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The previous chapter introduced message app extensions and described how the Messages framework allows custom, interactive messages to be sent and received from within the standard iOS Messages app. In this chapter, many of the concepts described in the previous chapter will be put to practical use while working through the creation of an example…

Concurrency can be defined as the ability of software to perform multiple tasks in parallel. Many app development projects will need to use concurrent processing at some point, and concurrency is essential for providing a good user experience. Concurrency, for example, allows an app’s user interface to remain responsive while performing background tasks such as…

In much the same way that photo editing extensions allow custom photo editing capabilities to be added to the standard Photos app, message app extensions allow the functionality of the standard iOS Messages app to be extended and enhanced. Message app extensions, introduced with iOS 10, allow app developers to provide users with creative ways…

With the basics of multitasking in iOS covered in the previous chapter, this chapter will involve the creation of a simple example app that uses multitasking within an app when running on an iPad device. In addition to using size classes, the example will also demonstrate how the UIStackView class can be of particular use…

The previous chapter covered the steps involved in creating an Action extension in iOS designed to modify and display text content from a host app. In developing the extension, steps were taken to ensure the modified content was returned to the host app when the user exited the extension. This chapter will work through creating…

Since the introduction of iOS 9, users can display and interact with two apps side by side on the iPad screen, a concept referred to as multitasking. Although the inclusion of support for multitasking within an iOS iPad app is optional, enabling support where appropriate is recommended to provide the user with the best possible…

As with other extension types, the Action extension aims to extend elements of functionality from one app so that it is available for use within other apps. In the case of Action extensions, this functionality must generally fit the narrow definition of enabling the user to transform the content within a host app or view…

The previous chapter covered a lot of detail relating to the UIStackView class. This chapter will create an iOS app project that uses a wide range of features of the UIStackView class and the Interface Builder tool. At the end of this tutorial, topics such as stack view nesting, adding and removing subviews both within…

The iOS Photo Editing extension’s primary purpose is to allow an app’s photo editing capabilities to be made available from within the standard iOS Photos app. Consider, for example, a scenario where a developer has published an app that allows users to apply custom changes and special effects to videos or photos. Before the introduction…

With hindsight, it seems hard to believe, but until the introduction of iOS 9, there was no easy way to build stack-based user interface layouts that would adapt automatically to different screen sizes and changes in device orientation. While such results could eventually be achieved with careful use of size classes and Auto Layout, this…