hig-patterns
Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns. Use this skill when the user asks about "onboarding flow", "user onboarding", "app launch", "loading state", "drag and drop", "search pattern", "settings design", "notifications", "modality", "multitasking", "feedback pattern", "haptics", "undo redo", "file management", data entry, sharing, collaboration, full screen, audio, video, haptic feedback, ratings, printing, help, or account management in Apple apps. Also use when the user says "how should onboarding work", "my app takes too long to load", "should I use a modal here", "how do I handle errors", "when should I ask for permissions", "how to show progress", or "what's the right way to confirm a delete". Cross-references: hig-foundations for underlying principles, hig-platforms for platform specifics, hig-components-layout for navigation, hig-components-content for data display.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-patterns- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads hig-patterns automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
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
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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.
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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.
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Support undo over confirmation dialogs. Destructive actions should be reversible when possible. Undo is almost always better than "Are you sure?"
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Launch quickly. Display a launch screen that transitions seamlessly into the first screen. No splash screens with logos. Restore previous state.
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Defer sign-in. Let users explore before requiring account creation. Support Sign in with Apple and passkeys.
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Keep onboarding brief. Three screens max. Let users skip. Teach through progressive disclosure and contextual hints.
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Use progressive disclosure. Show essentials first, let users drill into details. Don't overwhelm with every option on one screen.
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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-level undo |
| workouts.md | Workouts | Workout sessions, live metrics, Always On display, summaries, HealthKit |
Pattern Selection Guide
| User Goal | Recommended Pattern | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| First app experience | Brief onboarding (max 3 screens) + progressive disclosure | Long tutorials, mandatory sign-up |
| Waiting for content | Skeleton screens or progress indicators | Blocking spinners with no context |
| Confirming destructive action | Undo support | Excessive "Are you sure?" dialogs |
| Collecting user input | Inline validation, smart defaults, autofill | Modal forms for simple inputs |
| Requesting permissions | Contextual, just-in-time with explanation | Requesting all permissions at launch |
| Providing feedback | Haptics + visual indicator | Silent actions with no confirmation |
| Organizing preferences | In-app settings for frequent items | Burying all settings in system Settings app |
Output Format
- Recommended pattern with rationale, citing the relevant reference file.
- Step-by-step implementation covering each screen or state.
- Platform variations for targeted platforms.
- Common pitfalls that violate HIG for this pattern.
Questions to Ask
- Where in the app does this pattern appear? What comes before and after?
- Which platforms?
- Designing from scratch or improving an existing flow?
- Does this involve sensitive actions? (Destructive operations, payments, permissions)
Related Skills
- hig-foundations -- Accessibility, color, typography, and privacy principles underlying every pattern
- hig-platforms -- Platform-specific pattern implementations
- hig-components-layout -- Structural components (tab bars, sidebars, split views) for navigation patterns
- hig-components-content -- Content display within patterns (charts, collections, search results)
Built by Raintree Technology · More developer tools
FAQ
What does the hig-patterns skill do?
Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns. Use this skill when the user asks about "onboarding flow", "user onboarding", "app launch", "loading state", "drag and drop", "search pattern", "settings design", "notifications", "modality", "multitasking", "feedback pattern", "haptics", "undo redo", "file management", data entry, sharing, collaboration, full screen, audio, video, haptic feedback, ratings, printing, help, or account management in Apple apps. Also use when the user says "how should onboarding work", "my app takes too long to load", "should I use a modal here", "how do I handle errors", "when should I ask for permissions", "how to show progress", or "what's the right way to confirm a delete". Cross-references: hig-foundations for underlying principles, hig-platforms for platform specifics, hig-components-layout for navigation, hig-components-content for data display.
How do I install hig-patterns?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-patterns in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/hig-patterns/ (personal) or .claude/skills/hig-patterns/ (project).
Which AI agents can use hig-patterns?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is hig-patterns safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains hig-patterns?
It is published by raintree-technology in raintree-technology/hig-doctor. It has 689 recorded installs.
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hig-foundations
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Apple Human Interface Guidelines design foundations. Use this skill when the user asks about "HIG color", "Apple typography", "SF Symbols", "dark mode guidelines", "accessible design", "Apple design foundations", "app icon", "layout guidelines", "materials", "motion", "privacy", "right to left", "RTL", "inclusive design", branding, images, spatial layout, or writing style. Also use when the user says "my colors look wrong in dark mode", "what font should I use", "is my app accessible enough", "how do I support Dynamic Type", "what contrast ratio do I need", "how do I pick system colors", or "my icons don't match the system style". Cross-references: hig-platforms for platform-specific guidance, hig-patterns for interaction patterns, hig-components-layout for structural components, hig-components-content for display.
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Apple Human Interface Guidelines for platform-specific design. Use this skill when the user asks about "designing for iOS", "iPad app design", "macOS design", "tvOS", "visionOS", "watchOS", "Apple platform", "which platform", platform differences, platform-specific conventions, or multi-platform app design. Also use when the user says "should I design differently for iPad vs iPhone", "how does my app work on visionOS", "what's different about macOS apps", "porting my app to another platform", "universal app design", or "what input methods does this platform use". Cross-references: hig-foundations for shared design foundations, hig-patterns for interaction patterns, hig-components-layout for navigation structures, hig-components-content for content display.
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Apple HIG guidance for selection and input controls including pickers, toggles, sliders, steppers, segmented controls, combo boxes, text fields, text views, labels, token fields, virtual keyboards, rating indicators, and gauges. Use this skill when the user says "picker or segmented control," "how should my form look," "what keyboard type should I use," "toggle vs checkbox," or asks about picker design, toggle, switch, slider, stepper, text field, text input, segmented control, combo box, label, token field, virtual keyboard, rating indicator, gauge, form design, input validation, or control state management. Cross-references: hig-components-menus, hig-components-dialogs, hig-components-search.
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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.
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