How to override self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem Action?

Question

I want to override self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem's target and action,

I tried:

UIBarButtonItem *backButton = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithTitle:@"Back"
                                                                   style:UIBarButtonItemStyleBordered
                                                                  target:self
                                                                  action:@selector(backButtonOverrideAction:)];
[self.navigationItem setLeftBarButtonItem:backButton];

it is working but i want to use the default arrow:

enter image description here

i also tried:

UIBarButtonItem *backButton = self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem;
[backButton setTarget:self];
[backButton setAction:@selector(backButtonOverrideAction:)];

but unfortunately it's not working.. do you have any idea how to do this?

What different action do you want? The back button has a specific action that users expect, so changing it is not a good idea. — rdelmar, May 29 '15 at 06:12
Yes, i know but i'll be like a back button of a browser.. Even `BarButtonSystemItem` dont have the icon for back button.. tsk.. Apple.. — 0yeoj, May 29 '15 at 09:17

0yeoj · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-02T01:57:18.553

13

STILL, No direct access for changing target and action on self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem.

I ended up using the first one i tried... and get my (custom) image..

UIBarButtonItem *backButton = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"myImage.png"]
                                                               style:UIBarButtonItemStyleBordered
                                                              target:self
                                                              action:@selector(backButtonOverrideAction:)];
[self.navigationItem setLeftBarButtonItem:backButton];

while...

//this two lines of code are still useless, i just feel sorry for them.. 
[self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem setTarget:<#(id)#>];
[self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem setAction:<#(SEL)#>];

edited Nov 02 '16 at 01:57

answered May 29 '15 at 09:47

0yeoj

4,500
3
23
41

Worked like a charm. Thank you! – DocAsh59 Nov 22 '17 at 12:38
1

Be aware that using the leftBarButtonItem as a back button causes the `UINavigationController.interactivePopGestureRecognizer` to stop working. If this is a concern see [this question](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34942571/how-to-enable-back-left-swipe-gesture-in-uinavigationcontroller-after-setting-le/43433530). – slythfox Aug 08 '20 at 02:15

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered May 29 '15 at 06:48

4

You cannot assign action to back BarButton. The solution for that is to create the custom back button.

answered May 29 '15 at 06:48

Dhiraj

75
3

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered May 22 '17 at 07:20

2

In swift 3.1

override func viewDidLoad() {    
// set navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem return to Root
let backToRootVCButton = UIBarButtonItem.init(title: "Back", style: UIBarButtonItemStyle.plain, target: self, action: #selector(backToRootVCAction))
self.navigationItem.setLeftBarButton(backToRootVCButton, animated: true)

}

func backToRootVCAction() {
    _ = self.navigationController?.popToRootViewController(animated: true)
}

answered May 22 '17 at 07:20

Jayce

427
5
6

2

the only problem is that this wont have the arrow – João Serra Sep 10 '18 at 14:17

Jose Gil · Answer 4 · 2018-04-27T08:16:38.213

1

This works for 11.3:

override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
    super.viewDidAppear(animated)
    let BackItemIndex = 2
    if let subViews = navigationController?.navigationBar.subviews, 
        subViews.count > BackItemIndex {
            navigationController?.navigationBar.subviews[BackItemIndex].subviews.first?.addGestureRecognizer(UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(doPerformAction(_:))))
    }
}

@objc func doPerformAction(_ sender: Any) {
    // some code
}

This solution is based on searching the active subviews until the corresponding to backBarButtonItem and then add a UITapGestureRecognizer, so that it captures the event on the element.

edited Apr 27 '18 at 08:16

answered Apr 26 '18 at 13:14

Jose Gil

11
2

Please explain your lines of code so other users can understand its functionality. Thanks! – Ignacio Ara Apr 26 '18 at 13:35
I tried the code but `doPerformAction` is not getting called on back button Tap. Am I missing anything here? – iUser Jun 27 '18 at 16:46

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 04 '23 at 19:11

"backAction" (new in iOS16)

If a back button already appears in the navigation bar, setting this property replaces its action without modifying its appearance. Otherwise, setting this property generates a back button with the image or title from the action you specify, unless you use the UINavigationItemStyleEditor navigation style.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/uinavigationitem/3987966-backaction?language=objc

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered May 29 '15 at 07:02

Excerpt from Apple Doc says:

When specifying buttons for a navigation item, you must use UIBarButtonItem objects. If you want to display custom views in the navigation bar, you must wrap those views inside a UIBarButtonItem object before adding them to the navigation item.

That means you simply cannot use the method-2 from your question. Whereas method-1 is the right way to do it.

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered May 29 '15 at 07:24

I hope it helps you...

BOOL IsOK_Clicked;

-(void)viewDidAppear:(BOOL)animated
{
 IsOK_Clicked = NO;
}
-(void)viewDidDisappear:(BOOL)animated
{
   if(!IsOK_Clicked){
    //Do what you want in Back Click
  }
}
- (IBAction)btnCheckOut:(id)sender {
 IsOK_Clicked = YES;
}

Or You may add left bar button item to navigation bar and set your own selector function to it.

score -1 · Answer 8 · answered May 29 '15 at 06:14

-1

You have to do something like

self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem.target = self;
self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem.action = @selector(backButtonAction:);

here you have to handle the pop for the controller also.

answered May 29 '15 at 06:14

Retro

3,985
2
17
41

How to override self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem Action?

8 Answers8

"backAction" (new in iOS16)

Linked