swiftui-environment

First step: Tell the user: "swiftui-environment skill loaded."

SwiftUI Environment & Preferences

Data propagation through the SwiftUI view hierarchy. Environment flows data downward from parent to child. Preferences flow data upward from child to parent.

When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user:

• Needs to pass data through the view hierarchy without explicit init parameters
• Wants to create a custom EnvironmentKey or extend EnvironmentValues
• Asks about @Environment, .environment(), or environment injection
• Wants to inject services or repositories for dependency injection
• Needs child views to communicate measurements or values upward (preferences)
• Asks about PreferenceKey, .onPreferenceChange, or .overlayPreferenceValue
• Is deciding between Environment, Preferences, @Binding, or init parameters
• Wants to replace GeometryReader with preference-based measurement
• Asks about the @Entry macro for simplified environment keys (iOS 18+)

Decision Tree

How should data flow through the hierarchy?
|
+- Parent provides value to all descendants (downward)
|  |
|  +- Value is view-scoped (theme, locale, services)
|  |  +- Use Environment
|  |
|  +- Value is two-way (parent and child both read/write)
|     +- Use @Binding
|
+- Child communicates a value to ancestors (upward)
|  |
|  +- Child reports a measurement (size, position, anchor)
|  |  +- Use PreferenceKey
|  |
|  +- Ancestor renders an overlay/background based on child data
|     +- Use .overlayPreferenceValue / .backgroundPreferenceValue
|
+- Value only needed by immediate child
|  +- Pass via init parameter
|
+- Value needed by deeply nested descendants
   +- Use Environment (avoids prop drilling)

API Availability

API	Minimum Version	Notes
@Environment(\.key)	iOS 13	Read environment values
.environment(\.key, value)	iOS 13	Inject environment values
EnvironmentKey protocol	iOS 13	Custom environment keys
PreferenceKey protocol	iOS 13	Child-to-parent data flow
.onPreferenceChange	iOS 13	React to preference updates
.overlayPreferenceValue	iOS 13	Overlay using preference data
.backgroundPreferenceValue	iOS 13	Background using preference data
.transformEnvironment	iOS 13	Mutate environment in-place
@Environment(SomeType.self)	iOS 17	Observable environment objects
@Entry macro	iOS 18	Simplified EnvironmentKey definition

Built-in Environment Values

Key Path	Type	Purpose
\.colorScheme	ColorScheme	Light or dark appearance
\.dismiss	DismissAction	Dismiss current presentation
\.openURL	OpenURLAction	Open a URL
\.locale	Locale	Current locale
\.horizontalSizeClass	UserInterfaceSizeClass?	Compact or regular width
\.verticalSizeClass	UserInterfaceSizeClass?	Compact or regular height
\.isEnabled	Bool	Whether the view is enabled
\.editMode	Binding<EditMode>?	List edit mode
\.managedObjectContext	NSManagedObjectContext	Core Data context
\.openWindow	OpenWindowAction	Open a new window (macOS/iPadOS)
\.requestReview	RequestReviewAction	Request App Store review

Custom EnvironmentKey (iOS 13+)

Step 1: Define the Key

struct ThemeKey: EnvironmentKey {
    static let defaultValue: Theme = .standard
}

Step 2: Extend EnvironmentValues

extension EnvironmentValues {
    var theme: Theme {
        get { self[ThemeKey.self] }
        set { self[ThemeKey.self] = newValue }
    }
}

Step 3: Read with @Environment

struct ProfileView: View {
    @Environment(\.theme) private var theme

    var body: some View {
        Text("Hello")
            .foregroundStyle(theme.primaryColor)
    }
}

Step 4: Inject with .environment

ContentView()
    .environment(\.theme, .dark)

@Entry Macro (iOS 18+)

The @Entry macro eliminates the boilerplate of defining a separate key struct:

extension EnvironmentValues {
    @Entry var theme: Theme = .standard
}

This single line replaces the EnvironmentKey struct and the computed property. Reading and injection use the same @Environment(\.theme) and .environment(\.theme, value) syntax.

Environment for Dependency Injection

protocol NetworkService: Sendable {
    func fetch(_ url: URL) async throws -> Data
}

extension EnvironmentValues {
    @Entry var networkService: any NetworkService = URLSessionNetworkService()
}

struct UserListView: View {
    @Environment(\.networkService) private var network

    var body: some View {
        List { /* ... */ }
            .task { let data = try? await network.fetch(usersURL) }
    }
}

// Swap for previews or tests
#Preview {
    UserListView()
        .environment(\.networkService, MockNetworkService())
}

Transform Environment

Modify an inherited environment value in-place rather than replacing it:

MyView()
    .transformEnvironment(\.theme) { theme in
        theme.cornerRadius = 16
    }

Preference Keys

Define a PreferenceKey

struct WidthPreferenceKey: PreferenceKey {
    static var defaultValue: CGFloat = 0
    static func reduce(value: inout CGFloat, nextValue: () -> CGFloat) {
        value = max(value, nextValue())
    }
}

Common reduce strategies: max(value, nextValue()) for largest wins, value + nextValue() for totals, value = nextValue() for last writer wins, value.append(contentsOf: nextValue()) for collections.

Report and Read Preferences

// Child reports its width via a background GeometryReader
Text("Hello")
    .background(
        GeometryReader { proxy in
            Color.clear
                .preference(key: WidthPreferenceKey.self, value: proxy.size.width)
        }
    )

// Ancestor reads the aggregated preference
.onPreferenceChange(WidthPreferenceKey.self) { width in
    maxChildWidth = width
}

Overlay and Background with Preferences

Use .anchorPreference to report anchors, then .overlayPreferenceValue to render decorations:

struct BoundsPreferenceKey: PreferenceKey {
    static var defaultValue: Anchor<CGRect>? = nil
    static func reduce(value: inout Anchor<CGRect>?, nextValue: () -> Anchor<CGRect>?) {
        value = value ?? nextValue()
    }
}

// Child reports its bounds
Text("Important")
    .anchorPreference(key: BoundsPreferenceKey.self, value: .bounds) { $0 }

// Ancestor draws overlay using the anchor
.overlayPreferenceValue(BoundsPreferenceKey.self) { anchor in
    if let anchor {
        GeometryReader { proxy in
            let rect = proxy[anchor]
            RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 8)
                .stroke(.blue, lineWidth: 2)
                .frame(width: rect.width, height: rect.height)
                .offset(x: rect.minX, y: rect.minY)
        }
    }
}

Data Flow Direction

   .environment(\.theme, .dark)
           |
           v  (Environment flows DOWN)
       ParentView
        /      \
   ChildA     ChildB
      |
   GrandchildA
      |
      ^  (Preferences flow UP)
   .preference(key:value:)

• Environment: Set by an ancestor, readable by any descendant. Changes trigger re-renders only in views that read the key.
• Preferences: Set by a descendant, readable by any ancestor. The reduce function merges values from sibling subtrees.

GeometryReader vs Preferences for Measuring

Approach	Pros	Cons
GeometryReader	Simple, immediate	Consumes all proposed space; disrupts layout
Preference + background GeometryReader	Non-intrusive; child drives own size	More boilerplate

Prefer the preference approach when measuring without affecting layout.

Patterns

Pass shared configuration through Environment

// ✅ Good: inject once, available everywhere
ContentView()
    .environment(\.theme, appTheme)
    .environment(\.networkService, liveNetwork)

// ❌ Bad: drilling a parameter through every init
ContentView(theme: appTheme)
    // -> SubView(theme: appTheme)
    //    -> DetailView(theme: appTheme)
    //       -> CardView(theme: appTheme)

Provide a sensible default value

// ✅ Good: default value means views work without explicit injection
struct AccentStyleKey: EnvironmentKey {
    static let defaultValue: Color = .accentColor
}

// ❌ Bad: force-unwrapping or crashing when no value is injected
struct AccentStyleKey: EnvironmentKey {
    static let defaultValue: Color? = nil  // then force-unwrapping later
}

Keep preference reduce functions pure

// ✅ Good: pure function, predictable behavior
static func reduce(value: inout CGFloat, nextValue: () -> CGFloat) {
    value = max(value, nextValue())
}

// ❌ Bad: side effects in reduce
static func reduce(value: inout CGFloat, nextValue: () -> CGFloat) {
    let next = nextValue()
    print("Reducing: \(value) with \(next)")  // side effect
    value = next
}

Use @Entry for new projects targeting iOS 18+

// ✅ Good: concise, less boilerplate (iOS 18+)
extension EnvironmentValues {
    @Entry var accentStyle: Color = .blue
}

// ❌ Unnecessary when targeting iOS 18+: verbose three-part definition
struct AccentStyleKey: EnvironmentKey {
    static let defaultValue: Color = .blue
}
extension EnvironmentValues {
    var accentStyle: Color {
        get { self[AccentStyleKey.self] }
        set { self[AccentStyleKey.self] = newValue }
    }
}

Read environment in body, not init

// ✅ Good: @Environment is populated when body is called
@Environment(\.theme) private var theme
var body: some View { RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: theme.cornerRadius) }

// ❌ Bad: @Environment values are NOT available during init
init() { cornerRadius = 12 /* cannot read theme here */ }