what is uikit

UIKit is a framework provided by Apple that is essential for building user interfaces for iOS applications. It offers a wide range of features and tools to help developers create visually appealing and highly functional apps. Here are some key points about UIKit based on the context provided:

1. Enhancements in iOS 18: UIKit has received many enhancements in iOS 18, including improvements to the document launch experience, updates to tabs and sidebars, and support for new fluid transitions across the system. These updates aim to streamline the user interface and make it more delightful to use (What’s new in UIKit).

2. Automatic Trait Tracking: In iOS 18, UIKit supports automatic trait tracking, which simplifies the process of handling trait changes in your app. This feature automatically performs the associated invalidation for methods like setNeedsLayout or setNeedsDisplay when traits change (What’s new in UIKit).

3. Interoperability with SwiftUI: UIKit has deep integration with SwiftUI, allowing developers to use UIKit views and view controllers within SwiftUI and vice versa. This interoperability is crucial for apps that need to combine both frameworks (Platforms State of the Union).

4. UIUpdateLink: UIKit introduces UIUpdateLink, which helps achieve better performance and battery efficiency by using advanced features for continuous updates (What’s new in UIKit).

5. Gesture Recognizers: UIKit now allows adding existing gesture recognizers directly to SwiftUI hierarchies using the new UIJsRecognizerRepresentable protocol (What’s new in UIKit).

6. SF Symbols and Animations: UIKit has expanded support for SF Symbols, including new symbol animations, which ensure a consistent appearance for toolbar icons, navigation bars, and other UI elements (What’s new in UIKit).

Relevant Sessions

• What’s new in UIKit
• Platforms State of the Union
• SwiftUI essentials

These sessions provide a comprehensive overview of the latest updates and features in UIKit, as well as its integration with SwiftUI.