/ios

Human Interface Guidelines Checklist

Comprehensive checklist for iOS and watchOS HIG compliance.

iOS Human Interface Guidelines

Layout & Spacing

Safe Areas

• Content respects safe area insets
• .safeAreaInset() used for persistent content
• .ignoresSafeArea() only for backgrounds/media

// ✅ Good
VStack {
    content
}
.safeAreaInset(edge: .bottom) {
    BottomBar()
}

// ✅ Good - Background extends
ZStack {
    Color.blue
        .ignoresSafeArea()
    content
}

Tap Targets

• Minimum 44x44 points for all interactive elements
• Adequate spacing between tappable elements

// ✅ Ensure minimum size
Button("Action") { }
    .frame(minWidth: 44, minHeight: 44)

Spacing

• Consistent spacing using system values
• .padding() for standard spacing
• .padding(.horizontal) / .padding(.vertical) for directional

// ✅ Use system spacing
VStack(spacing: 16) {
    // Standard spacing
}

// ✅ Use padding
content
    .padding()

ScrollView

• Long content uses ScrollView
• Scroll indicators visible
• Content offset considered

Navigation

NavigationStack (iOS 16+)

• Use NavigationStack instead of deprecated NavigationView
• Proper navigation title placement
• Back button navigation works correctly

// ✅ Modern navigation
NavigationStack {
    List(items) { item in
        NavigationLink(value: item) {
            ItemRow(item: item)
        }
    }
    .navigationTitle("Items")
    .navigationBarTitleDisplayMode(.large)
    .navigationDestination(for: Item.self) { item in
        ItemDetailView(item: item)
    }
}

Navigation Patterns

• Clear navigation hierarchy
• Proper use of navigation modifiers
• Toolbar items placed appropriately

// ✅ Toolbar placement
.toolbar {
    ToolbarItem(placement: .navigationBarTrailing) {
        Button("Add") { }
    }
}

Modality

Sheets

• Sheets for focused tasks
• Dismiss gesture available
• Proper presentation detents on iOS 16+

// ✅ Proper sheet
.sheet(isPresented: $showingSheet) {
    AddItemView()
        .presentationDetents([.medium, .large])
        .presentationDragIndicator(.visible)
}

Alerts

• Destructive actions marked with role
• Cancel button provided
• Clear, concise messaging

// ✅ Proper alert
.alert("Delete Item?", isPresented: $showingAlert) {
    Button("Delete", role: .destructive) {
        deleteItem()
    }
    Button("Cancel", role: .cancel) { }
} message: {
    Text("This action cannot be undone.")
}

Confirmation Dialogs

• Use for multiple action choices
• Destructive actions at top
• Cancel at bottom

// ✅ Confirmation dialog
.confirmationDialog("Options", isPresented: $showingOptions) {
    Button("Delete", role: .destructive) { }
    Button("Archive") { }
    Button("Cancel", role: .cancel) { }
}

Colors & Visuals

Semantic Colors

• Use semantic color names
• Avoid hardcoded colors
• Support both light and dark mode

// ✅ Semantic colors
.foregroundColor(.primary)      // Adapts to theme
.foregroundColor(.secondary)
.background(Color(.systemBackground))

// ❌ Hardcoded colors
.foregroundColor(.black)        // Doesn't adapt
.background(.white)

System Colors

• Use UIColor system colors via Color()
• Proper contrast in both modes

// ✅ System colors
Color(.systemRed)
Color(.systemBackground)
Color(.secondarySystemBackground)
Color(.label)
Color(.secondaryLabel)

Color Contrast

• Normal text: 4.5:1 minimum
• Large text (18pt+): 3.1 minimum
• UI components: 3:1 minimum
• Verify with Accessibility Inspector

SF Symbols

• Use SF Symbols for icons
• Consistent symbol style
• Proper symbol rendering mode

// ✅ SF Symbols
Image(systemName: "plus.circle.fill")
    .symbolRenderingMode(.hierarchical)
    .imageScale(.large)

Lists & Collections

List Performance

• Use id for stable identities
• Provide IDs or use Identifiable
• Efficient row updates

// ✅ Stable IDs
List(items, id: \.id) { item in
    ItemRow(item: item)
}

// ✅ Or Identifiable
struct Item: Identifiable {
    let id: UUID
}

List(items) { item in
    ItemRow(item: item)
}

List Actions

• Swipe actions for common operations
• Context menus for additional actions
• Pull to refresh when appropriate

// ✅ Swipe actions
.swipeActions(edge: .trailing) {
    Button("Delete", role: .destructive) { }
}

// ✅ Context menu
.contextMenu {
    Button("Edit") { }
    Button("Delete", role: .destructive) { }
}

Forms & Input

Form Structure

• Sections with headers
• Grouped related fields
• Clear labels

// ✅ Well-structured form
Form {
    Section("Basic Info") {
        TextField("Name", text: $name)
        TextField("Email", text: $email)
    }

    Section("Preferences") {
        Toggle("Notifications", isOn: $notifications)
        Picker("Theme", selection: $theme) {
            ForEach(Theme.allCases) { theme in
                Text(theme.rawValue).tag(theme)
            }
        }
    }
}

Input Validation

• Real-time validation feedback
• Clear error messages
• Disable submit until valid

// ✅ Validation feedback
TextField("Email", text: $email)
    .textInputAutocapitalization(.never)
    .keyboardType(.emailAddress)
    .overlay(alignment: .trailing) {
        if !email.isEmpty && !isValidEmail {
            Image(systemName: "xmark.circle.fill")
                .foregroundColor(.red)
        }
    }

Loading & Empty States

Loading States

• ProgressView for loading
• Descriptive labels
• Consider skeleton screens

// ✅ Loading state
if isLoading {
    ProgressView("Loading items...")
} else {
    ContentView()
}

Empty States

• Helpful message when empty
• Action to add first item
• Icon or illustration

// ✅ Empty state
if items.isEmpty {
    ContentUnavailableView(
        "No Items",
        systemImage: "tray.fill",
        description: Text("Add your first item to get started")
    )
} else {
    List(items) { item in
        ItemRow(item: item)
    }
}

Error States

• Clear error messaging
• Retry action
• Contact support option

// ✅ Error state
ContentUnavailableView(
    "Unable to Load",
    systemImage: "exclamationmark.triangle",
    description: Text("Please check your connection and try again")
) {
    Button("Retry") {
        loadData()
    }
}

watchOS Human Interface Guidelines

Layout

Screen Sizes

• Support all watch sizes (38mm to 49mm)
• Test on different screen sizes
• Responsive layouts

Padding & Spacing

• Larger padding than iOS (content closer to edges)
• Clear visual hierarchy
• Generous tap targets (40x40 minimum)

Scrolling

• Use Lists for scrollable content
• Digital Crown scroll support
• Minimal horizontal scrolling

Interaction

Digital Crown

• Support Digital Crown for scrolling
• Use for value input when appropriate
• Provide visual feedback

// ✅ Digital Crown input
@State private var value = 0.5

var body: some View {
    VStack {
        Text("Value: \(value, specifier: "%.2f")")
        Gauge(value: value, in: 0...1) {
            Text("Amount")
        }
    }
    .focusable()
    .digitalCrownRotation($value)
}

Tap Targets

• Minimum 40x40 points
• Full-width buttons when possible
• Clear spacing between elements

Complications

• Provide complications for quick access
• Update complications regularly
• Support multiple complication families

Navigation

Hierarchical Navigation

• Clear navigation stack
• Back navigation with edge swipe
• Navigation titles

// ✅ watchOS navigation
NavigationStack {
    List(items) { item in
        NavigationLink(value: item) {
            Text(item.name)
        }
    }
    .navigationTitle("Items")
    .navigationDestination(for: Item.self) { item in
        ItemDetailView(item: item)
    }
}

Pages (Tab-like)

• Use TabView for page-based navigation
• Index dots visible
• Swipe between pages

// ✅ Page-based navigation
TabView {
    ActivityView()
    SummaryView()
    SettingsView()
}
.tabViewStyle(.page)

Text & Fonts

Font Sizes

• Larger than iOS equivalents
• Support Dynamic Type
• Test at largest sizes

// ✅ Appropriate watchOS fonts
Text("Title")
    .font(.headline)

Text("Body")
    .font(.body)

Text Length

• Keep text concise
• Truncate appropriately
• Use abbreviations when sensible

Color & Contrast

High Contrast

• Higher contrast than iOS
• Test in both always-on modes
• Consider outdoor visibility

Always-On Display

• Dimmed content for always-on
• Remove unnecessary animations
• Reduce color saturation

Testing Checklist

Device Testing

• Test on smallest device
• Test on largest device
• Test on mid-size devices

Orientation

• iPad: All orientations
• iPhone: Portrait and landscape
• Adaptive layouts

Accessibility

• VoiceOver navigation
• Dynamic Type scaling
• Reduce Motion
• Increase Contrast

Visual Modes

• Light mode
• Dark mode
• High contrast mode
• Reduce transparency

References

• iOS Human Interface Guidelines
• watchOS Human Interface Guidelines
• SF Symbols
• Accessibility Guidelines