design updates for UIKit
Asked on 06/12/2025
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At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced several design updates for UIKit, focusing on a new material called Liquid Glass. This material is central to the new design system in iOS 26, providing a translucent, dynamic, and lively appearance across the system. Here are some key updates:
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Liquid Glass Material: This new material is used throughout UIKit, giving components like navigation bars, toolbars, and controls a refreshed look. It is designed to be dynamic and alive, with effects such as specular highlights and refraction.
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Tab Views and Split Views: These have been updated to adopt the new design system, floating above the content and providing a more integrated appearance. Build a UIKit app with the new design
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Navigation Bars and Toolbars: These elements are now transparent and contain Liquid Glass buttons, offering more space for content. Build a UIKit app with the new design
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New Tools and APIs: UIKit introduced new tools like the Background extension view and a glass material for custom components. There is also a new scroll edge effect to enhance the legibility of bar buttons and other controls. What’s new in UIKit
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Automatic Observation Tracking: UIKit now includes automatic trait and observation tracking, allowing for more efficient updates and performance improvements. What’s new in UIKit
These updates aim to provide a more responsive and visually appealing user interface, making it easier for developers to create apps that feel modern and consistent across Apple's platforms.
Build a UIKit app with the new design
Update your UIKit app to take full advantage of the new design system. We’ll dive into key changes to tab views, split views, bars, presentations, search, and controls, and show you how to use Liquid Glass in your custom UI. To get the most out of this video, we recommend first watching “Get to know the new design system” for general design guidance.
What’s new in UIKit
Modernize your app with the latest APIs in UIKit, including enhanced menu bar support, automatic observation tracking, a new UI update method, and improvements to animations. We’ll also cover how you can include SwiftUI scenes in your UIKit app and explore SF Symbols, HDR color pickers, and more.
What’s new in UIKit
Explore everything new in UIKit, including tab and document launch experiences, transitions, and text and input changes. We’ll also discuss better-than-ever interoperability between UIKit and SwiftUI animations and gestures, as well as general improvements throughout UIKit.