Apple HIG: Selection and Input Controls
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Key Principles
- Clear current state. Users must always see what is selected. Toggles show on/off, segmented controls highlight the active segment, pickers display the current selection.
- Prefer standard system controls. Built-in controls provide consistency and accessibility. Custom controls introduce a learning curve and may break assistive features.
- Toggles for binary states. On or off. In Settings-style screens, changes take effect immediately. In modal forms, changes commit on confirmation.
- Segmented controls for mutually exclusive options. 2-5 items, roughly equal importance, short labels.
- Sliders for continuous values. When precise numeric input is not critical. Provide min/max labels or icons for range endpoints.
- Pickers for long option lists. Too many options for a segmented control. Works well for dates, times, structured data.
- Steppers for small, precise adjustments. Increment/decrement in fixed steps. Display current value next to the stepper with reasonable min/max bounds.
- Text fields for short, single-line input. Text views for multi-line. Configure keyboard type to match expected input (email, URL, number).
- Combo boxes: text input + selection list. macOS. Type a value or choose from a predefined list when custom values are valid.
- Token fields: discrete values as visual tokens. macOS. For email recipients, tags, or collections of discrete items.
- Gauges and rating indicators display values. Gauges show a value within a range. Rating indicators show ratings (often stars). Display-only; use interactive variants for input.
Reference Index
| Reference | Topic | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| controls.md | General controls | States, affordance, system controls |
| toggles.md | Toggles | On/off, immediate effect |
| segmented-controls.md | Segmented controls | 2-5 options, equal weight |
| sliders.md | Sliders | Continuous range, min/max labels |
| steppers.md | Steppers | Fixed steps, bounded values |
| pickers.md | Pickers | Dates, times, long option sets |
| combo-boxes.md | Combo boxes | macOS, type or select, custom values |
| text-fields.md | Text fields | Short input, keyboard types, validation |
| text-views.md | Text views | Multi-line, comments, descriptions |
| labels.md | Labels | Placement, VoiceOver support |
| token-fields.md | Token fields | macOS, chips, tags, recipients |
| virtual-keyboards.md | Virtual keyboards | Email, URL, number keyboard types |
| rating-indicators.md | Rating indicators | Star ratings, display-only |
| gauges.md | Gauges | Level indicators, range display |
Output Format
- Control recommendation with rationale and why alternatives are less suitable.
- State management -- how the control communicates current state and whether changes apply immediately or on confirmation.
- Validation approach -- when to show errors and how to communicate rules.
- Accessibility -- labels, traits, hints for VoiceOver.
Questions to Ask
- What type of data? (Boolean, choice from fixed set, numeric, free-form text?)
- How many options?
- Which platforms? (Combo boxes and token fields are macOS-only)
- Settings screen or inline form?
Related Skills
- hig-components-menus -- Buttons and pop-up buttons complementing selection controls
- hig-components-dialogs -- Sheets and popovers containing forms
- hig-components-search -- Search fields sharing text input patterns
- hig-inputs -- Keyboard, pointer, gesture interactions with controls
- hig-foundations -- Typography, color, layout for control styling
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