMake(235, 10000000) options:NSStringDrawingUsesLineFragmentOrigin attributes:@{NSFontAttributeName:self.activityFont} context:nil];
    return textRect.size.height;

}

Degradable

Answer 24

Set below either in code or in storyboard itself

Label.lineBreakMode = NSLineBreakByWordWrapping; Label.numberOfLines = 0;

and please don't forget to set left, right, top and bottom constraints for label otherwise it won't work.

Tamica

Everywhere it says to set word wrap and no.of lines to 0. But still mine did not wrap. Setting left, top, bottom & right constraint made it wrap. – Downing

Answer 25

On C#, this worked for me inside UITableViewCell.

        UILabel myLabel = new UILabel();
        myLabel.Font = UIFont.SystemFontOfSize(16);
        myLabel.Lines = 0;
        myLabel.TextAlignment = UITextAlignment.Left;
        myLabel.LineBreakMode = UILineBreakMode.WordWrap;
        myLabel.MinimumScaleFactor = 1;
        myLabel.AdjustsFontSizeToFitWidth = true;

       myLabel.InvalidateIntrinsicContentSize();
       myLabel.Frame = new CoreGraphics.CGRect(20, mycell.ContentView.Frame.Y + 20, cell.ContentView.Frame.Size.Width - 40, mycell.ContentView.Frame.Size.Height);
       myCell.ContentView.AddSubview(myLabel);

I think the point here is:-

            myLabel.TextAlignment = UITextAlignment.Left;
            myLabel.LineBreakMode = UILineBreakMode.WordWrap;
            myLabel.MinimumScaleFactor = 1;
            myLabel.AdjustsFontSizeToFitWidth = true;

Overnight

Answer 26

This code is returning size height according to text

+ (CGFloat)findHeightForText:(NSString *)text havingWidth:(CGFloat)widthValue andFont:(UIFont *)font
 {
    CGFloat result = font.pointSize+4;
    if (text) 
{
        CGSize size;

        CGRect frame = [text boundingRectWithSize:CGSizeMake(widthValue, 999)
                                          options:NSStringDrawingUsesLineFragmentOrigin
                                       attributes:@{NSFontAttributeName:font}
                                          context:nil];
        size = CGSizeMake(frame.size.width, frame.size.height+1);
        result = MAX(size.height, result); //At least one row
    }
    return result;
}

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