Get searchbar text in swift

Assuming you have a simple search bar in your storyboard, make sure you have it connected as an outlet. Then use this as an example. Use UISearchBarDelegate the reference to learn more about delegate methods available to you.

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController, UISearchBarDelegate {

@IBOutlet var searchBar:UISearchBar!

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        // Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.
        searchBar.delegate = self
    }

    func searchBar(searchBar: UISearchBar, textDidChange searchText: String) {
        print("searchText \(searchText)")
    }

    func searchBarSearchButtonClicked(searchBar: UISearchBar) {
        print("searchText \(searchBar.text)")
    }

}

I would take a look at the UISearchBarDelegate protocol: https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documentation/UIKit/Reference/UISearchBarDelegate_Protocol/index.html

Make your view controller class conform to this protocol and you will have everything you need to interact with your search bar. Alternatively you can get at the search bar text field but Apple gives you a much cleaner, nicer, event driven way via this protocol.