{"abstract":[{"text":"When you need information from people, design ways that make it easy for them to provide it without making mistakes.","type":"text"}],"hierarchy":{"paths":[["doc:\/\/com.apple.documentation\/documentation\/technologies","doc:\/\/com.apple.HIG\/design\/human-interface-guidelines","doc:\/\/com.apple.HIG\/design\/Human-Interface-Guidelines\/patterns"]]},"identifier":{"interfaceLanguage":"swift","url":"doc:\/\/com.apple.HIG\/design\/Human-Interface-Guidelines\/entering-data"},"kind":"article","legalNotices":{"copyright":"Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.","privacyPolicy":"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/privacy\/privacy-policy","termsOfUse":"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/legal\/internet-services\/terms\/site.html"},"metadata":{"availableLanguages":["en-US","zh-CN","ja-JP","ko-KR"],"customMetadata":{"alert-date":"2023-06-21","alert-text":"Updated to include guidance for visionOS.","supported-platforms":"ios,ipados,macos,tvos,visionos,watchos"},"images":[{"identifier":"data-entry.svg","type":"icon"},{"identifier":"patterns-entering-data-thumbnail.png","type":"card"}],"role":"article","title":"Entering data"},"primaryContentSections":[{"content":[{"inlineContent":[{"identifier":"patterns-entering-data-intro.png","type":"image"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Entering information can be a tedious process regardless of the interaction methods people use. Improve the experience by:","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"items":[{"content":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Pre-gathering as much information as possible to minimize the amount of data that people need to supply","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"}]},{"content":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Supporting all available input methods so people can choose the method that works for them","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"}]}],"type":"unorderedList"},{"anchor":"Best-practices","level":2,"text":"Best practices","type":"heading"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Get information from the system whenever possible.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" Don’t ask people to enter information that you can gather automatically — such as from settings — or by getting their permission, such as their location or calendar information.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Be clear about the data you need.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" For example, you might display a prompt in a text field — like “username@company.com” — or provide an introductory label that describes the information, like “Email.” You can also prefill fields with reasonable default values, which can minimize decision making and speed data entry.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Use a secure text-entry field when appropriate.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" If your app or game needs sensitive data, use a field that obscures people’s input as they enter it, typically by displaying a small filled circle symbol for each character. For developer guidance, see ","type":"text"},{"identifier":"doc:\/\/com.apple.documentation\/documentation\/SwiftUI\/SecureField","isActive":true,"type":"reference"},{"text":". In tvOS, you can also configure a ","type":"text"},{"identifier":"https:\/\/developer.apple.com\/design\/human-interface-guidelines\/digit-entry-views","isActive":true,"type":"reference"},{"text":" to obscure the numerals people enter (for developer guidance, see ","type":"text"},{"identifier":"doc:\/\/com.apple.documentation\/documentation\/TVUIKit\/TVDigitEntryViewController\/isSecureDigitEntry","isActive":true,"type":"reference"},{"text":"). When you use the system-provided text field in visionOS, the system shows the entered data to the wearer, but not to anyone else; for example, a secure text field automatically blurs when people use AirPlay to stream their content.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Never prepopulate a password field.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" Always ask people to enter their password or use biometric or keychain authentication. For guidance, see ","type":"text"},{"identifier":"doc:\/\/com.apple.HIG\/design\/Human-Interface-Guidelines\/managing-accounts","isActive":true,"type":"reference"},{"text":".","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"When possible, offer choices instead of requiring text entry.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" It’s usually easier and more efficient to choose from lists of options than to type information, even when a keyboard is conveniently available. When it makes sense, consider using a picker, menu, or other selection component to give people an easy way to provide the information you need.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"As much as possible, let people provide data by dragging and dropping it or by pasting it.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" Supporting these interactions can ease data entry and make your experience feel more integrated with the rest of the system.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Dynamically validate field values.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" People can get frustrated when they have to go back and correct mistakes after filling out a lengthy form. When you verify values as soon as people enter them — and provide feedback as soon as you detect a problem — you give them the opportunity to correct errors right away. For numeric data in particular, consider using a number formatter, which automatically configures a text field to accept only numeric values. You can also configure a formatter to display the value in a specific way, such as with a certain number of decimal places, as a percentage, or as currency.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"When data entry is necessary, make sure people understand that they must provide the required data before they can proceed.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" For example, if you include a Next or Continue button after a set of text fields, make the button available only after people enter the data you require.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"anchor":"Platform-considerations","level":2,"text":"Platform considerations","type":"heading"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"No additional considerations for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS, or watchOS.","type":"text"}],"type":"emphasis"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"anchor":"macOS","level":3,"text":"macOS","type":"heading"},{"inlineContent":[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Consider using an expansion tooltip to show the full version of clipped or truncated text in a field.","type":"text"}],"type":"strong"},{"text":" An ","type":"text"},{"inlineContent":[{"text":"expansion tooltip","type":"text"}],"type":"emphasis"},{"text":" behaves like a regular tooltip, appearing when the pointer rests on top of a field. Apps running in macOS — including iOS and iPadOS apps running on a Mac — can use an expansion tooltip to help people view the complete data they entered when a text field is too small to display it. For guidance, see ","type":"text"},{"identifier":"https:\/\/developer.apple.com\/design\/human-interface-guidelines\/offering-help#macOS-visionOS","isActive":true,"type":"reference"},{"text":".","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"anchor":"Resources","level":2,"text":"Resources","type":"heading"},{"anchor":"Related","level":4,"text":"Related","type":"heading"},{"inlineContent":[{"identifier":"doc:\/\/com.apple.HIG\/design\/Human-Interface-Guidelines\/text-fields","isActive":true,"type":"reference"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"identifier":"doc:\/\/com.apple.HIG\/design\/Human-Interface-Guidelines\/virtual-keyboards","isActive":true,"type":"reference"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"inlineContent":[{"identifier":"doc:\/\/com.apple.HIG\/design\/Human-Interface-Guidelines\/keyboards","isActive":true,"type":"reference"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"anchor":"Developer-documentation","level":4,"text":"Developer documentation","type":"heading"},{"inlineContent":[{"identifier":"doc:\/\/com.apple.documentation\/documentation\/SwiftUI\/Input-events","isActive":true,"type":"reference"},{"text":" — SwiftUI","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"},{"anchor":"Videos","level":4,"text":"Videos","type":"heading"},{"items":["doc:\/\/com.apple.documentation\/videos\/play\/wwdc2021\/10059"],"style":"compactGrid","type":"links"},{"anchor":"Change-log","level":2,"text":"Change log","type":"heading"},{"header":"row","rows":[[[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Date","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"}],[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Changes","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"}]],[[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"June 21, 2023","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"}],[{"inlineContent":[{"text":"Updated to include guidance for visionOS.","type":"text"}],"type":"paragraph"}]]],"type":"table"}],"kind":"content"}],"schemaVersion":{"major":0,"minor":3,"patch":0},"sections":[],"topicSectionsStyle":"compactGrid","references":{"9CCE8A5D-A751-441C-B88F-FB91E2D1958E":{"alt":null,"identifier":"9CCE8A5D-A751-441C-B88F-FB91E2D1958E","type":"image","variants":[{"traits":["1x"],"url":"https:\/\/devimages-cdn.apple.com\/wwdc-services\/images\/119\/9CCE8A5D-A751-441C-B88F-FB91E2D1958E\/4949_wide_250x141_1x.jpg"},{"traits":["2x"],"url":"https:\/\/devimages-cdn.apple.com\/wwdc-services\/images\/119\/9CCE8A5D-A751-441C-B88F-FB91E2D1958E\/4949_wide_250x141_2x.jpg"},{"traits":["3x"],"url":"https:\/\/devimages-cdn.apple.com\/wwdc-services\/images\/119\/9CCE8A5D-A751-441C-B88F-FB91E2D1958E\/4949_wide_250x141_3x.jpg"}]},"components-text-fields-thumbnail.png":{"alt":"A stylized representation of a text field containing a value. 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