Patterns
Get design guidance for enabling common user actions, tasks, and experiences.
Accessing private data
To help people trust your app or game, you must be transparent about the privacy-related data and resources you require and how you use them.
Charting data
Collaboration and sharing
Drag and drop
Using drag and drop, people can move or duplicate selected photos, text, and other content by dragging the selection from one location to another.
Entering data
When you need information from people, design ways that make it easy for them to provide it without making mistakes.
Feedback
Feedback helps people know what’s happening, discover what they can do next, understand the results of actions, and avoid mistakes.
File management
Depending on the experience, people may expect to manage their documents and files within an app or throughout the system.
Going full screen
iPhone, iPad, and Mac offer full-screen modes that can enable a distraction-free environment, often hiding system and app controls until people take action to reveal them.
Launching
People appreciate a streamlined launch experience so they can start using your app or game immediately.
Live-viewing apps
As you design a live-viewing app, focus on the content and creating fun, fluid interactions that encourage immersion in the live-viewing experience.
Loading
While content loads, avoid showing a blank or static screen that might make people think your app or game is sluggish or frozen.
Managing accounts
When it doesn’t create an unnecessary barrier to your experience, an account can be a convenient way for people to access their content and track personal details.
Managing notifications
Notifications can give people timely and important information, whether the device is locked or in use.
Modality
Modality is a design technique that presents content in a separate, focused mode that prevents interaction with the parent view and requires an explicit action to dismiss.
Multitasking
Multitasking lets people switch quickly from one app to another, performing tasks in each.
Offering help
Although the most effective experiences are approachable and intuitive, you can provide contextual help when necessary.
Onboarding
Ideally, people can understand your app or game simply by experiencing it, but if onboarding is necessary, provide a flow that’s fast, fun, and optional.
Playing audio
People expect rich audio experiences that automatically adjust when the context changes on the device.
Playing haptics
Playing haptics can engage people’s sense of touch and bring their familiarity with the physical world into your app or game.
Playing video
People expect to enjoy rich video experiences on their devices, regardless of the app or game they're using.
Printing
An iOS, iPadOS, or macOS app can integrate system-provided print functionality when it makes sense, presenting custom printer- and document-specific options if necessary.
Ratings and reviews
People often view the ratings and reviews for an app or game before they download it.
Searching
People use various search techniques to find content on their device, within an app, and within a document or file.
Settings
People expect apps and games to just work, but they also appreciate having ways to customize the experience to fit their needs.
Undo and redo
Undo and redo gives people easy ways to reverse many types of actions, which can also help people explore and experiment safely as they learn a new interface or task.
Workouts
A great workout or fitness experience encourages people to focus on their current activity and helps them track their progress on their devices.