Human Interface Guidelines Reference
Comprehensive reference for designing interfaces that follow Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.
Downloaded Reference Files
All key HIG documentation is available locally (grep-friendly):
Getting Started
| File | Content | Size |
|---|---|---|
| hig-index.md | Full HIG table of contents | 11KB |
| designing-for-ios.md | iOS design principles | 5KB |
Foundations
| File | Content | Size |
|---|---|---|
| app-icons.md | App icon design guidelines | 14KB |
| color.md | Color usage and system colors | 17KB |
| typography.md | Fonts, text styles, Dynamic Type | 17KB |
| layout.md | Layout principles, safe areas | 21KB |
| materials.md | Materials, blur effects, vibrancy | 14KB |
| motion.md | Animation principles | 9KB |
| accessibility.md | Accessibility best practices | 19KB |
| sf-symbols.md | SF Symbols usage | 21KB |
Patterns
| File | Content | Size |
|---|---|---|
| onboarding.md | Onboarding flows | 6KB |
| modality.md | Modal presentations | 7KB |
| launching.md | App launch experience | 6KB |
| feedback.md | User feedback patterns | 5KB |
| playing-haptics.md | Haptic feedback | 10KB |
| searching.md | Search patterns | 7KB |
| settings.md | Settings patterns | 7KB |
Components - Navigation
| File | Content | Size |
|---|---|---|
| tab-bars.md | Tab bar design | 11KB |
| navigation-bars.md | Navigation bar patterns | 17KB |
| toolbars.md | Toolbar design | 17KB |
| sidebars.md | Sidebar patterns | 8KB |
Components - Presentation
| File | Content | Size |
|---|---|---|
| sheets.md | Sheet presentations | 11KB |
| alerts.md | Alert dialogs | 10KB |
| action-sheets.md | Action sheets | 4KB |
| menus.md | Menu design | 14KB |
Components - Controls
| File | Content | Size |
|---|---|---|
| buttons.md | Button styles and usage | 17KB |
| lists-and-tables.md | List and table patterns | 9KB |
| toggles.md | Toggle/switch design | 9KB |
| pickers.md | Picker controls | 6KB |
| sliders.md | Slider controls | 6KB |
| steppers.md | Stepper controls | 2KB |
| text-fields.md | Text input fields | 6KB |
Searching the Docs
bash
# Find color guidance grep -i "semantic" color.md # Find button styles grep -i "bordered" buttons.md # Find haptic patterns grep -i "notification" playing-haptics.md # Browse the full HIG index grep -i "navigation" hig-index.md
Fetching Additional Documentation
The sosumi.ai Technique
Apple's developer.apple.com uses JavaScript rendering. Replace with sosumi.ai for LLM-friendly markdown:
code
# Original (doesn't work) https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/buttons # LLM-friendly https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/buttons
Downloading Docs via curl
bash
curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/[topic]" > [topic].md # Examples: curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/progress-indicators" > progress-indicators.md curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/segmented-controls" > segmented-controls.md
Common HIG Doc Paths
| Topic | URL Path |
|---|---|
| Full Index | human-interface-guidelines |
| iOS Design | human-interface-guidelines/designing-for-ios |
| iPadOS Design | human-interface-guidelines/designing-for-ipados |
| macOS Design | human-interface-guidelines/designing-for-macos |
| App Icons | human-interface-guidelines/app-icons |
| Color | human-interface-guidelines/color |
| Typography | human-interface-guidelines/typography |
| Layout | human-interface-guidelines/layout |
| Accessibility | human-interface-guidelines/accessibility |
| SF Symbols | human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols |
| Buttons | human-interface-guidelines/buttons |
| Tab Bars | human-interface-guidelines/tab-bars |
| Navigation Bars | human-interface-guidelines/navigation-bars |
| Sheets | human-interface-guidelines/sheets |
| Alerts | human-interface-guidelines/alerts |
More Components (Not Downloaded)
Download these as needed:
bash
# Indicators curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/progress-indicators" > progress-indicators.md curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/activity-rings" > activity-rings.md # Presentation curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/popovers" > popovers.md curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/scroll-views" > scroll-views.md # Selection curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/segmented-controls" > segmented-controls.md # System curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/status-bars" > status-bars.md curl -sL "https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/home-screen-quick-actions" > home-screen-quick-actions.md
Quick Reference
Button Styles (iOS)
- •Plain - Text only, minimal visual weight
- •Gray - Gray background, for secondary actions
- •Tinted - Tinted background with accent color
- •Filled - Solid background, for primary actions
- •Bordered - Outlined with border
- •Bordered Prominent - Filled background, high prominence
Haptic Feedback Types
- •Selection - Light tap for selection changes
- •Impact - Light/medium/heavy/rigid/soft for collisions
- •Notification - Success/warning/error for outcomes
Safe Areas
- •Always respect safe areas for content
- •Extend backgrounds edge-to-edge
- •Place interactive elements within safe areas
Sources
Apple Documentation
WWDC Sessions
LLM-Friendly Apple Docs (sosumi.ai)
See docs/apple-docs-for-llms.md for full documentation on this technique.