app-intents-ref

Use App Intents to expose app functionality to Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight, and other system experiences. Define AppIntent with a perform() method, set up AppEntity for queryable data, and add parameter summaries for discoverability. This enables type-safe, Swift-first integration on iOS 16+.

AppIntent defines an action Siri can invoke with a perform() method. AppEntity represents queryable objects users can reference (like a contact or document). AppEnum defines fixed option sets for intent parameters. Together they create a complete, type-safe interface for system integration.

Define parameters as properties on your AppIntent, validate them in perform() before execution, and provide parameter summaries for Siri's disambiguation. Handle errors explicitly and support background execution for long-running tasks using the appropriate execution context.

Yes. App Intents work across Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight, Focus, and widgets on iOS 16+. Each system experience uses the same AppIntent definitions, so a single implementation serves all platforms and contexts without duplication.

Verify the AppIntent is publicly exported, parameter summaries are present, and all AppEntity queries implement the required protocol methods. Check that your app targets iOS 16 or later and review Xcode's debugging output for validation errors during intent registration.

Intents can run in the background, but you must handle execution context appropriately—verify permissions, manage long-running tasks with proper cancellation handling, and use authentication flows if the intent requires user credentials or sensitive data access.