<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 8.0.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 8.0.0 -",
    "macOS: 10.11.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 13.1.0 -",
    "tvOS: 10.0.0 -",
    "watchOS: 10.0.0 -",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "article",
  "framework" : "PhotoKit",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/PhotoKit",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "collection",
  "title" : "PhotoKit"
}
-->

# PhotoKit

Work with image and video assets that the Photos app manages, including those from iCloud Photos and Live Photos.

## Discussion

PhotoKit is the combination of the Photos and PhotosUI frameworks, which together enable you to access image and video assets that the Photos app manages. You might use PhotoKit to edit or display a person’s photos, or to manage collections of assets such as albums, Moments, and Shared Albums. The framework provides access to photos on the person’s device and in iCloud.

![A diagram showing the types of requests your app can make through PhotoKit, to access photos stored in the user’s photo library](images/com.apple.photokit/media-3030182@2x.png)

## Topics

### Frameworks

Reference the API that compose PhotoKit.

[`Photos`](/documentation/Photos)

Work with image and video assets that the Photos app manages, including those from iCloud Photos and Live Photos.

[`PhotosUI`](/documentation/PhotosUI)

Present a person’s photo library using a picker interface, display Live Photos, or extend the Photos app with custom functionality.

### Sample code

Browse sample code that walk through specific Photos and PhotosUI workflows.

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/browsing-and-modifying-photo-albums>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/selecting-photos-and-videos-in-ios>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/bringing-photos-picker-to-your-swiftui-app>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/implementing-an-inline-photos-picker>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/creating-a-slideshow-project-extension-for-photos>

### Articles

Browse articles that cover high-level Photos and PhotosUI tasks.

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/delivering-an-enhanced-privacy-experience-in-your-photos-app>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/fetching-objects-and-requesting-changes>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/loading-and-caching-assets-and-thumbnails>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/displaying-live-photos>

  <doc://com.apple.photokit/documentation/PhotoKit/creating-photo-editing-extensions>



---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)