Apple HIG: Presentation Components
Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.
Key Principles
- Alerts: sparingly, for critical situations. Errors needing attention, destructive action confirmations, or information requiring acknowledgment. They interrupt flow and demand a response.
- Sheets: focused tasks that maintain context. Slides in from the edge (or attaches to a window on macOS). Use for creating items, editing settings, multi-step forms.
- Popovers: non-modal on iPad and Mac. Appear next to the trigger element, dismissed by tapping outside. For additional information, options, or controls without taking over the screen.
- Action sheets: choosing among actions. Present when picking from multiple actions, especially if one is destructive. iPhone: slide up from bottom. iPad: appear as popovers.
- Minimize interruptions. Before reaching for a modal, consider inline presentation or making the action undoable instead.
- Concise, actionable alert text. Short descriptive title. Brief message body if needed. Button labels should be specific verbs ("Delete", "Save"), not "OK".
- Mark destructive actions clearly. Destructive button style (red text). Place destructive buttons where users are less likely to tap reflexively.
- Provide a cancel option for alerts and action sheets with multiple actions. On action sheets, cancel appears at the bottom, separated.
- Digit entry: focused and accessible. Appropriately sized input fields, automatic advancement between digits, support for paste and autofill.
- Adapt presentation to platform. The same interaction may use different components on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and visionOS.
Reference Index
| Reference | Topic | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| alerts.md | Alerts | Button ordering, title/message text, confirmation, destructive actions |
| action-sheets.md | Action sheets | Multiple actions, cancel option, destructive handling |
| popovers.md | Popovers | Non-modal, dismiss on tap outside, iPad/Mac |
| sheets.md | Sheets | Modal task, context preservation |
| digit-entry-views.md | Digit entry | PIN input, autofill, auto-advance |
Output Format
- Recommended presentation type with rationale and why alternatives are less suitable.
- Content guidelines -- title, message, button labels per Apple's tone and brevity rules.
- Dismiss behavior -- how the user dismisses and what happens (save, discard, cancel).
- Alternatives -- when the scenario might not need a modal at all (inline feedback, undo, progressive disclosure).
Questions to Ask
- What information or action does the presentation need?
- Blocking or non-blocking?
- Which platforms?
- How often does this appear?
Related Skills
- hig-components-menus -- Buttons and toolbar items triggering presentations
- hig-components-controls -- Input controls within sheets and popovers
- hig-components-search -- Search and navigation within presented views
- hig-patterns -- Modality, interruptions, user flow management
- hig-foundations -- Color, typography, layout for presentation components
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When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.
Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.