API reference: Liquid Glass (iOS 26+). Query for glass effects, navigation patterns, GlassEffect modifiers, design principles.

iOS Liquid Glass Reference API reference for the Liquid Glass design system (iOS 26+): glass effects, containers, morphing transitions, and related system behaviors. This documents what the system provides — design direction is yours. When to Use Implementing glass materials, glassEffect modifiers, or GlassEffectContainer Navigation surfaces that use system glass (tabs, toolbars, sheets) Checking how glass adapts to accessibility settings Creating app icons with Icon Composer Apple's Stated Design Principles Apple describes Liquid Glass with three principles (reference, not a mandate): Principle Description Hierarchy Controls float above content. Glass frames content rather than obscuring it. Harmony Software design aligns with hardware — concentric corners, fluid gestures. Consistency Adapts across iPhone, iPad, Mac — same identity, contextual expression. One functional constraint worth knowing: glass is designed for the navigation/control layer. Applying it to content surfaces defeats its sampling model (see containers below). Liquid Glass Core API Basic Glass Effect Glass Variants Variant Use Case .regular Toolbars, nav bars, tab bars, standard controls .clear Floating controls over media (photos, maps, video) .identity Conditional disable: glassEffect(isActive ? .regular : .identity) Glass Modifiers Custom Shapes GlassEffectContainer & Morphing Container Setup Glass cannot sample other glass. Use containers for multiple glass elements: Morphing Transitions Navigation Patterns Tab Bar (Floating) Toolbar with Grouping Sheets with Morphing SF Symbols Effects Haptics API Accessibility Behaviors Automatic Glass Adaptations Glass automatically adapts to: Reduce Transparency : More frosting Increase Contrast : Stark borders Reduce Motion : Tones down animation Manual Checks System expectations: minimum 44x44pt touch targets, accessibility labels, Dynamic Type support. Reference For official Apple documentation links, WWDC session IDs, and API quick reference tables, see [reference.md](reference.md).

ios-liquid-glass