First of all, we should know what is a ios? 

IOS is a mobile operating system which is created by Steve Jobs of  Apple Inc. entirely for its hardware such as iPhone, iPod touch. Apple iOS is established on the Mac OS X operating system for the desktop.   

 A widget is a simple element of a graphical user interface and easy to use software or components created for the various software platforms to display information or deliver a particular way for the user to interact with the operating system.

Widgets consist of various icons, pull-down menus, selection boxes, toggle buttons, form, and window edges. It helps you to get significant and valuable information without the effort of opening the main application. It is not that hard to understand the importance of widgets in today’s world as our time gets less and less with the increase of work as it helps you to in an instant to check out your tasks like weather check, date application, to-do tasks, music, timer, stopwatch and many more. 

From time to time IOS developers make changes to give a satisfactory experience to their customers by changing the widgets accordingly to the numerous use and requirements of the clients. They are extremely convenient when it comes assembling real-time data from your gadget. And the function to add widgets to the home screen and browser screen as required makes it beneficial. After it is added the user can swipe from the lock screen or home screen of devices.

In iOS, the application user can access numerous widgets that are very beneficial. 

Adding a widget to an application consist some setting up, a few steps like how you want the configuration and style of the interface. By including a custom intent along with widget, user can programme each widget separately. 

How does the widget work?

Widgets keep the trace of every activity that happens in your device. When the user opens a widget, shows the latest update operated by the application. Some widgets take you directly to a certain point of the app.

IOS 14 also provide applications with multiple widgets of various sizes even in the home screen which is a distinguishing feature by Apple which assist the client with their requirement. But only widgets of the same size can be stacked together. 

Now let’s get to creating a widget:-

Beginning step of creating a widget is provided by the widget extension template. Also, a single widget can have numerous type of widgets to start with. It is suggested to include

your widgets in the solitary extension, but of course according to your need you can add multiple widgets only if seems essential.  

Following are steps:

  • Open the application program in Xcode and select file 
  • after selecting Xcode choose file
  • After file select Target
  • After this select widget extension from application extension group and then click on next option
  • Now enter the name of your extension that you are creating
  • Check the include configuration intent checkbox if the widget procure user configuration properties
  • Now click Finish to complete the task

Now add configuration details:

There are two type of configuration available-

  1. Static configuration- this is for a widget with no user configuration properties. An example of this can be a news widget showing the current headlines.
  2. Intent configuration- this on the other hand is for the widget with user configuration properties. In this user utilise a Sirikit custom intent to distinguish the properties. An example for this can be a package track widget which requires a tracking number 

The task of Include configuration intent checkbox is to determine the configuration Xcode use.

When the user selected the checkbox, Xcode uses an intent configuration if not then static configuration. For initialisation of the configuration, supply following info:

  • Kind is a string that identifies the widget. This identifier is selected by the user, and  should be illustrative of what the widget represents 
  • The provider is the object that conforms to timeline provider that generates a timeline informing widgetkit when is the time to render the widget. A timeline comprises a property timeline entry type that the user defines. Include also properties users widget. 
  • The Content closure is a closure that comprises the swiftUI view. This is used to render the widgets content by widget kit.
  • Next is Custom intent which defines the properties of user configuration. 

Providing the  timeline entries:

Timeline properties consist in the timeline that is generated by a timeline provider, specifying the date and time to update the content of the widget.

Displaying of a placeholder widget:

The view of the widget is rendered to be placeholder when it is displayed for the first time by the widget kit. A placeholder view gives the user the idea of what the widget shows by displaying the generic representation of user’s widget.

Widget kit utilizes the redacted view modifier specifying placeholder for the reason to make the widget view as a placeholder. for the prevention of views in view hierarchy from automatically making as a place holder, the user has to utilize the option unredacted view modifier.

Display the content in the widget :

The widget uses the swiftUI view feature in the programme to define the content, simply by composing other swiftUI views. As it is conveyed above that configuration if the widget contains the closure that is invoked by the widget to render the content of the widget.

When you add your widget from widget gallery, you should select an explicit family( that can be small, medium or large according to needs) from that which your widget can support. It is to be noted that the widget content closure should be able to render every family the widget supports. 

Widget kit also settles family and distinct properties, like for example colour schemes ( light, dark or other users) in swiftUI atmosphere. 

Designing the UI of widget:

  •  The first step is by opening the storyboard of the target user has added.
  • Now vacate the default label
  • After this user can begin by adding a table view, button and labels in the table view cell.
  • UI image should be added next to the reminder status
  • Now click the table view cell and name of the class
  • Add distinct constraints as needed so that they connect to outline using the assistant editor  
  • IOS widget glances a plenty similar 
  • User can also make the visual impact view by utilisation of   Widget table view cell

 Feature like sharing with widgets:

As you know the widgets are nothing but extensions. And these extensions are applications, which makes the widget and containing application unable to communicate directly. Of course in some cases, data might need to be shared. User can do it by following steps:

  • First select or chose the main application target
  • Now click capabilities tab
  • Now to execute this step user will require an account of the Apple developer, that is to enable a group 
  • Now in the next step after enabling the app group user will need to assemble an app group. The name of the group must start with the group.
  • Now we reiterate the method by selecting the widget as a target
  • Now this time the  existing app group can be used
  • This group can be used by the user for saving or recovering an item from user defaults. 

Need for creating the widget for iOS application development:

Now to compete with Android iOS must-have widgets otherwise it will fall behind in the line as it is a time-saving and simpler feature that makes the use of applications easier.