App Extensions
App extensions give users access to your app’s functionality and content throughout iOS and OS X. For example, your app can now appear as a widget on the Today screen, add new buttons in the Action sheet, offer photo filters within the Photos app, or display a new system-wide custom keyboard. Use extensions to place the power of your app wherever your users need it most.
Types of App Extensions
Share
By providing more sharing options, iOS and OS X enable your app to share photos, videos, websites, and other content with users on social networks and other sharing services.
Photo Editing
Embed your filters and editing tools directly into the Photos or Camera app, so users can easily apply your effects to images and videos.
File Provider
You can now provide a document storage location that can be accessed by other apps. Apps that use a document picker view controller can open files managed by the storage provider or move files into the storage provider.
Document Provider
If you offer remote storage of a user’s iOS documents, you can create an app extension that lets users directly upload and download documents in any compatible app.
Audio
With Audio Unit Extensions, you can provide audio effects, sound generators, and musical instruments that can be used by Audio Unit host apps and distributed via the App Store.
Today
Your apps can now display widgets in the Today view of Notification Center, providing quick updates or enabling brief tasks — for example, posting updates on package deliveries, the latest surf reports, or breaking news stories.
Custom Keyboard
With iOS, you can provide custom keyboards with different input methods and layouts for users to install and use systemwide.
Actions
Create your own custom action buttons in the Action sheet to let users watermark documents, add something to a wish list, translate text to a different language, and more.
Finder Sync
Badge local OS X folders to let users know the status of items that are remotely synced. You can also implement contextual menus to let users directly manage their synced content.
Resources
Guides and Guidelines
Learn about creating app extensions with programming guides and review guidelines.
- App Extension Programming Guide
- App Extension Programming Guide: Finder Sync
- Document Picker Programming Guide
- App Store Review Guidelines: Extensions
Reference
Get details on implementing app extensions with framework reference.
Videos
Watch technical presentations from WWDC to learn how to write an extension for your app.
- Audio Unit ExtensionsNew
- App Extension Best PracticesNew
- Introducing the Contacts Framework for iOS and OS XNew
- Building Document Based AppsNew
- Creating Extensions for iOS and OS X, Part 1
- Creating Extensions for iOS and OS X, Part 2
- Building Modern Frameworks
- Building A Document Based App
- Introducing the Photos Frameworks
Sample Code
Download sample code that shows how app extensions work and how to add them to your app.