App Intents Framework

Comprehensive guide to App Intents for Siri integration, Shortcuts, Spotlight, Action Button, and interactive snippets in iOS 26.

Prerequisites

iOS 16+ for App Intents (iOS 26 recommended)
Xcode 26+

Framework Overview

Core Concepts

Intents = Verbs (actions your app can perform)
App Entities = Dynamic Nouns (content in your app)
App Enums = Static Nouns (fixed options)

Where App Intents Appear

Siri - Voice-activated commands
Shortcuts - User-created automations
Spotlight - Search suggestions and actions
Action Button - iPhone 15 Pro hardware button
Apple Pencil - Squeeze gesture
Focus Filters - Customize app behavior per focus

Import

import AppIntents

Creating App Intents

Basic Intent

import AppIntents

struct OpenNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Open Note"
    static var description = IntentDescription("Opens a specific note in the app")

    @Parameter(title: "Note")
    var note: NoteEntity

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        // Open the note in your app
        await NoteManager.shared.open(note.id)

        return .result()
    }
}

Intent with Parameters

struct CreateNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Create Note"
    static var description = IntentDescription("Creates a new note with the specified content")

    @Parameter(title: "Title")
    var title: String

    @Parameter(title: "Content", default: "")
    var content: String

    @Parameter(title: "Folder", optionsProvider: FolderOptionsProvider())
    var folder: FolderEntity?

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        let note = await NoteManager.shared.create(
            title: title,
            content: content,
            in: folder?.id
        )

        return .result(value: NoteEntity(note: note))
    }

    struct FolderOptionsProvider: DynamicOptionsProvider {
        func results() async throws -> [FolderEntity] {
            let folders = await FolderManager.shared.all()
            return folders.map { FolderEntity(folder: $0) }
        }
    }
}

Intent Results

// Simple result
return .result()

// Result with value
return .result(value: noteEntity)

// Result with dialog (for Siri)
return .result(dialog: "Note created successfully")

// Result with view snippet
return .result(
    dialog: "Here's your note",
    view: NoteSnippetView(note: note)
)

// Result opening app
return .result(opensIntent: OpenNoteIntent(note: noteEntity))

App Entities

Defining an Entity

import AppIntents

struct NoteEntity: AppEntity {
    static var typeDisplayRepresentation = TypeDisplayRepresentation(name: "Note")

    var id: UUID
    var title: String
    var content: String
    var createdAt: Date

    var displayRepresentation: DisplayRepresentation {
        DisplayRepresentation(
            title: "\(title)",
            subtitle: "\(content.prefix(50))...",
            image: .init(systemName: "doc.text")
        )
    }

    static var defaultQuery = NoteEntityQuery()

    init(note: Note) {
        self.id = note.id
        self.title = note.title
        self.content = note.content
        self.createdAt = note.createdAt
    }
}

Entity Query

struct NoteEntityQuery: EntityQuery {
    func entities(for identifiers: [UUID]) async throws -> [NoteEntity] {
        let notes = await NoteManager.shared.fetch(ids: identifiers)
        return notes.map { NoteEntity(note: $0) }
    }

    func suggestedEntities() async throws -> [NoteEntity] {
        let recentNotes = await NoteManager.shared.recentNotes(limit: 5)
        return recentNotes.map { NoteEntity(note: $0) }
    }
}

Searchable Entity Query

struct NoteEntityQuery: EntityStringQuery {
    func entities(for identifiers: [UUID]) async throws -> [NoteEntity] {
        let notes = await NoteManager.shared.fetch(ids: identifiers)
        return notes.map { NoteEntity(note: $0) }
    }

    func entities(matching string: String) async throws -> [NoteEntity] {
        let notes = await NoteManager.shared.search(query: string)
        return notes.map { NoteEntity(note: $0) }
    }

    func suggestedEntities() async throws -> [NoteEntity] {
        let recentNotes = await NoteManager.shared.recentNotes(limit: 5)
        return recentNotes.map { NoteEntity(note: $0) }
    }
}

Property Queries (iOS 17+)

struct NoteEntityQuery: EntityPropertyQuery {
    static var properties = QueryProperties {
        Property(\NoteEntity.$title) {
            EqualToComparator { $0 }
            ContainsComparator { $0 }
        }
        Property(\NoteEntity.$createdAt) {
            LessThanComparator { $0 }
            GreaterThanComparator { $0 }
        }
    }

    static var sortingOptions = SortingOptions {
        SortableBy(\NoteEntity.$title)
        SortableBy(\NoteEntity.$createdAt)
    }

    func entities(
        matching comparators: [EntityQueryComparator<NoteEntity>],
        mode: ComparatorMode,
        sortedBy: [EntityQuerySort<NoteEntity>],
        limit: Int?
    ) async throws -> [NoteEntity] {
        // Apply filters and sorting
        var notes = await NoteManager.shared.all()

        // Apply comparators
        for comparator in comparators {
            notes = notes.filter { comparator.evaluate($0) }
        }

        // Apply sorting
        for sort in sortedBy {
            notes.sort(by: sort.compare)
        }

        // Apply limit
        if let limit {
            notes = Array(notes.prefix(limit))
        }

        return notes.map { NoteEntity(note: $0) }
    }
}

App Enums

Defining Enums

import AppIntents

enum NoteCategory: String, AppEnum {
    case personal
    case work
    case ideas
    case todo

    static var typeDisplayRepresentation = TypeDisplayRepresentation(name: "Category")

    static var caseDisplayRepresentations: [NoteCategory: DisplayRepresentation] = [
        .personal: DisplayRepresentation(title: "Personal", image: .init(systemName: "person")),
        .work: DisplayRepresentation(title: "Work", image: .init(systemName: "briefcase")),
        .ideas: DisplayRepresentation(title: "Ideas", image: .init(systemName: "lightbulb")),
        .todo: DisplayRepresentation(title: "To-Do", image: .init(systemName: "checklist"))
    ]
}

Using Enums in Intents

struct FilterNotesIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Filter Notes"

    @Parameter(title: "Category")
    var category: NoteCategory

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        let notes = await NoteManager.shared.filter(by: category)
        return .result(value: notes.map { NoteEntity(note: $0) })
    }
}

App Shortcuts

AppShortcutsProvider

import AppIntents

struct MyAppShortcuts: AppShortcutsProvider {
    static var appShortcuts: [AppShortcut] {
        AppShortcut(
            intent: CreateNoteIntent(),
            phrases: [
                "Create a note in \(.applicationName)",
                "New note in \(.applicationName)",
                "Add note to \(.applicationName)"
            ],
            shortTitle: "Create Note",
            systemImageName: "plus.circle"
        )

        AppShortcut(
            intent: OpenRecentNoteIntent(),
            phrases: [
                "Open my recent note in \(.applicationName)",
                "Show last note in \(.applicationName)"
            ],
            shortTitle: "Recent Note",
            systemImageName: "clock"
        )

        AppShortcut(
            intent: SearchNotesIntent(),
            phrases: [
                "Search notes in \(.applicationName)",
                "Find \(\.$query) in \(.applicationName)"
            ],
            shortTitle: "Search",
            systemImageName: "magnifyingglass"
        )
    }
}

Phrase Rules

Must include \(.applicationName) placeholder
Maximum one parameter reference per phrase
Parameter must use \(\.$parameterName) syntax
Keep phrases natural and varied

Automatic Registration

App Shortcuts are automatically registered when:

App is installed
App is updated
AppShortcutsProvider is modified

Interactive Snippets (MicroUI)

Result Snippets

struct ShowNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Show Note"

    @Parameter(title: "Note")
    var note: NoteEntity

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult & ShowsSnippetView {
        return .result(
            dialog: "Here's your note",
            view: NoteSnippetView(note: note)
        )
    }
}

struct NoteSnippetView: View {
    let note: NoteEntity

    var body: some View {
        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) {
            Text(note.title)
                .font(.headline)
            Text(note.content)
                .font(.body)
                .lineLimit(3)
            Text(note.createdAt, style: .relative)
                .font(.caption)
                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
        }
        .padding()
    }
}

Confirmation Snippets

struct DeleteNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Delete Note"

    @Parameter(title: "Note")
    var note: NoteEntity

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        try await requestConfirmation(
            result: .result(
                dialog: "Are you sure you want to delete this note?",
                view: DeleteConfirmationView(note: note)
            )
        )

        await NoteManager.shared.delete(note.id)
        return .result(dialog: "Note deleted")
    }
}

struct DeleteConfirmationView: View {
    let note: NoteEntity

    var body: some View {
        VStack(spacing: 12) {
            Image(systemName: "trash")
                .font(.largeTitle)
                .foregroundStyle(.red)

            Text("Delete '\(note.title)'?")
                .font(.headline)

            Text("This action cannot be undone.")
                .font(.caption)
                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
        }
        .padding()
    }
}

Interactive Snippet Buttons

struct NoteActionsSnippetView: View {
    let note: NoteEntity

    var body: some View {
        VStack(spacing: 12) {
            Text(note.title)
                .font(.headline)

            HStack(spacing: 16) {
                Button(intent: EditNoteIntent(note: note)) {
                    Label("Edit", systemImage: "pencil")
                }

                Button(intent: ShareNoteIntent(note: note)) {
                    Label("Share", systemImage: "square.and.arrow.up")
                }
            }
            .buttonStyle(.bordered)
        }
        .padding()
    }
}

Snippet Design Guidelines

Keep snippets compact (fits in Siri/Spotlight card)
Use larger text for readability
High contrast colors
Clear, tappable buttons
Concise content

Foreground vs Background Execution

Background Execution (Default)

struct QuickNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Quick Note"

    @Parameter(title: "Content")
    var content: String

    // Runs in background without opening app
    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        await NoteManager.shared.quickCreate(content: content)
        return .result(dialog: "Note saved!")
    }
}

Foreground Execution

struct EditNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Edit Note"

    // Opens app when intent runs
    static var openAppWhenRun = true

    @Parameter(title: "Note")
    var note: NoteEntity

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        // App is now in foreground
        await NoteManager.shared.openEditor(for: note.id)
        return .result()
    }
}

Conditional Foreground

struct ViewNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "View Note"

    @Parameter(title: "Note")
    var note: NoteEntity

    @Parameter(title: "Open in App")
    var openInApp: Bool

    static var openAppWhenRun: Bool {
        // Dynamically determined
        return false
    }

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        if openInApp {
            // Return result that opens app
            return .result(opensIntent: OpenNoteIntent(note: note))
        } else {
            // Return snippet view
            return .result(view: NoteSnippetView(note: note))
        }
    }
}

Dependency Injection

@Dependency Property Wrapper

struct CreateNoteIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Create Note"

    @Dependency
    var noteService: NoteService

    @Parameter(title: "Title")
    var title: String

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        let note = try await noteService.create(title: title)
        return .result(value: NoteEntity(note: note))
    }
}

Registering Dependencies

@main
struct MyApp: App {
    init() {
        // Register dependencies for App Intents
        AppDependencyManager.shared.add(dependency: NoteService.shared)
        AppDependencyManager.shared.add(dependency: FolderService.shared)
    }

    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()
        }
    }
}

Focus Filters

Defining a Focus Filter

import AppIntents

struct NoteFocusFilter: SetFocusFilterIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Set Note Filter"
    static var description = IntentDescription("Filter notes during this Focus")

    @Parameter(title: "Show Categories")
    var categories: [NoteCategory]?

    @Parameter(title: "Hide Work Notes")
    var hideWork: Bool?

    var displayRepresentation: DisplayRepresentation {
        DisplayRepresentation(title: "Note Filter")
    }

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        // Apply filter settings
        if let categories {
            FocusState.shared.visibleCategories = categories
        }
        if let hideWork {
            FocusState.shared.hideWorkNotes = hideWork
        }
        return .result()
    }
}

Spotlight Integration

Featured in Spotlight

Intents automatically appear in Spotlight when:

User searches for related terms
App Shortcuts are defined
Entities match search queries

Donating Activities

import Intents

func userViewedNote(_ note: Note) {
    let activity = NSUserActivity(activityType: "com.app.viewNote")
    activity.title = note.title
    activity.userInfo = ["noteId": note.id.uuidString]
    activity.isEligibleForSearch = true
    activity.isEligibleForPrediction = true

    // Associate with App Intent
    activity.shortcutAvailability = .sleepInBed

    UIApplication.shared.currentUserActivity = activity
}

Action Button & Apple Pencil

Action Button Intent

struct QuickCaptureIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Quick Capture"
    static var description = IntentDescription("Quickly capture a thought")

    // Good for Action Button - fast execution
    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult & OpensIntent {
        // Create new capture and open editor
        let capture = await CaptureManager.shared.createQuick()
        return .result(opensIntent: OpenCaptureIntent(capture: capture))
    }
}

Users configure Action Button in Settings → Action Button → Shortcut → [Your App Shortcut]

Apple Pencil Squeeze

Same intents work for Apple Pencil squeeze gesture on supported devices.

Testing Intents

Testing in Shortcuts App

Build and run your app
Open Shortcuts app
Create new shortcut
Search for your app's intents
Configure parameters
Run shortcut

Testing with Siri

Build and run app
Say: "Hey Siri, [your phrase]"
Verify Siri understands and executes

Programmatic Testing

import Testing
import AppIntents

@Test
func testCreateNoteIntent() async throws {
    var intent = CreateNoteIntent()
    intent.title = "Test Note"
    intent.content = "Test content"

    let result = try await intent.perform()

    // Verify result
    #expect(result != nil)
}

Best Practices

1. Natural Phrases

// GOOD: Natural language
"Create a note in \(.applicationName)"
"Add \(\.$title) to my notes"

// AVOID: Technical language
"Execute CreateNote command in \(.applicationName)"

2. Meaningful Dialogs

// GOOD: Contextual confirmation
return .result(dialog: "Created note '\(title)' in your Ideas folder")

// AVOID: Generic responses
return .result(dialog: "Done")

3. Fast Background Execution

// Keep background intents fast
func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
    // Quick operation
    await quickSave(data)
    return .result(dialog: "Saved!")
}

4. Graceful Error Handling

func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
    guard let note = await NoteManager.shared.find(id: noteId) else {
        throw IntentError.noteNotFound
    }
    // Continue...
}

enum IntentError: Error, CustomLocalizedStringResourceConvertible {
    case noteNotFound

    var localizedStringResource: LocalizedStringResource {
        switch self {
        case .noteNotFound:
            return "Note not found. It may have been deleted."
        }
    }
}

app-intents