Apple HIG: Selection and Input Controls

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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 mutually exclusive options. 2-5 items, roughly equal importance, short labels.

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

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

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