SiriKit Development Skill

Empower users to interact with your app through voice, Shortcuts, and intelligent suggestions.

Quick Start

Add Intents Extension

1. File → New → Target → Intents Extension
2. Enable "Include UI Extension" if customizing Siri interface
3. Enable Siri capability in main app target (Signing & Capabilities)

Minimal Intent Handler

import Intents

class IntentHandler: INExtension {
    override func handler(for intent: INIntent) -> Any {
        switch intent {
        case is OrderSoupIntent:
            return OrderSoupIntentHandler()
        default:
            return self
        }
    }
}

class OrderSoupIntentHandler: NSObject, OrderSoupIntentHandling {
    // 1. Resolve parameters
    func resolveSoup(for intent: OrderSoupIntent) async -> SoupResolutionResult {
        guard let soup = intent.soup else {
            return .needsValue()
        }
        return .success(with: soup)
    }
    
    // 2. Confirm intent
    func confirm(intent: OrderSoupIntent) async -> OrderSoupIntentResponse {
        return OrderSoupIntentResponse(code: .ready, userActivity: nil)
    }
    
    // 3. Handle intent
    func handle(intent: OrderSoupIntent) async -> OrderSoupIntentResponse {
        // Fulfill the request
        return OrderSoupIntentResponse.success(message: "Your order is confirmed!")
    }
}

Intent Handling Flow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    User speaks to Siri                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. RESOLVE - Validate each parameter                         │
│    • Return .success(with:) if valid                        │
│    • Return .needsValue() if missing                        │
│    • Return .disambiguation(with:) for choices              │
│    • Return .unsupported() if invalid                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. CONFIRM - Final validation before execution               │
│    • Verify services are ready                              │
│    • Return .ready or appropriate failure code              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. HANDLE - Fulfill the intent                               │
│    • Execute the action                                     │
│    • Return success/failure response                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

System Intent Domains

Domain	Use Cases	Key Intents
Messaging	Send/search messages	INSendMessageIntent, INSearchForMessagesIntent
Calling	VoIP calls	INStartCallIntent, INSearchCallHistoryIntent
Payments	Money transfers	INSendPaymentIntent, INRequestPaymentIntent
Ride Booking	Request rides	INRequestRideIntent, INGetRideStatusIntent
Workouts	Start/end workouts	INStartWorkoutIntent, INEndWorkoutIntent
Media	Play audio/video	INPlayMediaIntent, INAddMediaIntent
Photos	Search photos	INSearchForPhotosIntent
Lists & Notes	Create notes/tasks	INCreateNoteIntent, INAddTasksIntent
Car Commands	Vehicle controls	INSetCarLockStatusIntent, INActivateCarSignalIntent
Reservations	Restaurant bookings	INGetReservationDetailsIntent

Custom Intents

Define in Intent Definition File

1. Create Intents.intentdefinition file
2. Add new intent with VerbNoun naming (e.g., OrderSoup)
3. Set category matching purpose
4. Define parameters with types

Parameter Types

• System: String, Integer, Boolean, Date, Person, Location, Currency
• Custom: Define your own types as enums or objects

Reference Documentation

• Intent Handling: Resolution, confirmation, handling patterns
• Shortcuts: Donating, suggesting, and managing shortcuts
• Custom Intents: Intent definition file, parameters, responses
• IntentsUI: Custom Siri interface views
• Vocabulary: Custom terminology and phrases
• App Intents Migration: Modern App Intents framework

Key Configuration

Info.plist (Intents Extension)

<key>NSExtension</key>
<dict>
    <key>NSExtensionAttributes</key>
    <dict>
        <key>IntentsSupported</key>
        <array>
            <string>OrderSoupIntent</string>
        </array>
        <key>IntentsRestrictedWhileLocked</key>
        <array>
            <string>INSendPaymentIntent</string>
        </array>
    </dict>
    <key>NSExtensionPointIdentifier</key>
    <string>com.apple.intents-service</string>
    <key>NSExtensionPrincipalClass</key>
    <string>$(PRODUCT_MODULE_NAME).IntentHandler</string>
</dict>

Request Siri Authorization

import Intents

INPreferences.requestSiriAuthorization { status in
    switch status {
    case .authorized: print("Siri authorized")
    case .denied: print("Siri denied")
    case .notDetermined: print("Not determined")
    case .restricted: print("Restricted")
    @unknown default: break
    }
}

Common Patterns

Donate Shortcut After User Action

import Intents

func donateOrderShortcut(order: Order) {
    let intent = OrderSoupIntent()
    intent.soup = order.soup
    intent.quantity = order.quantity
    
    let interaction = INInteraction(intent: intent, response: nil)
    interaction.identifier = order.id.uuidString
    
    interaction.donate { error in
        if let error = error {
            print("Donation failed: \(error)")
        }
    }
}

Delete Donated Shortcuts

// Delete specific
INInteraction.delete(with: [orderID.uuidString]) { error in }

// Delete all from app
INInteraction.deleteAll { error in }

Handle Intent in App (when launched)

// SwiftUI
.onContinueUserActivity(NSStringFromClass(OrderSoupIntent.self)) { activity in
    if let intent = activity.interaction?.intent as? OrderSoupIntent {
        handleOrderIntent(intent)
    }
}

// UIKit SceneDelegate
func scene(_ scene: UIScene, continue userActivity: NSUserActivity) {
    if let intent = userActivity.interaction?.intent as? OrderSoupIntent {
        handleOrderIntent(intent)
    }
}

Key Constraints

• Background execution: Extensions run briefly; launch app for long tasks
• Shared data: Use App Groups for data between app and extension
• No UI in extension: Use IntentsUI extension for custom views
• Testing: Wait after install for Siri to recognize new intents
• Localization: Provide localized AppIntentVocabulary.plist