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name: hig-patterns description: Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns. risk: unknown source: community date_added: '2026-02-27'

Apple HIG: Interaction Patterns

Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.

Key Principles

1. Minimize modality. Use modality only when it is critical to get attention, a task must be completed or abandoned, or saving changes is essential. Prefer non-modal alternatives.

2. Provide clear feedback. Every action should produce visible, audible, or haptic response. Activity indicators for indeterminate waits, progress bars for determinate, haptics for physical confirmation.

3. Support undo over confirmation dialogs. Destructive actions should be reversible when possible. Undo is almost always better than "Are you sure?"

4. Launch quickly. Display a launch screen that transitions seamlessly into the first screen. No splash screens with logos. Restore previous state.

5. Defer sign-in. Let users explore before requiring account creation. Support Sign in with Apple and passkeys.

6. Keep onboarding brief. Three screens max. Let users skip. Teach through progressive disclosure and contextual hints.

7. Use progressive disclosure. Show essentials first, let users drill into details. Don't overwhelm with every option on one screen.

8. Respect user attention. Consolidate notifications, minimize interruptions, give users control over alerts. Never use notifications for marketing.

Reference Index

| Reference | Topic | Key content | |---|---|---| | charting-data.md | Charting Data | Data visualization patterns, accessible charts, interactive elements | | collaboration-and-sharing.md | Collaboration & Sharing | Share sheets, activity views, collaborative editing, SharePlay | | drag-and-drop.md | Drag and Drop | Drag sources, drop targets, spring loading, multi-item drag, visual feedback | | entering-data.md | Entering Data | Text fields, pickers, steppers, input validation, keyboard types, autofill | | feedback.md | Feedback | Alerts, action sheets, haptic patterns, sound feedback, visual indicators | | file-management.md | File Management | Document browser, file providers, iCloud integration, document lifecycle | | going-full-screen.md | Going Full Screen | Full-screen transitions, immersive content, exiting full screen | | launching.md | Launching | Launch screens, state restoration, cold vs warm launch | | live-viewing-apps.md | Live Viewing Apps | Live content display, real-time updates, Live Activities, Dynamic Island | | loading.md | Loading | Activity indicators, progress views, skeleton screens, lazy loading, placeholders | | managing-accounts.md | Managing Accounts | Sign in with Apple, passkeys, account creation, credential autofill, account deletion | | managing-notifications.md | Managing Notifications | Permission requests, grouping, actionable notifications, provisional delivery | | modality.md | Modality | Sheets, alerts, popovers, full-screen modals, when to use each | | multitasking.md | Multitasking | iPad Split View, Slide Over, Stage Manager, responsive layout, size class transitions | | offering-help.md | Offering Help | Contextual tips, onboarding hints, help menus, support links | | onboarding.md | Onboarding | Welcome screens, feature highlights, progressive onboarding, skip options | | playing-audio.md | Playing Audio | Audio sessions, background audio, Now Playing, audio routing, interruptions | | playing-haptics.md | Playing Haptics | Core Haptics, UIFeedbackGenerator, haptic patterns, custom haptics | | playing-video.md | Playing Video | Video player controls, picture-in-picture, AirPlay, full-screen video | | printing.md | Printing | Print dialogs, page setup, AirPrint integration | | ratings-and-reviews.md | Ratings & Reviews | SKStoreReviewController, timing, frequency limits, in-app feedback | | searching.md | Searching | Search bars, suggestions, scoped search, results display, recents | | settings.md | Settings | In-app vs Settings app, preference organization, toggles, defaults | | undo-and-redo.md | Undo and Redo | Shake to undo, undo/redo stack, multi