what is a shortcut

A shortcut, in the context of Apple's WWDC sessions, refers to a feature that allows users to perform specific actions quickly and easily, often without needing to open an app. Shortcuts can be created by developers using the App Intents framework, which allows them to wrap intents (actions) as shortcuts. These shortcuts can then be accessed through various interfaces like Siri, Spotlight, and the Shortcuts app.

For example, in the session "Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents," an app shortcut is described as a wrapper around an intent that highlights it as an important function of the app. This allows users to access app features directly from Siri or Spotlight without needing the app to be running. The framework automatically handles the registration of these shortcuts, making them available as soon as the app is installed.

Shortcuts can also be customized by users to fit their specific needs, allowing for a high degree of flexibility and integration into personal workflows. This is further enhanced by the ability to use URL representations to deep link into specific content within an app, as discussed in the session "What’s new in App Intents."

For more detailed information, you can refer to the session Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents (08:06) where the process of building shortcuts is explained.