IOS Accessibility

iOS Accessibility Skill

Core Rules

1. EVERY interactive element must have a meaningful accessibilityLabel. Never use generic labels like "button", "image", or "icon". Describe what it does: "Delete message", "Add to favorites", "Share photo".

2. Use native SwiftUI controls (Button, Toggle, Link, Picker, Slider, Stepper) whenever possible. They carry correct accessibility traits automatically.

3. Custom views with onTapGesture MUST add .accessibilityAddTraits(.isButton). Better yet, wrap them in a Button so VoiceOver announces them as interactive.

4. Decorative images must be hidden from VoiceOver. Use Image(decorative:) or .accessibilityHidden(true). Never let VoiceOver read "image" for decorative content.

5. Support Dynamic Type at ALL sizes including accessibility sizes (AX1-AX5). Use system text styles (.body, .title, .headline) and @ScaledMetric for custom dimensions.

6. Minimum touch target: 44x44 points. Use .frame(minWidth: 44, minHeight: 44) and .contentShape(.rect) to expand small icons.

7. Never re-prompt after .userCancel. When the user dismisses a biometric prompt or permission dialog, respect their decision. Do not show the prompt again immediately.

8. Test with VoiceOver on a real device, not just the Simulator. The Simulator does not fully replicate VoiceOver behavior, gestures, or focus management.

9. Run performAccessibilityAudit() in UI tests. Automated audits catch contrast issues, missing labels, small hit regions, and clipped text.

10. Add NSFaceIDUsageDescription to Info.plist when using Face ID. Without it the app crashes on first biometric attempt.

11. Color must not be the sole indicator. Always pair color with text, icons, or shapes. Check accessibilityDifferentiateWithoutColor.

12. Respect Reduce Motion. Check accessibilityReduceMotion and provide crossfade alternatives to spring/slide animations.

13. Logical reading order matters. VoiceOver reads left-to-right, top-to-bottom. Use .accessibilitySortPriority() to fix order when layout does not match logical flow.

14. Move focus to important changes. When an error appears or content updates, post AccessibilityNotification.LayoutChanged or use @AccessibilityFocusState.

15. Group related elements with .accessibilityElement(children: .combine) to reduce swipe count and create meaningful compound descriptions.

Quick Checklist

Before shipping any screen, verify:

• Every Button, Link, and tappable element has an accessibilityLabel
• Decorative images use Image(decorative:) or .accessibilityHidden(true)
• Section headers are marked with .accessibilityAddTraits(.isHeader)
• Dynamic Type renders correctly at all sizes including .accessibilityExtraExtraExtraLarge
• Touch targets are at least 44x44 points
• Color is not the only way to convey information (errors, status, selection)
• Animations respect accessibilityReduceMotion
• Complex interactions have custom actions as swipe alternatives
• Reading order is logical (matches visual and semantic order)
• Focus moves to errors, alerts, or newly inserted content
• Modal views use .accessibilityAddTraits(.isModal) to trap focus
• Adjustable controls (sliders, steppers) work with swipe up/down
• accessibilityValue reflects current state for toggles and sliders
• accessibilityHint is set for non-obvious actions (starts with verb phrase)
• UI tests include performAccessibilityAudit()

SwiftUI Accessibility Modifier Quick Reference

Labels, Hints, Values

// Static label
.accessibilityLabel("Delete message")

// Closure label (iOS 18+)
.accessibilityLabel { label in
    Text("Unread") + label
}

// Hint — describes the result of activating
.accessibilityHint("Double tap to delete this message")

// Value — current state of a control
.accessibilityValue("50 percent")

// Input labels — Voice Control alternate names
.accessibilityInputLabels(["Delete", "Remove", "Trash"])

Traits

.accessibilityAddTraits(.isButton)
.accessibilityAddTraits(.isHeader)
.accessibilityAddTraits(.isLink)
.accessibilityAddTraits(.isSelected)
.accessibilityAddTraits(.isImage)
.accessibilityRemoveTraits(.isImage)

Grouping and Hiding

// Combine children into one element
.accessibilityElement(children: .combine)

// Hide from VoiceOver
.accessibilityHidden(true)

// Decorative image (hidden automatically)
Image(decorative: "background-pattern")

// Replace entire subtree with custom element
.accessibilityRepresentation {
    Toggle("Wi-Fi", isOn: $isEnabled)
}

Actions

// Named action (appears in custom actions rotor)
.accessibilityAction(named: "Mark as read") {
    markAsRead()
}

// Adjustable (swipe up/down)
.accessibilityAdjustableAction { direction in
    switch direction {
    case .increment: value += 1
    case .decrement: value -= 1
    @unknown default: break
    }
}

Focus Management

@AccessibilityFocusState private var isFocused: Bool

TextField("Name", text: $name)
    .accessibilityFocused($isFocused)

// Move focus programmatically
Button("Show Error") {
    errorMessage = "Invalid input"
    isFocused = true
}

Dynamic Type Support

// System text style (scales automatically)
Text("Hello").font(.body)

// Custom font that scales with Dynamic Type
Text("Hello").font(.custom("Avenir", size: 17, relativeTo: .body))

// Scaled dimension
@ScaledMetric(relativeTo: .body) private var iconSize: CGFloat = 24

// Respond to accessibility sizes
@Environment(\.dynamicTypeSize) private var typeSize

if typeSize.isAccessibilitySize {
    // Switch to vertical layout
}

Common Patterns

Card with Combined Accessibility

VStack(alignment: .leading) {
    Text(item.title).font(.headline)
    Text(item.subtitle).font(.subheadline)
    Text(item.date).font(.caption)
}
.accessibilityElement(children: .combine)
.accessibilityAddTraits(.isButton)
.accessibilityHint("Double tap to view details")

Custom Toggle

// BAD: VoiceOver does not know this is interactive
HStack {
    Text("Dark Mode")
    Image(systemName: isDark ? "moon.fill" : "moon")
}
.onTapGesture { isDark.toggle() }

// GOOD: Use a real Toggle
Toggle("Dark Mode", isOn: $isDark)

// GOOD: If custom UI is needed, add representation
HStack {
    Text("Dark Mode")
    Image(systemName: isDark ? "moon.fill" : "moon")
}
.onTapGesture { isDark.toggle() }
.accessibilityRepresentation {
    Toggle("Dark Mode", isOn: $isDark)
}

Swipeable List Row with Actions

ForEach(messages) { message in
    MessageRow(message: message)
        .accessibilityAction(named: "Delete") {
            delete(message)
        }
        .accessibilityAction(named: "Archive") {
            archive(message)
        }
        .accessibilityAction(named: "Mark as read") {
            markAsRead(message)
        }
}

Error Announcement

@AccessibilityFocusState private var isErrorFocused: Bool

VStack {
    TextField("Email", text: $email)

    if let error = validationError {
        Text(error)
            .foregroundStyle(.red)
            .accessibilityFocused($isErrorFocused)
    }

    Button("Submit") {
        if !validate() {
            isErrorFocused = true
        }
    }
}

Responsive Layout for Large Type

struct AdaptiveRow: View {
    @Environment(\.dynamicTypeSize) private var typeSize

    var body: some View {
        let layout = typeSize.isAccessibilitySize
            ? AnyLayout(VStackLayout(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8))
            : AnyLayout(HStackLayout(spacing: 12))

        layout {
            Image(systemName: "star.fill")
                .accessibilityHidden(true)
            Text("Favorites")
            Spacer()
            Text("12 items")
                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
        }
    }
}

References

For detailed API coverage, see:

• VoiceOver — labels, hints, values, traits, actions, rotors, focus
• Dynamic Type — text styles, @ScaledMetric, layout adaptation, color and contrast, motion
• Auditing — Xcode Inspector, XCTest audits, environment values, best practices