Text selection is a fundamental task in any computing environment, including macOS. Whether you are editing documents, coding, or simply browsing the web, efficient text selection can save you time and improve your productivity. This article will guide you through various methods of text selection on macOS, including keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, and mouse techniques. We'll also cover some advanced tips and tricks to help you become a text selection pro on your Mac.

Examples:

1. Basic Text Selection with Mouse:

   • Click and drag: Click at the beginning of the text you want to select, hold down the mouse button, and drag to the end of the text.
   • Double-click: Double-click on a word to select it.
   • Triple-click: Triple-click on a paragraph to select it.

2. Basic Text Selection with Trackpad:

   • Click and drag: Use one finger to click and hold at the beginning of the text, then drag to the end.
   • Tap and drag: Tap with one finger at the beginning of the text, then quickly drag to the end without lifting your finger.
   • Force Click: On Force Touch trackpads, press firmly to select a word.

3. Keyboard Shortcuts:

   • Select All: Press Command (⌘) + A to select all text in the current document or field.
   • Select by Character: Hold down the Shift key and use the arrow keys to select text character by character.
   • Select by Word: Hold down Option (⌥) + Shift and use the arrow keys to select text word by word.
   • Select by Line: Hold down Shift and use the Up or Down arrow keys to select text line by line.
   • Select to Beginning/End of Line: Press Shift + Command (⌘) + Left Arrow to select to the beginning of the line, or Shift + Command (⌘) + Right Arrow to select to the end of the line.

4. Advanced Tips:

   • Extend Selection: After selecting text, hold down the Shift key and click at another point in the text to extend the selection.
   • Column Selection: In some text editors (like Sublime Text), hold down the Option (⌥) key and drag to select text in a column.
   • Quick Look: Select text and press Space to quickly preview the selected text in a Quick Look window.