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Support multiple input methods. Touch, pointer, keyboard, pencil, voice, eyes, hands, controllers. Design for the inputs available on each platform. On iPadOS, support both touch and pointer; on macOS, both pointer and keyboard.
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Consistent feedback for every input action. Visible, audible, or haptic response.
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Standard gestures must behave consistently. Tap to activate, swipe to scroll/navigate, pinch to zoom, long press for context menus, drag to move. Don't override system gestures (edge swipes for back, Home, notifications).
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Use standard recognizers; keep custom gestures discoverable. Apple's built-in recognizers handle edge cases and accessibility. If you add non-standard gestures, provide hints or coaching to teach them.
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Apple Pencil: precision drawing, markup, and selection. Support pressure, tilt, and hover. Distinguish finger from Pencil when appropriate (finger pans, Pencil draws).
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Support Scribble in text fields. Users expect to write with Pencil in any text input.
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Keyboard shortcuts and full navigation. Standard shortcuts (Cmd+C/V/Z) plus custom ones visible in the iPadOS Command key overlay. Logical tab order.
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Respect the software keyboard. Adjust layout when keyboard appears. Use keyboard-avoidance APIs.
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Game controllers: MFi controllers with on-screen fallbacks. Map to extended gamepad profile, sensible defaults, remappable. Always offer touch or keyboard alternatives.
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Pointer and trackpad: native feel. Hover effects, pointer shape adaptation, standard cursor behaviors. Two-finger scroll, pinch to zoom, swipe to navigate.
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Digital Crown: primary scrolling and value-adjustment input on watchOS. Scrolling lists, adjusting values, navigating views. Haptic feedback at detents.
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Eyes and spatial (visionOS): look and pinch. Generous hit targets (eye tracking is less precise than touch). Avoid sustained gaze for activation. Direct hand manipulation in immersive experiences.
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Focus system: critical for tvOS and visionOS. Predictable focus movement. Every interactive element focusable. Clear visual indicators (scale, highlight, elevation). Logical focus groups.
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Siri Remote: limited surface. Touch area for swiping, clickpad for selection, few physical buttons. Keep interactions simple.
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Gyroscope, accelerometer, UWB: use judiciously. Suits gaming, fitness, AR. Not for essential tasks. Provide calibration and reset. For UWB, communicate distance and direction with visual or haptic cues.
