Designing for keyboard input

Keyboard input needs careful handling in iOS and macOS apps. Text fields must support basic editing functions, custom input methods like emoji keyboards, and text suggestions that help users type faster.

Input fields should clearly show their purpose and state. The keyboard type should match the expected input — showing number pads for numeric fields, email keyboards for email addresses, and adding return key actions that make sense for each context.

Text input needs proper validation and formatting. Apps should check input as users type, show clear error messages, and format text automatically when appropriate — like adding hyphens to phone numbers or validating email formats.

Common text input patterns include:

• Basic input. Single-line fields for names, search terms, and simple data
• Structured input. Fields that format text as users type, like phone numbers
• Rich text input. Multi-line fields with formatting options