hig-components-dialogs
Apple HIG guidance for presentation components including alerts, action sheets, popovers, sheets, and digit entry views.
About this skill
This skill equips AI agents with detailed knowledge from Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, specifically focusing on the appropriate use and design principles for various presentation components. It covers critical elements such as alerts (for urgent, critical situations), sheets (for focused tasks), action sheets, popovers, and digit entry views. By integrating this guidance, AI agents can provide accurate, context-aware design recommendations, ensuring user interfaces adhere to Apple's best practices for usability and consistency. It directs the AI to consult existing design context before offering new information, promoting efficient and relevant advice.
Best use case
An AI agent needing to provide design advice for iOS/macOS applications, critique UI designs for adherence to HIG, or answer user questions about Apple's UI/UX best practices.
Apple HIG guidance for presentation components including alerts, action sheets, popovers, sheets, and digit entry views.
Well-informed, HIG-compliant design recommendations or critiques from the AI agent, clear explanations of Apple's UI component usage based on best practices, and improved consistency and usability in UI designs guided by the AI.
Practical example
Example input
I'm designing a new feature for my iOS app. When should I use an alert versus a sheet for confirming a user action?
Example output
According to Apple's HIG, use an **alert** sparingly for critical situations that demand immediate attention, like confirming a destructive action or acknowledging an error. Alerts interrupt the user's flow. **Sheets**, on the other hand, are for focused tasks that maintain context, such as creating an item or editing settings, and don't typically interrupt the flow as much as an alert. For confirming a user action, if it's a destructive or unrecoverable action, an alert is appropriate. If it's a less critical confirmation or part of a multi-step process, a sheet might be better.
When to use this skill
- When a user asks for design recommendations for an iOS/macOS app, when an AI agent needs to evaluate a proposed UI interaction pattern, or when clarifying the difference between various Apple UI presentation components for a specific use case.
When not to use this skill
- For design guidance unrelated to Apple's ecosystem (e.g., Android Material Design, web design), when the task requires executing external actions or API calls, or when detailed coding implementation instructions are needed, as this skill focuses solely on design principles.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/hig-components-dialogs/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How hig-components-dialogs Compares
| Feature / Agent | hig-components-dialogs | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Claude | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | easy | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Apple HIG guidance for presentation components including alerts, action sheets, popovers, sheets, and digit entry views.
Which AI agents support this skill?
This skill is designed for Claude.
How difficult is it to install?
The installation complexity is rated as easy. You can find the installation instructions above.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# Apple HIG: Presentation Components
Check for `.claude/apple-design-context.md` before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.
## Key Principles
1. **Alerts: sparingly, for critical situations.** Errors needing attention, destructive action confirmations, or information requiring acknowledgment. They interrupt flow and demand a response.
2. **Sheets: focused tasks that maintain context.** Slides in from the edge (or attaches to a window on macOS). Use for creating items, editing settings, multi-step forms.
3. **Popovers: non-modal on iPad and Mac.** Appear next to the trigger element, dismissed by tapping outside. For additional information, options, or controls without taking over the screen.
4. **Action sheets: choosing among actions.** Present when picking from multiple actions, especially if one is destructive. iPhone: slide up from bottom. iPad: appear as popovers.
5. **Minimize interruptions.** Before reaching for a modal, consider inline presentation or making the action undoable instead.
6. **Concise, actionable alert text.** Short descriptive title. Brief message body if needed. Button labels should be specific verbs ("Delete", "Save"), not "OK".
7. **Mark destructive actions clearly.** Destructive button style (red text). Place destructive buttons where users are less likely to tap reflexively.
8. **Provide a cancel option** for alerts and action sheets with multiple actions. On action sheets, cancel appears at the bottom, separated.
9. **Digit entry: focused and accessible.** Appropriately sized input fields, automatic advancement between digits, support for paste and autofill.
10. **Adapt presentation to platform.** The same interaction may use different components on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and visionOS.
## Reference Index
| Reference | Topic | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| [alerts.md](references/alerts.md) | Alerts | Button ordering, title/message text, confirmation, destructive actions |
| [action-sheets.md](references/action-sheets.md) | Action sheets | Multiple actions, cancel option, destructive handling |
| [popovers.md](references/popovers.md) | Popovers | Non-modal, dismiss on tap outside, iPad/Mac |
| [sheets.md](references/sheets.md) | Sheets | Modal task, context preservation |
| [digit-entry-views.md](references/digit-entry-views.md) | Digit entry | PIN input, autofill, auto-advance |
## Output Format
1. **Recommended presentation type with rationale** and why alternatives are less suitable.
2. **Content guidelines** -- title, message, button labels per Apple's tone and brevity rules.
3. **Dismiss behavior** -- how the user dismisses and what happens (save, discard, cancel).
4. **Alternatives** -- when the scenario might not need a modal at all (inline feedback, undo, progressive disclosure).
## Questions to Ask
1. What information or action does the presentation need?
2. Blocking or non-blocking?
3. Which platforms?
4. How often does this appear?
## Related Skills
- **hig-components-menus** -- Buttons and toolbar items triggering presentations
- **hig-components-controls** -- Input controls within sheets and popovers
- **hig-components-search** -- Search and navigation within presented views
- **hig-patterns** -- Modality, interruptions, user flow management
- **hig-foundations** -- Color, typography, layout for presentation components
---
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## When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.Related Skills
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