apple-hig-search-filtering

Apple HIG Search Filtering

Keep search, filtering, and sorting as distinct jobs with native SwiftUI patterns, visible active filters, and useful no-result states. Reach for it when building search bars, filter chips, sort menus, command palettes, or result and empty states.

Purpose

Use this skill when designing or implementing search, filtering, sorting, query bars, and result states in Apple-platform apps.

Use for project search, skill search, prompt search, file search, memory search, command palette filtering, report filtering, and no-result states.

Core rule

Search finds. Filters narrow. Sort changes order.
Do not mix their jobs.

When to use this skill

Use for:

• Search bars
• .searchable
• Filter chips
• Sort menus
• Search results
• No results
• Recent search
• Saved filters
• Command palette search
• File/project/skill lists

Search vs filter vs sort

Search: user types text to find matching content
Filter: user chooses constraints like status/type/date
Sort: user changes order like newest/name/priority

Example:

Search: “sidebar”
Filter: Type = Skill
Sort: Last Updated Desc

SwiftUI searchable pattern

struct SkillsView: View {
    @State private var searchText = ""
    @State private var selectedFilter: SkillFilter = .all
    @State private var sort: SkillSort = .recent

    var filteredSkills: [Skill] {
        SkillSearch.filter(
            skills,
            query: searchText,
            filter: selectedFilter,
            sort: sort
        )
    }

    var body: some View {
        List(filteredSkills) { skill in
            SkillRow(skill: skill)
        }
        .searchable(text: $searchText, placement: .toolbar)
        .toolbar {
            ToolbarItemGroup(placement: .primaryAction) {
                filterMenu
                sortMenu
            }
        }
        .overlay {
            if filteredSkills.isEmpty {
                noResultsView
            }
        }
    }
}