SF Symbols - Swift

SF Symbols is a set of over 2,400 icons that can be used in your iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS apps. These symbols are designed to be consistent across all Apple platforms, and can be easily customized to fit your app's needs.

Using SF Symbols

To use SF Symbols in your app, simply import the SwiftUI framework and use the Image view with the systemName parameter set to the name of the symbol you want to use:

import SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        Image(systemName: "heart")
    }
}

This will display the heart symbol in your app. You can customize the size, color, and other properties of the symbol just like you would with any other image in SwiftUI.

Finding Symbols

To find the name of a symbol you want to use, you can browse the complete list of symbols in Xcode:

1. Open Xcode and create a new SwiftUI project.
2. Open the asset catalog by clicking on the "Assets.xcassets" file in the project navigator.
3. Click on the "+" button in the bottom-left corner of the asset catalog to add a new asset.
4. Choose "SF Symbols" from the list of asset types.
5. Browse the list of symbols by scrolling through the list or typing a search term in the search bar.

You can also find symbols in the SF Symbols app, which is available on the App Store. This app lets you view and search the entire collection of symbols, and even create your own custom symbols.

Creating Custom Symbols

If you can't find a symbol that fits your app's needs, you can create your own custom symbols using the SF Symbols app. To create a custom symbol:

1. Open the SF Symbols app.
2. Click on the "+" button in the bottom-left corner to create a new symbol.
3. Customize the symbol's design by adding and modifying shapes, adjusting the size and color, and adding text labels.
4. Save the symbol to your Mac's Downloads folder.
5. Drag the symbol file into your Xcode project's asset catalog.

You can then use the custom symbol in your app just like any other SF Symbol.

Conclusion

SF Symbols is a powerful tool for designing beautiful and consistent icons in your Apple platform apps. With over 2,400 symbols to choose from and the ability to create your own custom symbols, you can easily add icons that fit your app's unique design.