Reference — Comprehensive SwiftUI navigation guide covering NavigationStack (iOS 16+), NavigationSplitView (iOS 16+), NavigationPath, deep linking, state restoration, Tab+Navigation integration (iOS 18+), Liquid Glass navigation (iOS 26+), and coordinator patterns
View on GitHub.claude-plugin/plugins/axiom/skills/axiom-swiftui-nav-ref/SKILL.md
February 3, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/CharlesWiltgen/Axiom/blob/main/.claude-plugin/plugins/axiom/skills/axiom-swiftui-nav-ref/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill axiom-swiftui-nav-refInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/axiom-swiftui-nav-ref/# SwiftUI Navigation API Reference ## Overview SwiftUI's navigation APIs provide data-driven, programmatic navigation that scales from simple stacks to complex multi-column layouts. Introduced in iOS 16 (2022) with NavigationStack and NavigationSplitView, evolved in iOS 18 (2024) with Tab/Sidebar unification, and refined in iOS 26 (2025) with Liquid Glass design. #### Evolution timeline - **2022 (iOS 16)** NavigationStack, NavigationSplitView, NavigationPath, value-based NavigationLink - **2024 (iOS 18)** Tab/Sidebar unification, sidebarAdaptable style, zoom navigation transition - **2025 (iOS 26)** Liquid Glass navigation chrome, bottom-aligned search, floating tab bars, backgroundExtensionEffect #### Key capabilities - **Data-driven navigation** NavigationPath represents stack state, enabling programmatic push/pop and deep linking - **Multi-column layouts** NavigationSplitView adapts automatically (3-column on iPad → single stack on iPhone) - **State restoration** Codable NavigationPath + SceneStorage for persistence across app launches - **Tab integration** Per-tab NavigationStack with state preservation on tab switch (iOS 18+) - **Liquid Glass** Automatic glass navigation bars, sidebars, and toolbars (iOS 26+) #### When to use vs UIKit - **SwiftUI navigation** New apps, multiplatform, simpler navigation flows → Use NavigationStack/SplitView - **UINavigationController** Complex coordinator patterns, legacy code, specific UIKit features → Consider UIKit #### Related Skills - Use `axiom-swiftui-nav` for anti-patterns, decision trees, pressure scenarios - Use `axiom-swiftui-nav-diag` for systematic troubleshooting of navigation issues --- ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when: - **Learning navigation APIs** from NavigationStack to NavigationSplitView to NavigationPath - **Implementing WWDC examples** (all 4 sessions with code examples included) - **Planning deep linking** with URL routing and NavigationPath manipulation - **Setting up state restorat