whats new in uikit

What's New in UIKit

In the WWDC 2024 session titled What’s new in UIKit, several enhancements and new features for UIKit in iOS 18 were introduced. Here are the key updates:

1. Document Launch Experience:

   • Redesigned launch experience for document-based apps.
   • Full control over launch views and design.
   • First-class support for template document creation.

2. Tabs and Sidebar Updates:

   • Major updates to tabs and sidebar for a more integrated appearance.
   • New API to better describe app hierarchy to UITabBarController.
   • Changes made to UITab instances are reflected immediately.

3. Fluid Transitions:

   • Support for new fluid transitions across the system.
   • Enhancements to the interoperability of SwiftUI and UIKit, making it easier to use them interchangeably in apps.

4. SwiftUI Animations in UIKit:

   • Use SwiftUI animation types to animate UIKit views.
   • Build fluid gesture-driven animations using SwiftUI spring animations.

5. Coordinated Gesture Recognizers:

   • Add existing UIKit gesture recognizers directly to SwiftUI hierarchies using the new UIJsRecognizerRepresentable protocol.

6. Automatic Trait Tracking:

   • Automatic trait tracking inside common view and view controller update methods.
   • Simplifies handling of trait changes and invalidations.

7. List Improvements:

   • New header and footer configurations that update appearance automatically.
   • New constructors for UIBackgroundConfiguration to simplify code.

8. UIUpdateLink:

   • New in iOS 18, making it easier to implement complex animations requiring periodic UI updates.
   • Features automatic view tracking and low latency mode for drawing applications.

9. SF Symbol Animations:

   • Expanded with new symbol animations and three new animation presets.

For more detailed information, you can watch the session What’s new in UIKit.

Relevant Sessions

• What’s new in UIKit
• Platforms State of the Union
• Elevate your tab and sidebar experience in iPadOS