hig-inputs
Helps your agent understand Apple's guidelines for input components. Useful for ensuring forms and interactions are user-friendly.
What it does
This tool helps design apps for Apple devices by considering how people will interact with them. It covers various input methods like touch, keyboard, pen, and even voice.
When to use it
- ✓When designing a new app for iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- ✓When deciding how users will control your app.
- ✓When ensuring your app works well across different Apple devices.
Example of what to ask your AI
“How should I design interactions for a drawing app on iPad?”
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 checks Apple's guidelines on user interaction with devices. It suggests the best input methods (touch, pen, keyboard, etc.) for each platform.
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-inputsOr download just the file:
curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/hig-inputs/SKILL.md -o SKILL.mdTechnical content (original SKILL.md)
Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.
Apple HIG: Inputs
Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.
Key Principles
General
Support multiple input methods. Touch, pointer, keyboard, pencil, voice, eyes, hands, controllers. Design for the inputs available on each platform. On iPadOS, support both touch and pointer; on macOS, both pointer and keyboard.
Consistent feedback for every input action. Visible, audible, or haptic response.
Gestures
Standard gestures must behave consistently. Tap to activate, swipe to scroll/navigate, pinch to zoom, long press for context menus, drag to move. Don't override system gestures (edge swipes for back, Home, notifications).
Use standard recognizers; keep custom gestures discoverable. Apple's built-in recognizers handle edge cases and accessibility. If you add non-standard gestures, provide hints or coaching to teach them.
Apple Pencil
Precision drawing, markup, and selection. Support pressure, tilt, and hover. Distinguish finger from Pencil when appropriate (finger pans, Pencil draws).
Support Scribble in text fields. Users expect to write with Pencil in any text input.
Keyboards
Keyboard shortcuts and full navigation. Standard shortcuts (Cmd+C/V/Z) plus custom ones visible in the iPadOS Command key overlay. Logical tab order.
Respect the software keyboard. Adjust layout when keyboard appears. Use keyboard-avoidance APIs.
Game Controllers
- MFi controllers with on-screen fallbacks. Map to extended gamepad profile, sensible defaults, remappable. Always offer touch or keyboard alternatives.
Pointer and Trackpad
- Native feel. Hover effects, pointer shape adaptation, standard cursor behaviors. Two-finger scroll, pinch to zoom, swipe to navigate.
Digital Crown
- Primary scrolling and value-adjustment input on watchOS. Scrolling lists, adjusting values, navigating views. Haptic feedback at detents.
Eyes and Spatial (visionOS)
- Look and pinch. Generous hit targets (eye tracking is less precise than touch). Avoid sustained gaze for activation. Direct hand manipulation in immersive experiences.
Focus System
- Critical for tvOS and visionOS. Predictable focus movement. Every interactive element focusable. Clear visual indicators (scale, highlight, elevation). Logical focus groups.
Remotes
- Siri Remote: limited surface. Touch area for swiping, clickpad for selection, few physical buttons. Keep interactions simple.
Motion and Nearby
- Gyroscope, accelerometer, UWB: use judiciously. Suits gaming, fitness, AR. Not for essential tasks. Provide calibration and reset. For UWB, communicate distance and direction with visual or haptic cues.
Reference Index
| Reference | Topic | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| gestures.md | Touch gestures | Tap, swipe, pinch, long press, drag, system gestures |
| apple-pencil-and-scribble.md | Apple Pencil | Precision, pressure, tilt, hover, handwriting |
| keyboards.md | Keyboards | Shortcuts, navigation, software keyboard, Command key |
| game-controls.md | Game controllers | MFi, extended gamepad, remapping, fallbacks |
| pointing-devices.md | Pointer/trackpad | Hover, cursor morphing, trackpad gestures |
| digital-crown.md | Digital Crown | Scrolling, value adjustment, haptic detents |
| eyes.md | Eye tracking | Look and tap, gaze targeting, hit target sizing |
| spatial-interactions.md | Spatial input | Hand gestures, direct manipulation, immersive input |
| focus-and-selection.md | Focus system | tvOS/visionOS navigation, focus indicators, groups |
| remotes.md | Remotes | Touch surface, clickpad, simple interactions |
| gyro-and-accelerometer.md | Motion sensors | Gyroscope, accelerometer, calibration, gaming |
| nearby-interactions.md | Nearby interactions | U1 chip, directional finding, proximity triggers |
| camera-control.md | Camera Control | iPhone camera hardware button, quick launch |
Output Format
…
FAQ
What are 'standard gestures'?
These are common actions users already know, like tapping to select, swiping to scroll, or pinching to zoom.
Why is it important to consider different input methods?
Because each Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch) has different ways of being used, and the app needs to work well on all of them.
What is the 'Focus System'?
It's a system that helps guide user attention on devices like Apple TV and visionOS, indicating which element is selected and how to navigate between them.
Details
Original description by the author
Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.
Popularity
- GitHub stars
- 48k
- Ranking position
- #3205
- License
- MIT
- Updated
- 10/15/2026
Comments
- …
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