--- name: hig-components-controls description: "Choose and review Apple selection and input controls: toggles, segmented controls, sliders, pickers, steppers, text fields, labels and keyboard behavior." risk: none source: community date_added: '2026-02-27' --- # Apple HIG: Selection and Input Controls Check for `.claude/apple-design-context.md` before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered. ## Key Principles 1. **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. 2. **Prefer standard system controls.** Built-in controls provide consistency and accessibility. Custom controls introduce a learning curve and may break assistive features. 3. **Toggles for binary states.** On or off. In Settings-style screens, changes take effect immediately. In modal forms, changes commit on confirmation. 4. **Segmented controls for closely related choices.** Usually a small set; macOS also supports multiple selection and momentary actions. Keep a control’s selection/action behavior consistent. 5. **Sliders for continuous values.** When precise numeric input is not critical. Provide min/max labels or icons for range endpoints. 6. **Pickers for long option lists.** Too many options for a segmented control. Works well for dates, times, structured data. 7. **Steppers for small, precise adjustments.** Increment/decrement in fixed steps. Display current value next to the stepper with reasonable min/max bounds. 8. **Text fields for short, single-line input.** Text views for multi-line. Configure keyboard type to match expected input (email, URL, number). 9. **Combo boxes: text input + selection list.** macOS. Type a value or choose from a predefined list when custom values are valid. 10. **Token fields: discrete values as visual tokens.** macOS. For email recipients, tags, or collections of discrete items. 11. **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](references/controls.md) | System controls | Control Center, Lock Screen and Action button controls | | [toggles.md](references/toggles.md) | Toggles | On/off, immediate effect | | [segmented-controls.md](references/segmented-controls.md) | Segmented controls | 2-5 options, equal weight | | [sliders.md](references/sliders.md) | Sliders | Continuous range, min/max labels | | [steppers.md](references/steppers.md) | Steppers | Fixed steps, bounded values | | [pickers.md](references/pickers.md) | Pickers | Dates, times, long option sets | | [combo-boxes.md](references/combo-boxes.md) | Combo boxes | macOS, type or select, custom values | | [text-fields.md](references/text-fields.md) | Text fields | Short input, keyboard types, validation | | [text-views.md](references/text-views.md) | Text views | Multi-line, comments, descriptions | | [labels.md](references/labels.md) | Labels | Placement, VoiceOver support | | [token-fields.md](references/token-fields.md) | Token fields | macOS, chips, tags, recipients | | [virtual-keyboards.md](references/virtual-keyboards.md) | Virtual keyboards | Email, URL, number keyboard types | | [rating-indicators.md](references/rating-indicators.md) | Rating indicators | Star ratings, display-only | | [gauges.md](references/gauges.md) | Gauges | Level indicators, range display | ## Output Format 1. **Control recommendation with rationale** and why alternatives are less suitable. 2. **State management** -- how the control communicates current state and whether changes apply immediately or on confirmation. 3. **Validation approach** -- when to show errors and how to communicate rules. 4. **Accessibility** -- labels, traits, hints for VoiceOver. ## Questions to Ask 1. What type of data? (Boolean, choice from fixed set, numeric, free-form text?) 2. How many options? 3. Which platforms? (Combo boxes and token fields are macOS-only) 4. 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 --- *Built by [Raintree Technology](https://raintree.technology) · [More developer tools](https://raintree.technology)* ## When to Use This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview. ## Example **User request:** > Choose between a picker and segmented control for five related filters in an iPhone app, and explain state and VoiceOver behavior. ## Limitations - Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above. - Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review. - Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing. ## Reference scope Bundled Apple documentation is a static snapshot; check the linked primary page and target OS/API availability before platform-specific implementation. The controls.md page concerns WidgetKit system controls, not every in-app input control. The rating-indicator reference describes macOS NSLevelIndicator, which can be editable; a custom rating UI on other platforms is a separate design. Visual labels do not replace accessibility names. Keyboard type and formatters assist input but do not replace locale-aware validation, and secure fields do not encrypt stored/transmitted data. No Apple runtime or image-asset availability was tested here. --- Source attribution: sck_0 Original project: https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/e36d6fd3b3f6c37967efd3ae60a5a25460d1f824/skills/hig-components-controls/SKILL.md License: CC-BY-4.0 License information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub. # Mega AI Hub resource metadata Creator / publisher: sck_0 Original project: https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/e36d6fd3b3f6c37967efd3ae60a5a25460d1f824/skills/hig-components-controls/SKILL.md Attribution basis: Original package contribution recorded in publisher Git history Fields of work: Development & Engineering, Design Roles: Mobile Developer, UX Designer Specialties: Specialty not specified Tools: Tool not specified Country applicability: Country not specified Classification basis: Dave AI task review of package instructions and description Instruction SHA-256: a1e7958d7a0acf2693fc575f46cc928f924da5e742fa10b5eba70ae124f72d4a Metadata reviewed: 2026-10-27 This metadata supersedes earlier Mega AI Hub catalog attribution. Original instruction and supporting files are preserved.