Apple HIG: Layout and Navigation Components

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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	Sidebars	Source lists, selection state, collapsible sections, iPad/Mac patterns
column-views.md	Column Views	Finder-style browsing, progressive disclosure through columns
outline-views.md	Outline Views	Expandable hierarchies, disclosure triangles, tree structures
split-views.md	Split Views	Two/three column layouts, NavigationSplitView, adaptive collapse
tab-views.md	Tab Views	Segmented tabs, page-style tabs, macOS tab grouping
tab-bars.md	Tab Bars	Bottom tab bars (iOS), badge counts, max tab count
scroll-views.md	Scroll Views	Paging, scroll indicators, content insets, pull-to-refresh
windows.md	Windows	macOS/visionOS window management, sizing, full-screen, restoration
panels.md	Panels	Inspector panels, utility panels, floating panels, macOS conventions
lists-and-tables.md	Lists and Tables	Plain/grouped/inset-grouped styles, swipe actions, section headers
boxes.md	Boxes	Content grouping containers, labeled boxes, macOS grouping
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

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When to Use

This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.