Was are app intents?

App Intents are a framework introduced by Apple to expose the core features and functionalities of an app to the system, allowing them to be accessed and utilized outside of the app itself. This includes integration with system features like Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, and more. Here are some key points about App Intents:

1. Definition and Structure:

   • An app intent consists of a summary of what it does, which starts with the app followed by a verb, and includes the parameters that people need to fill out before the intent is run. (Design App Intents for system experiences)
   • App intents can be combined with other intents into shortcuts to create powerful new flows. (Design App Intents for system experiences)

2. Purpose and Usage:

   • App intents are designed to surface app functionality to the system outside of the app, such as in Spotlight, the action button, widgets, controls, and Siri. (Design App Intents for system experiences)
   • They allow users to perform tasks and access content from your app in various system contexts, enhancing the app's integration with the broader Apple ecosystem. (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents)

3. Design and Implementation:

   • When designing app intents, it's important to prioritize the most common and habitual functionalities of your app. However, the guidance has evolved to include a broader range of functionalities beyond just the common tasks. (Design App Intents for system experiences)
   • App intents should be structured to be flexible and readable across many configurations and use cases. They should also avoid being tied to specific UI elements, focusing instead on the underlying tasks. (Design App Intents for system experiences)

4. Framework and Code:

   • In the app intents framework, a shortcut action is an intent. All intents appear by default as actions in the Shortcuts app. An intent is a type that conforms to the app intent protocol, with a localizable title and a perform method that executes the action. (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents)

For more detailed guidance on designing and implementing app intents, you can refer to the sessions:

• Design App Intents for system experiences
• Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents