Not able to register a tap on the screen using tapGestureRecognizer

Question

I am trying to build a chat app using Firebase. I am trying to implement a tap gesture in order to dismiss the keyboard when it's on. Unfortunately, nothing happen when you tap on the screen. I tried different things, same result. I will appreciate it if someone knows the reason why it's not working. I tried with the parameter numberOfTouches as well, same result.

class ChatViewController: UIViewController, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource, UITextFieldDelegate {
    // Declare instance variables here

    // We've pre-linked the IBOutlets
    @IBOutlet var heightConstraint: NSLayoutConstraint!
    @IBOutlet var sendButton: UIButton!
    @IBOutlet var messageTextfield: UITextField!
    @IBOutlet var messageTableView: UITableView!

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        messageTableView.delegate = self
        messageTableView.dataSource = self

        //TODO: Set yourself as the delegate of the text field here:
        messageTextfield.delegate = self

        //TODO: Set the tapGesture here:
        //messageTableView.isUserInteractionEnabled = true
        let tapGesture = UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(tableViewTapped))
        messageTableView.addGestureRecognizer(tapGesture)

        //TODO: Register your MessageCell.xib file here:
        messageTableView.register(UINib(nibName: "MessageCell", bundle: nil), forCellReuseIdentifier: "customMessageCell")
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "customMessageCell", for: indexPath) as! CustomMessageCell

        let messageArray = ["1","2","3"]
        cell.messageBody.text = messageArray[indexPath.row]

        return cell
    }

    func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        tableView.estimatedRowHeight = 100.0
        tableView.rowHeight = UITableViewAutomaticDimension
        return 3
    }

    @objc func tableViewTapped (){
        messageTableView.endEditing(true)
    }

    func textFieldDidBeginEditing(_ textField: UITextField) {
        UIView.animate(withDuration: 0.5) {
            self.heightConstraint.constant = 380
            self.view.layoutIfNeeded()
        }
    }

    func textFieldDidEndEditing(_ textField: UITextField) {
        UIView.animate(withDuration: 0.5) {
        self.heightConstraint.constant = 50
        self.view.layoutIfNeeded()
    }
}

Answer 1

Try to set endEditing of the whole view true by updating your selector method:

@objc func tableViewTapped (){
    view.endEditing(true)
}

Also you might want to add the gestureRecognizer to view itself instead of tableView, because it might cause further problems by overlapping with didSelectRowAt method.

If that doesnt work try to add following in your viewDidLoad (In this case you wont need a gestureRecognizer):

messageTableView.keyboardDismissMode = .interactive