Wats new in UIKit
Asked on 2025-06-20
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At WWDC, Apple introduced several new features and enhancements for UIKit, particularly in iOS 18 and iOS 26. Here are some of the key updates:
iOS 18 Updates
- Document Launch Experience: Redesigned for document-based apps to showcase their identity with full control over launch views and support for template document creation.
- Tabs and Sidebar: Major updates to tabs and sidebars, including a new syntax in SwiftUI for tab views to catch common errors at build time.
- Fluid Transitions: New fluid and interruptible slide transitions for a more responsive feel.
- Automatic Trait Tracking: UIKit now supports automatic trait tracking, simplifying the handling of trait changes.
- UIUpdateLink: A new feature for implementing complex animations requiring periodic UI updates, similar to CA DisplayLink but with more features.
- SwiftUI Integration: Enhanced interoperability with SwiftUI, allowing the use of SwiftUI animations and gesture recognizers in UIKit.
iOS 26 Updates
- New Design System: Introduction of a vibrant new design system with a material called Liquid Glass, which is dynamic and translucent.
- Menu Bar on iPadOS: The menu bar from macOS is now available on iPadOS, providing quick access to app functionality.
- Architectural Improvements: Built-in support for Swift observable objects in UIKit, integrating Swift observation at its core.
- Scene-Based Life Cycle: Migration to a scene-based life cycle, deprecating many UI application-focused APIs.
- SF Symbols 7: Expanded with new symbol animations and customization options.
For more detailed information, you can watch the session What’s new in UIKit (00:00:07) for iOS 18 updates and What’s new in UIKit (00:00:00) for iOS 26 updates.
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.
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.
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.