--- name: apple-hig-helper description: | Apple Human Interface Guidelines - comprehensive design guidance for iOS, macOS, visionOS, watchOS, tvOS, and Apple technologies with summaries of 174 topics. Use when the user asks about Apple design guidelines, HIG, platform UI patterns, Apple UI components, or accessibility guidance. --- # Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) Helper ## Overview The Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) provides comprehensive design guidance for creating great experiences across all Apple platforms. This skill provides access to **174 topics** covering: - **6 Apple Platforms**: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, watchOS - **40+ UI Components**: Buttons, Menus, Alerts, Sheets, Lists, and more - **20+ Design Patterns**: Navigation, Modality, Feedback, Loading, Settings - **30+ Apple Technologies**: Apple Pay, Siri, HomeKit, CarPlay, ARKit, HealthKit - **Design Foundations**: Color, Typography, Icons, Layout, Materials, Branding - **Accessibility & Inclusion**: Guidelines for building apps everyone can use **Data Location**: `markdown/` **Format**: 174 Markdown documentation pages ## Quick Reference: Major Topics with Summaries ### Design Foundations #### Color **Path**: `markdown/color/index.md` Judicious use of color can enhance communication, evoke your brand, provide visual continuity, communicate status and feedback, and help people understand information. #### Typography **Path**: `markdown/typography/index.md` Your typographic choices can help you display legible text, convey an information hierarchy, communicate important content, and express your brand or style. #### Icons **Path**: `markdown/icons/index.md` An effective icon is a graphic asset that expresses a single concept in ways people instantly understand. #### Layout **Path**: `markdown/layout/index.md` A consistent layout that adapts to various contexts makes your experience more approachable and helps people enjoy their favorite apps and games on all their devices. #### Materials **Path**: `markdown/materials/index.md` A material is a visual effect that creates a sense of depth, layering, and hierarchy between foreground and background elements. #### Branding **Path**: `markdown/branding/index.md` Apps and games express their unique brand identity in ways that make them instantly recognizable while feeling at home on the platform and giving people a consistent experience. #### Dark Mode **Path**: `markdown/dark-mode/index.md` Dark Mode is a systemwide appearance setting that uses a dark color palette to provide a comfortable viewing experience tailored for low-light environments. #### Images **Path**: `markdown/images/index.md` To make sure your artwork looks great on all devices you support, learn how the system displays content and how to deliver art at the appropriate scale factors. ### Accessibility & Inclusion #### Accessibility **Path**: `markdown/accessibility/index.md` Accessible user interfaces empower everyone to have a great experience with your app or game. #### Inclusion **Path**: `markdown/inclusion/index.md` Inclusive apps and games put people first by prioritizing respectful communication and presenting content and functionality in ways that everyone can access and understand. ### Common UI Components #### Buttons **Path**: `markdown/buttons/index.md` A button initiates an instantaneous action. #### Menus **Path**: `markdown/menus/index.md` A menu reveals its options when people interact with it, making it a space-efficient way to present commands in your app or game. #### Alerts **Path**: `markdown/alerts/index.md` An alert gives people critical information they need right away. #### Sheets **Path**: `markdown/sheets/index.md` A sheet helps people perform a scoped task that's closely related to their current context. #### Lists and Tables **Path**: `markdown/lists-and-tables/index.md` Lists and tables present data in one or more columns of rows. #### Pickers **Path**: `markdown/pickers/index.md` A picker displays one or more scrollable lists of distinct values that people can choose from. #### Sliders **Path**: `markdown/sliders/index.md` A slider is a horizontal track with a control, called a thumb, that people can adjust between a minimum and maximum value. #### Toggles **Path**: `markdown/toggles/index.md` A toggle lets people choose between a pair of opposing states, like on and off, using a different appearance to indicate each state. #### Text Fields **Path**: `markdown/text-fields/index.md` A text field is a rectangular area in which people enter or edit small, specific pieces of text. ### Design Patterns #### Modality **Path**: `markdown/modality/index.md` Modality is a design technique that presents content in a separate, dedicated mode that prevents interaction with the parent view and requires an explicit action to dismiss. #### Navigation and Search **Path**: `markdown/navigation-and-search/index.md` Help people navigate and find content efficiently. #### Feedback **Path**: `markdown/feedback/index.md` Feedback helps people know what's happening, discover what they can do next, understand the results of actions, and avoid mistakes. #### Loading **Path**: `markdown/loading/index.md` The best content-loading experience finishes before people become aware of it. #### Settings **Path**: `markdown/settings/index.md` People expect apps and games to just work, but they also appreciate having ways to customize the experience to fit their needs. #### Onboarding **Path**: `markdown/onboarding/index.md` Onboarding can help people get a quick start using your app or game. ### Platform-Specific Guidelines #### Designing for iOS **Path**: `markdown/designing-for-ios/index.md` People depend on their iPhone to help them stay connected, play games, view media, accomplish tasks, and track personal data in any location and while on the go. #### Designing for iPadOS **Path**: `markdown/designing-for-ipados/index.md` People value the power, mobility, and flexibility of iPad as they enjoy media, play games, perform detailed productivity tasks, and bring their creations to life. #### Designing for macOS **Path**: `markdown/designing-for-macos/index.md` People rely on the power, spaciousness, and flexibility of a Mac as they perform in-depth productivity tasks, view media or content, and play games, often using several apps at once. #### Designing for tvOS **Path**: `markdown/designing-for-tvos/index.md` People enjoy the vibrant content, immersive experiences, and streamlined interactions that tvOS delivers in media and games, as well as in fitness, education, and home utility apps. #### Designing for visionOS **Path**: `markdown/designing-for-visionos/index.md` When people wear Apple Vision Pro, they enter an infinite 3D space where they can engage with your app or game while staying connected to their surroundings. #### Designing for watchOS **Path**: `markdown/designing-for-watchos/index.md` When people glance at their Apple Watch, they know they can access essential information and perform simple, timely tasks whether they're stationary or in motion. ## Complete Topic Index (All 174 Topics) ### By Category #### Foundations (9 topics) - accessibility - branding - color - dark-mode - icons - images - layout - materials - typography #### Components - Content (11 topics) - activity-rings - charts - gauges - image-views - labels - lockups - progress-indicators - rating-indicators - text-views - web-views - sf-symbols #### Components - Layout & Organization (13 topics) - boxes - collections - column-views - disclosure-controls - lists-and-tables - lockups - outline-views - scroll-views - split-views - tab-views - tables (see lists-and-tables) - sidebars - windows #### Components - Menus & Actions (11 topics) - activity-views - buttons - context-menus - controls - dock-menus - edit-menus - home-screen-quick-actions - menus - pop-up-buttons - pull-down-buttons - segmented-controls #### Components - Navigation & Search (7 topics) - navigation-and-search - page-controls - path-controls - search-fields - searching - tab-bars - toolbars #### Components - Presentation (8 topics) - action-sheets - alerts - panels - popovers - sheets - the-menu-bar - ornaments - status-bars #### Components - Selection & Input (11 topics) - color-wells - combo-boxes - digit-entry-views - image-wells - pickers - sliders - steppers - text-fields - toggles - token-fields - virtual-keyboards #### Components - System Experiences (6 topics) - complications - live-activities - notifications - top-shelf - watch-faces - widgets #### Patterns (22 topics) - charting-data - collaboration-and-sharing - drag-and-drop - entering-data - feedback - file-management - going-full-screen - launching - live-viewing-apps - loading - managing-accounts - managing-notifications - modality - offering-help - onboarding - playing-audio - playing-haptics - playing-video - printing - ratings-and-reviews - settings - undo-and-redo - workouts #### Inputs (8 topics) - action-button - apple-pencil-and-scribble - camera-control - digital-crown - eyes - focus-and-selection - game-controls - gestures - gyro-and-accelerometer - keyboards - nearby-interactions - pointing-devices - remotes - spatial-interactions #### Technologies (30 topics) - airplay - always-on - app-clips - app-shortcuts - apple-pay - augmented-reality - carekit - carplay - game-center - generative-ai - healthkit - homekit - icloud - id-verifier - imessage-apps-and-stickers - in-app-purchase - live-photos - mac-catalyst - machine-learning - maps - nfc - photo-editing - researchkit - shareplay - shazamkit - sign-in-with-apple - siri - tap-to-pay-on-iphone - voiceover - wallet #### Platforms (6 topics) - designing-for-games - designing-for-ios - designing-for-ipados - designing-for-macos - designing-for-tvos - designing-for-visionos - designing-for-watchos #### Cross-Cutting Concerns (8 topics) - accessibility - dark-mode - inclusion - immersive-experiences - motion - multitasking - privacy - right-to-left - spatial-layout - writing ### Alphabetical List of All Topics ``` accessibility, action-button, action-sheets, activity-rings, activity-views, airplay, alerts, always-on, app-clips, app-icons, app-shortcuts, apple-pay, apple-pencil-and-scribble, augmented-reality, boxes, branding, buttons, camera-control, carekit, carplay, charting-data, charts, collaboration-and-sharing, collections, color, color-wells, column-views, combo-boxes, complications, components, content, context-menus, controls, dark-mode, designing-for-games, designing-for-ios, designing-for-ipados, designing-for-macos, designing-for-tvos, designing-for-visionos, designing-for-watchos, digit-entry-views, digital-crown, disclosure-controls, dock-menus, drag-and-drop, edit-menus, entering-data, eyes, feedback, file-management, focus-and-selection, foundations, game-center, game-controls, gauges, generative-ai, gestures, getting-started, going-full-screen, gyro-and-accelerometer, healthkit, home-screen-quick-actions, homekit, icloud, icons, id-verifier, image-views, image-wells, images, imessage-apps-and-stickers, immersive-experiences, in-app-purchase, inclusion, inputs, keyboards, labels, launching, layout, layout-and-organization, lists-and-tables, live-activities, live-photos, live-viewing-apps, loading, lockups, mac-catalyst, machine-learning, managing-accounts, managing-notifications, maps, materials, menus, menus-and-actions, modality, motion, multitasking, navigation-and-search, nearby-interactions, nfc, notifications, offering-help, onboarding, ornaments, outline-views, page-controls, panels, path-controls, patterns, photo-editing, pickers, playing-audio, playing-haptics, playing-video, pointing-devices, pop-up-buttons, popovers, presentation, printing, privacy, progress-indicators, pull-down-buttons, rating-indicators, ratings-and-reviews, remotes, researchkit, right-to-left, scroll-views, search-fields, searching, segmented-controls, selection-and-input, settings, sf-symbols, shareplay, shazamkit, sheets, sidebars, sign-in-with-apple, siri, sliders, spatial-interactions, spatial-layout, split-views, status, status-bars, steppers, system-experiences, tab-bars, tab-views, tap-to-pay-on-iphone, technologies, text-fields, text-views, the-menu-bar, toggles, token-fields, toolbars, top-shelf, typography, undo-and-redo, virtual-keyboards, voiceover, wallet, watch-faces, web-views, widgets, windows, workouts, writing ``` ## Search & Access Patterns ### List All Available Topics ```bash # List all topic directories ls markdown/ # Count total topics ls markdown/ | wc -l # Search for specific topics ls markdown/ | grep -i "button" ls markdown/ | grep -i "menu" ls markdown/ | grep -i "ios" ``` ### Read Topic Metadata (Fast) Extract title and description without reading full file: ```bash # Get title grep -oP '(?<=)[^<]+' markdown/buttons/index.md | head -1 # Get description grep -oP '(?<=<meta name="description" content=")[^"]+' markdown/buttons/index.md | head -1 # Get both echo "Title:" && grep -oP '(?<=<title>)[^<]+' markdown/buttons/index.md | head -1 echo "Description:" && grep -oP '(?<=<meta name="description" content=")[^"]+' markdown/buttons/index.md | head -1 ``` ### Read Full Topic Content For detailed guidance, read the complete Markdown file: ```bash # Read entire file (may be large - 50-250KB per file) cat markdown/buttons/index.md # Read with Bash tool through Read tool (preferred for large files) Read markdown/buttons/index.md ``` ### Search Across Multiple Topics ```bash # Extract metadata from multiple related topics for topic in buttons menus alerts sheets; do echo "=== $topic ===" grep -oP '(?<=<meta name="description" content=")[^"]+' markdown/$topic/index.md echo "" done # Search for topics by category ls markdown/ | grep -E "(button|menu|alert|sheet)" ``` ## Usage Examples ### Example 1: "What does HIG say about buttons?" 1. **Quick Summary**: Read the button summary from this skill 2. **Full Details**: `Read markdown/buttons/index.md` 3. **Response**: A button initiates an instantaneous action. (Provide platform-specific guidance from Markdown) ### Example 2: "Show me iOS design guidelines" 1. **Navigate**: `Read markdown/designing-for-ios/index.md` 2. **Summary**: People depend on their iPhone to help them stay connected, play games, view media, accomplish tasks, and track personal data in any location and while on the go. 3. **Provide**: Platform-specific patterns, components, and best practices ### Example 3: "Accessibility best practices from HIG" 1. **Primary Guide**: `Read markdown/accessibility/index.md` 2. **Related Topics**: - VoiceOver: `markdown/voiceover/index.md` - Inclusion: `markdown/inclusion/index.md` - Dynamic Type: Coverage in typography 3. **Summary**: Provide key accessibility principles and implementation guidance ### Example 4: "List all available HIG component topics" 1. **Search**: `ls markdown/ | grep -v "^designing-for" | sort` 2. **Categorize**: Group by component type (layout, navigation, input, etc.) 3. **Provide**: Organized list with brief descriptions ### Example 5: "What technologies does HIG cover?" **Technologies covered** (30 topics): - Apple Pay, Siri, HomeKit, CarPlay - ARKit, HealthKit, SharePlay, Wallet - Game Center, Maps, Machine Learning - And 20 more (see Technologies section above) ### Example 6: "How should I design alerts for visionOS?" 1. **Read Alert Guidelines**: `markdown/alerts/index.md` 2. **Read visionOS Platform Guide**: `markdown/designing-for-visionos/index.md` 3. **Cross-reference**: Look for visionOS-specific guidance in alerts Markdown 4. **Provide**: Platform-specific alert design patterns ## Best Practices ### When to Consult HIG - **Starting a new app or feature**: Review platform guidelines first - **Implementing standard UI components**: Check component-specific guidance - **Designing for multiple platforms**: Review each platform's unique patterns - **Adding Apple technologies**: Consult technology-specific guidelines (Apple Pay, Siri, etc.) - **Ensuring accessibility**: Review accessibility and inclusion guidelines - **Resolving design decisions**: HIG provides rationale for Apple's design choices ### How to Use This Skill 1. **Start with the category index** above to find relevant topics 2. **Read metadata summaries** for quick overviews (30 major topics included) 3. **Access full Markdown files** for detailed platform-specific guidance 4. **Cross-reference related topics**: - Buttons → Menus → Navigation - Color → Dark Mode → Materials - Accessibility → VoiceOver → Inclusion 5. **Check platform-specific sections** within component guides ### Navigation Tips - **Browse by category**: Use the organized lists above (Foundations, Components, Patterns, etc.) - **Search alphabetically**: Use the complete alphabetical list for quick lookup - **Follow references**: HIG topics often reference related guidelines - **Check all platforms**: Some components have platform-specific variations ### Understanding HIG Content - **Guidelines, not rules**: HIG provides guidance; adapt to your app's needs - **Platform differences**: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS have unique patterns - **Context matters**: Consider your app's purpose and user needs - **Stay updated**: HIG evolves with new OS releases and platform features ## Data Structure Reference - **Location**: `markdown/` - **Format**: Markdown files - **Structure**: `{topic}/index.md` for each topic - **Metadata**: Available in `<title>` and `<meta>` tags - **Total Size**: 23 MB (174 files) - **Index File**: `.visited.json` contains complete list of URLs ## When to Ask for Help If you need: - **Comparison across platforms**: "How do alerts differ between iOS and macOS?" - **Implementation guidance**: "Show me how to implement the button styles from HIG" - **Design critique**: "Does this design follow HIG principles?" - **Missing topics**: If a topic isn't in the 174 available, the user may need to check Apple's website - **Recent updates**: This data was downloaded on a specific date; newest features may require checking Apple's site --- **Quick Start**: Ask "What does HIG say about [topic]?" or "Show me [platform] design guidelines" to get started!