hig-components-layout
Lets your agent understand Apple's guidelines for layout and navigation. This helps create apps with good organization and flow.
What it does
This tool helps organize information in an app following Apple's design rules. It suggests how to structure menus, lists, and screens for easy and intuitive user navigation, adapting to different screen sizes (phone, tablet, computer).
When to use it
- ✓When planning the navigation structure of a new app.
- ✓When adapting an app to work well on iPhones and iPads.
- ✓When you want your app to follow Apple's visual and usability standards.
Example of what to ask your AI
“I want to organize my app with side menus on tablets and bottom tabs on phones. How do I do that following Apple's guidelines?”
Want more? Open the sections below.
How to use
The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.
Skill link
Ready-to-paste message
How it works
The tool analyzes your app's structure and suggests the best navigation patterns (like tab bars or side menus) and how they should adapt to different screen sizes, based on official Apple recommendations.
Installation
Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.
In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:
npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill hig-components-layoutOr download just the file:
curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/hig-components-layout/SKILL.md -o SKILL.mdTechnical content (original SKILL.md)
Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.
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
Organize hierarchically. Structure information from broad categories to specific details. Sidebars for top-level sections, lists for browsable items, detail views for individual content.
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.
Adapt to screen size. Three-column on iPad collapses to single-column on iPhone. Use size classes and adaptive APIs (NavigationSplitView) for automatic adaptation.
Support multitasking on iPad. Respond gracefully to Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager. Test at every split ratio and size class transition.
Maintain spatial consistency on visionOS. Windows, volumes, and ornaments in shared space. Position predictably. Use ornaments for toolbars and controls without occluding content.
Use scroll views for overflow content. Enable paging for discrete content units. Support pull-to-refresh where appropriate. Respect safe areas.
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.
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?
…
FAQ
What are 'size classes'?
These are categories that describe the available screen space (small, medium, large), helping the app adjust automatically.
What is 'hierarchical navigation'?
It's organizing information in levels, like an organization chart, where you go from general to specific using menus and submenus.
What does 'multitasking on iPad' mean?
It's the app's ability to function correctly when the iPad screen is split with other apps or in floating windows.
Details
Original description by the author
Apple Human Interface Guidelines for layout and navigation components.
Popularity
- GitHub stars
- 48k
- Ranking position
- #3199
- License
- MIT
- Updated
- 10/15/2026
Comments
- …
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