Apple Human Interface Guidelines for layout and navigation components. Use this skill when the user asks about "sidebar", "split view", "tab bar", "tab view", "scroll view", "window design", "panel", "list view", "table view", "column view", "outline view", "navigation structure", "app layout", "box

Apple HIG: Layout and Navigation Components Check for .claude/apple design context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered. Key Principles 1. Organize hierarchically. Structure information from broad categories to specific details. Sidebars for top level sections, lists for browsable items, detail views for individual content. 2. Use standard navigation patterns. Tab bars for flat navigation between peer sections (iPhone). Sidebars for deep hierarchical navigation (iPad, Mac). Match the pattern to the information architecture and platform. 3. Adapt to screen size. Three column on iPad collapses to single column on iPhone. Use size classes and adaptive APIs (NavigationSplitView) for automatic adaptation. 4. Support multitasking on iPad. Respond gracefully to Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager. Test at every split ratio and size class transition. 5. Maintain spatial consistency on visionOS. Windows, volumes, and ornaments in shared space. Position predictably. Use ornaments for toolbars and controls without occluding content. 6. Use scroll views for overflow content. Enable paging for discrete content units. Support pull to refresh where appropriate. Respect safe areas. 7. Keep navigation predictable. Users should always know where they are, how they got there, and how to go back. Use back buttons, breadcrumbs, and clear section titles. 8. Prefer system components. UINavigationController, UISplitViewController, NavigationSplitView, and TabView provide built in adaptivity, accessibility, and state restoration. Reference Index Reference Topic Key content [sidebars.md](references/sidebars.md) Sidebars Source lists, selection state, collapsible sections, iPad/Mac patterns [column views.md](references/column views.md) Column Views Finder style browsing, progressive disclosure through columns [outline views.md](references/outline views.md) Outline Views Expandable hierarchies, disclosure triangles, tree structures [split views.md](references/split views.md) Split Views Two/three column layouts, NavigationSplitView, adaptive collapse [tab views.md](references/tab views.md) Tab Views Segmented tabs, page style tabs, macOS tab grouping [tab bars.md](references/tab bars.md) Tab Bars Bottom tab bars (iOS), badge counts, max tab count [scroll views.md](references/scroll views.md) Scroll Views Paging, scroll indicators, content insets, pull to refresh [windows.md](references/windows.md) Windows macOS/visionOS window management, sizing, full screen, restoration [panels.md](references/panels.md) Panels Inspector panels, utility panels, floating panels, macOS conventions [lists and tables.md](references/lists and tables.md) Lists and Tables Plain/grouped/inset grouped styles, swipe actions, section headers [boxes.md](references/boxes.md) Boxes Content grouping containers, labeled boxes, macOS grouping [ornaments.md](references/ornaments.md) Ornaments visionOS toolbar attachments, positioning, visibility Navigation Pattern Selection App Structure Recommended Pattern Platform Adaptation 3 5 peer top level sections Tab Bar iPhone: bottom tab bar. iPad: sidebar ( .sidebarAdaptable , iPadOS 18+). Mac: sidebar or toolbar tabs Deep hierarchical content Sidebar + NavigationSplitView iPhone: single column stack. iPad: two/three columns. Mac: full multi column Deep file/folder tree Column View Mac: Finder style. iPad: adaptable. iPhone: push navigation Flat list with detail Split View (two column) iPhone: push/pop stack. iPad/Mac: primary + detail columns Document based with inspectors Window + Panels Mac: main window with inspector. iPad: sheet or popover Spatial app with tools Window + Ornaments visionOS: ornaments on window. Other platforms: toolbars Layout Adaptation Checklist [ ] Compact width (iPhone portrait): Navigation collapses to single stack? Tab bars visible? [ ] Regular width (iPad landscape, Mac): Navigation expands to sidebar + detail? Space used well? [ ] Multitasking (iPad): Adapts at every split ratio? Works in Slide Over? [ ] Accessibility: Supports Dynamic Type at all sizes? VoiceOver order logical? [ ] Orientation: Content reflows between portrait and landscape? [ ] visionOS: Windows positioned ergonomically? Ornaments accessible? Depth meaningful? Output Format 1. Recommended navigation pattern with rationale for the app's information architecture. 2. Layout hierarchy from root container down (e.g., TabView NavigationSplitView List Detail). 3. Platform adaptation across targeted platforms and size classes. 4. Size class behavior at each transition. Questions to Ask 1. What is the app's information architecture? (Sections, hierarchy depth, top level categories?) 2. How many top level sections? 3. Which platforms? 4. Need multitasking on iPad? 5. SwiftUI or UIKit? Related Skills hig foundations Layout spacing, margins, safe areas, alignment hig platforms Platform specific navigation conventions hig patterns Multitasking, full screen, and launching patterns hig components content Content displayed within layout containers Built by [Raintree Technology](https://raintree.technology) · [More developer tools](https://raintree.technology)

hig-components-layout