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
            }
        }
    }
}

Filter menu

private var filterMenu: some View {
    Menu {
        Picker("Filter", selection: $selectedFilter) {
            Text("All").tag(SkillFilter.all)
            Text("Enabled").tag(SkillFilter.enabled)
            Text("Needs Review").tag(SkillFilter.needsReview)
        }
    } label: {
        Label("Filter", systemImage: "line.3.horizontal.decrease.circle")
    }
}

Sort menu

private var sortMenu: some View {
    Menu {
        Picker("Sort", selection: $sort) {
            Text("Recently Updated").tag(SkillSort.recent)
            Text("Name").tag(SkillSort.name)
            Text("Category").tag(SkillSort.category)
        }
    } label: {
        Label("Sort", systemImage: "arrow.up.arrow.down")
    }
}

Search implementation

enum SkillSearch {
    static func filter(
        _ skills: [Skill],
        query: String,
        filter: SkillFilter,
        sort: SkillSort
    ) -> [Skill] {
        let q = query.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).lowercased()

        var result = skills

        if !q.isEmpty {
            result = result.filter { skill in
                skill.name.lowercased().contains(q)
                || skill.category.lowercased().contains(q)
                || skill.summary.lowercased().contains(q)
                || skill.keywords.contains { $0.lowercased().contains(q) }
            }
        }

        result = applyFilter(result, filter: filter)
        result = applySort(result, sort: sort)
        return result
    }
}

No-result state

ContentUnavailableView {
    Label("No Results", systemImage: "magnifyingglass")
} description: {
    Text("Try a project, skill, prompt, file, or command name.")
} actions: {
    Button("Clear Search") {
        searchText = ""
    }
}

Example search targets

Projects: name, path, tags, recent files
Skills: name, category, trigger words, summary
Prompts: title, variables, model target, purpose
Files: filename, path, extension
Notes: title, tags, source, body excerpt
Reports: date, title, source apps
Command palette: command title, keywords, category

Filter examples

Status: All / Running / Done / Failed / Needs Review
Type: Project / Skill / Prompt / File / Note
Source: Local / Cloud / Imported
Date: Today / This Week / This Month
Provider: Ollama / OpenAI / Gemini
Enabled: Enabled / Disabled

Design rules

• Put search in toolbar when central.
• Use filter and sort menus, not too many visible controls.
• Show active filters clearly.
• Add Clear Filters when filters are active.
• Preserve the user’s query when switching sections only if useful.
• No-result state should explain what to try next.
• Do not search hidden/private content without clear user intent.

Review checklist

[ ] Search field is easy to find
[ ] Search, filter, and sort are separate concepts
[ ] Results update predictably
[ ] Active filters are visible
[ ] Clear Search / Clear Filters exists
[ ] No-result state is useful
[ ] Sorting is stable
[ ] Search covers relevant fields
[ ] Keyboard shortcut ⌘F works where appropriate
[ ] VoiceOver labels are clear

Common mistakes

Search field hidden in random menu
Filters mixed into search syntax only
No no-result state
No way to clear filters
Search only checks title when users expect content
Sort changes unexpectedly
Command palette used as only search

Prompt template

Use the apple-hig-search-filtering skill to improve search, filters, and sorting.

Rules:
- Search finds text matches.
- Filters narrow by structured constraints.
- Sort changes order.
- Use .searchable where appropriate.
- Put filters and sort in toolbar menus when space is limited.
- Show active filters.
- Add Clear Search and Clear Filters.
- Add useful no-result state.
- Support ⌘F where appropriate.
- Keep VoiceOver labels clear.

After coding:
1. List search fields added.
2. Explain filter/sort behavior.
3. Explain no-result state.
4. Give manual test steps.