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

Foundations

Patterns

Components - Navigation

Components - Presentation

Components - Controls

Searching the Docs

# 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 More Docs

1. Search this skill's local

   .md

   files first.
2. If the topic is not here, check the other installed Apple skills you have available by their names, descriptions, or

   SKILL.md

   frontmatter, then grep their local files. This is faster and uses less context than fetching new docs from the internet.
3. If no installed skill has the page, use the relevant Human Interface Guidelines path with the

   sosumi.ai

   Markdown mirror. For example,

   /design/human-interface-guidelines/buttons

   maps to

   https://sosumi.ai/design/human-interface-guidelines/buttons

   .

Common HIG Doc Paths

human-interface-guidelines

human-interface-guidelines/designing-for-ios

human-interface-guidelines/designing-for-ipados

human-interface-guidelines/designing-for-macos

human-interface-guidelines/app-icons

human-interface-guidelines/color

human-interface-guidelines/typography

human-interface-guidelines/layout

human-interface-guidelines/accessibility

human-interface-guidelines/sf-symbols

human-interface-guidelines/buttons

human-interface-guidelines/tab-bars

human-interface-guidelines/navigation-bars

human-interface-guidelines/sheets

human-interface-guidelines/alerts

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

• Human Interface Guidelines
• Design Resources

WWDC Sessions

• Design for Liquid Glass - WWDC25
• What's new in UIKit - WWDC25