what is Apple Intent

Apple Intent, often referred to as "App Intents," is a framework introduced by Apple to allow developers to define a set of actions for Siri, Shortcuts, and other system experiences. This framework enables apps to expose their core features in a way that the system can understand and present outside the app itself. App Intents are designed to enhance the integration of apps with system features like Siri, Spotlight, and the Shortcuts app, allowing users to interact with app functionalities more seamlessly across the Apple ecosystem.

App Intents consist of a summary of what they do, starting with the app followed by a verb, and include parameters that users need to fill out before the intent is run. They can be combined with other intents into shortcuts to create powerful new flows. The framework handles the communication between the app and system features, allowing developers to focus on implementing the actual behavior of their app's features.

For more detailed guidance on designing App Intents, you can refer to the session Design App Intents for system experiences (01:50).