SwiftUI Liquid Glass

Overview

Use this skill to build or review SwiftUI features that fully align with the iOS 26+ Liquid Glass API. Prioritize native APIs (glassEffect, GlassEffectContainer, glass button styles) and Apple design guidance. Keep usage consistent, interactive where needed, and performance aware.

Adoption Guidance

Liquid Glass is a dynamic material that forms a distinct functional layer for controls and navigation. Adopting it well is mostly about getting out of the way:

Prefer standard components. Bars, sheets, popovers, and controls from SwiftUI (and UIKit) adopt Liquid Glass automatically when you build with the latest SDK. Reach for the explicit glassEffect API only when a standard component does not already give you the treatment you need.
Remove custom backgrounds on controls and navigation. Custom backgrounds in split views, tab bars, and toolbars can overlay or interfere with Liquid Glass and the scroll-edge effect. Let the system determine background appearance; remove custom effects unless they are essential.
Test accessibility and display settings. Reduce Transparency, Reduce Motion, and the user's preferred Liquid Glass look can remove or modify effects. Standard components adapt automatically; verify your custom elements, colors, and animations under these configurations.
Use glass on custom controls sparingly. Overusing it distracts from content. Limit glass to the most important functional elements.
App icons are now layered and dynamic. They respond to lighting and visual effects, and use a standardized, concentric icon grid. Provide default (light), dark, clear, and tinted appearances.
New navigation affordances. TabView gains .tabBarMinimizeBehavior(.onScrollDown) and a search role via Tab(role: .search) (UIKit: UISearchTab).

Workflow Decision Tree

Choose the path that matches the request:

1) Review an existing feature

Inspect where Liquid Glass should be used and where it should not.
Verify correct modifier order, shape usage, and container placement.
Check for iOS 26+ availability handling and sensible fallbacks.

2) Improve a feature using Liquid Glass

Identify target components for glass treatment (surfaces, chips, buttons, cards).
Refactor to use GlassEffectContainer where multiple glass elements appear.
Introduce interactive glass only for tappable or focusable elements.

3) Implement a new feature using Liquid Glass

Design the glass surfaces and interactions first (shape, prominence, grouping).
Add glass modifiers after layout/appearance modifiers.
Add morphing transitions only when the view hierarchy changes with animation.

Core Guidelines

Prefer native Liquid Glass APIs over custom blurs.
Use GlassEffectContainer when multiple glass elements coexist.
Apply .glassEffect(...) after layout and visual modifiers.
Use .interactive() for elements that respond to touch/pointer.
Keep shapes consistent across related elements for a cohesive look.
Gate with #available(iOS 26, *) and provide a non-glass fallback.

Review Checklist

Availability: #available(iOS 26, *) present with fallback UI.
Composition: Multiple glass views wrapped in GlassEffectContainer.
Modifier order: glassEffect applied after layout/appearance modifiers.
Interactivity: interactive() only where user interaction exists.
Transitions: glassEffectID used with @Namespace for morphing.
Consistency: Shapes, tinting, and spacing align across the feature.

Implementation Checklist

Define target elements and desired glass prominence.
Wrap grouped glass elements in GlassEffectContainer and tune spacing.
Use .glassEffect(.regular.tint(...).interactive(), in: .rect(cornerRadius: ...)) as needed.
Use .buttonStyle(.glass) / .buttonStyle(.glassProminent) for actions.
Add morphing transitions with glassEffectID when hierarchy changes.
Provide fallback materials and visuals for earlier iOS versions.

Quick Snippets

Use these patterns directly and tailor shapes/tints/spacing.

if #available(iOS 26, *) {
    Text("Hello")
        .padding()
        .glassEffect(.regular.interactive(), in: .rect(cornerRadius: 16))
} else {
    Text("Hello")
        .padding()
        .background(.ultraThinMaterial, in: RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 16))
}

GlassEffectContainer(spacing: 24) {
    HStack(spacing: 24) {
        Image(systemName: "scribble.variable")
            .frame(width: 72, height: 72)
            .font(.system(size: 32))
            .glassEffect()
        Image(systemName: "eraser.fill")
            .frame(width: 72, height: 72)
            .font(.system(size: 32))
            .glassEffect()
    }
}

Button("Confirm") { }
    .buttonStyle(.glassProminent)

Resources

Reference guide: references/liquid-glass.md
Prefer Apple docs for up-to-date API details, and use web search to consult current Apple Developer documentation in addition to the references above.

swiftui-liquid-glass