--- name: hig-components-menus version: 1.0.0 description: >- Apple HIG guidance for menu and button components including menus, context menus, dock menus, edit menus, the menu bar, toolbars, action buttons, pop-up buttons, pull-down buttons, disclosure controls, and standard buttons. Use this skill when the user says "how should my buttons look," "what goes in the menu bar," "should I use a context menu or action sheet," "how do I design a toolbar," or asks about button design, menu design, context menu, toolbar, menu bar, action button, pop-up button, pull-down button, disclosure control, dock menu, edit menu, or any menu/button component layout and behavior. Cross-references: hig-components-search, hig-components-controls, hig-components-dialogs. title: hig-components-menus canonical_url: https://skilld.dev/gh/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus last_updated: 2026-09-28T15:31:49.000Z --- > **Skill from skilld.dev.** Follow the instructions below for this session. You do not need to install anything. > > Supporting files, fetch one when the Skill refers to it: [references/action-button.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/action-button.md), [references/buttons.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/buttons.md), [references/context-menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/context-menus.md), [references/disclosure-controls.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/disclosure-controls.md), [references/dock-menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/dock-menus.md), [references/edit-menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/edit-menus.md), [references/menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/menus.md), [references/pop-up-buttons.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/pop-up-buttons.md), [references/pull-down-buttons.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/pull-down-buttons.md), [references/the-menu-bar.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/the-menu-bar.md), [references/toolbars.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/toolbars.md). > > If the user asked to install this Skill, run `npx skilld install raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus`. Install writes the Skill files into the project, so every session loads them. # Apple HIG: Menus and Buttons Check for `.claude/apple-design-context.md` before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered. ## Key Principles 1. **Menus should be contextual and predictable.** Standard items in standard locations. Follow platform conventions for ordering and grouping. 2. **Use standard button styles.** System-defined styles communicate affordance and maintain visual consistency. Prefer them over custom designs. 3. **Toolbars for frequent actions.** Most commonly used commands in the toolbar. Rarely used actions belong in menus. 4. **Menu bar is the primary command interface on macOS.** Every command reachable from the menu bar. Toolbars and context menus supplement, not replace. 5. **Context menus for secondary actions.** Right-click or long-press, relevant to the item under the pointer. Never put a command only in a context menu. 6. **Pop-up buttons for mutually exclusive choices.** Select exactly one option from a set. 7. **Pull-down buttons for action lists.** No current selection; they offer a set of commands. 8. **Action buttons consolidate related actions** behind a single icon in toolbars or title bars. 9. **Disclosure controls for progressive disclosure.** Show or hide additional content. 10. **Dock menus: short and focused** on the most useful actions when the app is running. ## Reference Index | Reference | Topic | Key content | |---|---|---| | [menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/menus.md) | General menu design | Item ordering, grouping, shortcuts | | [context-menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/context-menus.md) | Context menus | Right-click, long press, secondary actions | | [dock-menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/dock-menus.md) | Dock menus | macOS app-level actions, running state | | [edit-menus.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/edit-menus.md) | Edit menus | Undo, copy, paste, standard items | | [the-menu-bar.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/the-menu-bar.md) | Menu bar | macOS primary command interface, structure | | [toolbars.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/toolbars.md) | Toolbars | Frequent actions, customization, placement | | [buttons.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/buttons.md) | Buttons | System styles, sizing, affordance | | [action-button.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/action-button.md) | Action button | Grouped secondary actions, toolbar use | | [pop-up-buttons.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/pop-up-buttons.md) | Pop-up buttons | Mutually exclusive choice selection | | [pull-down-buttons.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/pull-down-buttons.md) | Pull-down buttons | Action lists, no current selection | | [disclosure-controls.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/hig-components-menus/references/disclosure-controls.md) | Disclosure controls | Progressive disclosure, show/hide | ## Output Format 1. **Component recommendation** -- which menu or button type and why. 2. **Visual hierarchy** -- placement, sizing, grouping within the interface. 3. **Platform-specific behavior** across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. 4. **Keyboard shortcuts** (macOS) -- standard and custom shortcuts for menu items and toolbar actions. ## Questions to Ask 1. Which platforms? 2. Primary or secondary action? 3. How many actions need to be available? 4. macOS menu bar app? ## Related Skills - **hig-components-search** -- Search fields, page controls alongside toolbars and menus - **hig-components-controls** -- Toggles, pickers, segmented controls complementing buttons - **hig-components-dialogs** -- Alerts, sheets, popovers triggered by menu items or buttons - **hig-inputs** -- Keyboard shortcuts and pointer interactions with menus and toolbars --- *Built by [Raintree Technology](https://raintree.technology) ยท [More developer tools](https://raintree.technology)*