axiom-swiftui-nav-ref by CharlesWiltgen

---
name: axiom-swiftui-nav-ref
description: 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
license: MIT
compatibility: iOS 16+ (NavigationStack), iOS 18+ (Tab/Sidebar), iOS 26+ (Liquid Glass)
metadata:
  version: "1.0.0"
  last-updated: "2025-12-05"
---

# 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:
- **Implementing navigation APIs** NavigationStack, NavigationSplitView, NavigationPath, Tab+Navigation
- **Deep linking or state restoration** URL routing, Codable NavigationPath, SceneStorage
- **Adopting iOS 26+ features** Liquid Glass navigation, bottom-aligned search, tab bar minimization
- **Choosing navigation architecture** Stack vs SplitView vs coordinator patterns

---

## API Evolution

### Timeline

| Year | iOS Version | Key Features |
|------|-------------|--------------|
| 2020 | iOS 14 | NavigationView (deprecated iOS 16) |
| 2022 | iOS 16 | NavigationStack, NavigationSplitView, NavigationPath, value-based NavigationLink |
| 2024 | iOS 18 | Tab/Sidebar unification, sidebarAdaptable, TabSection, zoom transitions |
| 2025 | iOS 26 | Liquid Glass navigation, backgroundExtensionEffect, tabBarMinimizeBehavior |

### NavigationView (Deprecated)

NavigationView is deprecated as of iOS 16. Use NavigationStack (single-column push/pop) or NavigationSplitView (multi-column) exclusively in new code. Key improvements: single NavigationPath replaces per-link `isActive` bindings, value-based type safety, built-in Codable state restoration. See "Migrating to new navigation types" documentation.

---

## NavigationStack Complete Reference

NavigationStack represents a push-pop interface like Settings on iPhone or System Settings on macOS.

### 1.1 Creating NavigationStack

#### Basic NavigationStack

```swift
NavigationStack {
    List(Category.allCases) { category in
        NavigationLink(category.name, value: category)
    }
    .navigationTitle("Categories")
    .navigationDestination(for: Category.self) { category in
        CategoryDetail(category: category)
    }
}
```

#### With Path Binding (WWDC 2022, 6:05)

```swift
struct PushableStack: View {
    @State private var path: [Recipe] = []
    @StateObject private var dataModel = DataModel()

    var body: some View {
        NavigationStack(path: $path) {
            List(Category.allCases) { category in
                Section(category.localizedName) {
                    ForEach(dataModel.recipes(in: category)) { recipe in
                        NavigationLink(recipe.name, value: recipe)
                    }
                }
            }
            .navigationTitle("Categories")
            .navigationDestination(for: Recipe.self) { recipe in
                RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)
            }
        }
        .environmentObject(dataModel)
    }
}
```

Path binding + value-presenting NavigationLink + `navigationDestination(for:)` form the core data-driven navigation pattern.

### 1.2 NavigationLink (Value-Based)

#### Value-presenting NavigationLink

```swift
// Correct: Value-based (iOS 16+)
NavigationLink(recipe.name, value: recipe)

// Correct: With custom label
NavigationLink(value: recipe) {
    RecipeTile(recipe: recipe)
}

// Deprecated: View-based (iOS 13-15)
NavigationLink(recipe.name) {
    RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)  // Don't use in new code
}
```

#### How NavigationLink works with NavigationStack

1. NavigationStack maintains a `path` collection
2. Tapping a value-presenting link appends the value to the path
3. NavigationStack maps `navigationDestination` modifiers over path values
4. Views are pushed onto the stack based on destination mappings

### 1.3 navigationDestination Modifier

#### Single Type

```swift
.navigationDestination(for: Recipe.self) { recipe in
    RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)
}
```

#### Multiple Types

```swift
NavigationStack(path: $path) {
    RootView()
        .navigationDestination(for: Recipe.self) { recipe in
            RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)
        }
        .navigationDestination(for: Category.self) { category in
            CategoryList(category: category)
        }
        .navigationDestination(for: Chef.self) { chef in
            ChefProfile(chef: chef)
        }
}
```

#### Placement rules
- Place `navigationDestination` outside lazy containers (not inside ForEach)
- Place near related NavigationLinks for code organization
- Must be inside NavigationStack hierarchy

```swift
// Correct: Outside lazy container
ScrollView {
    LazyVGrid(columns: columns) {
        ForEach(recipes) { recipe in
            NavigationLink(value: recipe) {
                RecipeTile(recipe: recipe)
            }
        }
    }
}
.navigationDestination(for: Recipe.self) { recipe in
    RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)
}

// Wrong: Inside ForEach (may not be loaded)
ForEach(recipes) { recipe in
    NavigationLink(value: recipe) { RecipeTile(recipe: recipe) }
        .navigationDestination(for: Recipe.self) { r in  // Don't do this
            RecipeDetail(recipe: r)
        }
}
```

### 1.4 NavigationPath

NavigationPath is a type-erased collection for heterogeneous navigation stacks.

#### Typed Array vs NavigationPath

```swift
// Typed array: All values same type
@State private var path: [Recipe] = []

// NavigationPath: Mixed types
@State private var path = NavigationPath()
```

#### NavigationPath Operations

```swift
// Append value
path.append(recipe)

// Pop to previous
path.removeLast()

// Pop to root
path.removeLast(path.count)
// or
path = NavigationPath()

// Check count
if path.count > 0 { ... }

// Deep link: Set multiple values
path.append(category)
path.append(recipe)
```

#### Codable Support

```swift
// NavigationPath is Codable when all values are Codable
@State private var path = NavigationPath()

// Encode
let data = try JSONEncoder().encode(path.codable)

// Decode
let codableRep = try JSONDecoder().decode(NavigationPath.CodableRepresentation.self, from: data)
path = NavigationPath(codableRep)
```

---

## NavigationSplitView Complete Reference

NavigationSplitView creates multi-column layouts that adapt to device size.

### 2.1 Two-Column Layout

#### Basic Two-Column (WWDC 2022, 10:40)

```swift
struct MultipleColumns: View {
    @State private var selectedCategory: Category?
    @State private var selectedRecipe: Recipe?
    @StateObject private var dataModel = DataModel()

    var body: some View {
        NavigationSplitView {
            List(Category.allCases, selection: $selectedCategory) { category in
                NavigationLink(category.localizedName, value: category)
            }
            .navigationTitle("Categories")
        } detail: {
            if let recipe = selectedRecipe {
                RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)
            } else {
                Text("Select a recipe")
            }
        }
    }
}
```

### 2.2 Three-Column Layout

Add a `content:` closure between sidebar and detail for a middle column:

```swift
NavigationSplitView {
    List(Category.allCases, selection: $selectedCategory) { category in
        NavigationLink(category.localizedName, value: category)
    }
} content: {
    List(dataModel.recipes(in: selectedCategory), selection: $selectedRecipe) { recipe in
        NavigationLink(recipe.name, value: recipe)
    }
} detail: {
    RecipeDetail(recipe: selectedRecipe)
}
```

### 2.3 NavigationSplitView with NavigationStack

Place a `NavigationStack(path:)` inside the detail column for grid-to-detail drill-down while preserving sidebar selection:

```swift
NavigationSplitView {
    List(Category.allCases, selection: $selectedCategory) { ... }
} detail: {
    NavigationStack(path: $path) {
        RecipeGrid(category: selectedCategory)
            .navigationDestination(for: Recipe.self) { recipe in
                RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)
            }
    }
}
```

### 2.4 Column Visibility

```swift
@State private var columnVisibility: NavigationSplitViewVisibility = .all

NavigationSplitView(columnVisibility: $columnVisibility) {
    Sidebar()
} content: {
    Content()
} detail: {
    Detail()
}

// Programmatically control visibility
columnVisibility = .detailOnly  // Hide sidebar and content
columnVisibility = .all          // Show all columns
columnVisibility = .automatic    // System decides
```

### 2.5 Automatic Adaptation

NavigationSplitView automatically adapts:
- **iPad landscape** All columns visible (depending on configuration)
- **iPad portrait/Slide Over** Collapses to overlay or single column
- **iPhone** Single navigation stack
- **Apple Watch/TV** Single navigation stack

Selection changes automatically translate to push/pop on iPhone.

### 2.6 iOS 26+ Liquid Glass Sidebar (WWDC 2025, 323)

```swift
NavigationSplitView {
    List { ... }
} detail: {
    DetailView()
}
// Sidebar automatically gets Liquid Glass appearance on iPad/macOS

// Extend content behind glass sidebar
.backgroundExtensionEffect()  // Mirrors and blurs content outside safe area
```

---

## Deep Linking and URL Routing

### 3.1 Deep Link Pattern

Use `.onOpenURL` to receive URLs, parse with `URLComponents`, then manipulate `NavigationPath`:

```swift
.onOpenURL { url in
    guard let components = URLComponents(url: url, resolvingAgainstBaseURL: false),
          let host = components.host else { return }
    path.removeLast(path.count)  // Pop to root first
    // Parse host/path to determine destination, then path.append(value)
}
```

For multi-step deep links (`myapp://category/desserts/recipe/apple-pie`), iterate URL path components and append each resolved value to build the full navigation stack.

For comprehensive deep linking examples, error diagnosis, and testing workflows, see `axiom-swiftui-nav-diag` (Pattern 3).

---

## State Restoration

### 4.1 Complete State Restoration (WWDC 2022, 18:12)

```swift
struct UseSceneStorage: View {
    @StateObject private var navModel = NavigationModel()
    @SceneStorage("navigation") private var data: Data?
    @StateObject private var dataModel = DataModel()

    var body: some View {
        NavigationSplitView {
            List(Category.allCases, selection: $navModel.selectedCategory) { category in
                NavigationLink(category.localizedName, value: category)
            }
            .navigationTitle("Categories")
        } detail: {
            NavigationStack(path: $navModel.recipePath) {
                RecipeGrid(category: navModel.selectedCategory)
            }
        }
        .task {
            // Restore on appear
            if let data = data {
                navModel.jsonData = data
            }
            // Save on changes
            for await _ in navModel.objectWillChangeSequence {
                data = navModel.jsonData
            }
        }
        .environmentObject(dataModel)
    }
}
```

### 4.2 Codable NavigationModel

```swift
class NavigationModel: ObservableObject, Codable {
    @Published var selectedCategory: Category?
    @Published var recipePath: [Recipe] = []

    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
        case selectedCategory
        case recipePathIds  // Store IDs, not full objects
    }

    func encode(to encoder: Encoder) throws {
        var container = encoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)
        try container.encodeIfPresent(selectedCategory, forKey: .selectedCategory)
        try container.encode(recipePath.map(\.id), forKey: .recipePathIds)
    }

    init() {}

    required init(from decoder: Decoder) throws {
        let container = try decoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)
        self.selectedCategory = try container.decodeIfPresent(Category.self, forKey: .selectedCategory)
        let recipePathIds = try container.decode([Recipe.ID].self, forKey: .recipePathIds)
        self.recipePath = recipePathIds.compactMap { DataModel.shared[$0] } // Discard deleted items
    }
}
```

Store IDs (not full model objects) and use `compactMap` to handle deleted items gracefully. Add `jsonData` computed property and `objectWillChangeSequence` for SceneStorage integration as shown in 4.1.

---

## Tab + Navigation Integration

### 5.1 Tab Syntax (iOS 18+) (WWDC 2024, 4:27)

```swift
TabView {
    Tab("Watch Now", systemImage: "play") {
        WatchNowView()
    }
    Tab("Library", systemImage: "books.vertical") {
        LibraryView()
    }
    Tab(role: .search) {
        NavigationStack {
            SearchView()
                .navigationTitle("Search")
        }
        .searchable(text: $searchText)
    }
}
```

**Search tab requirement**: Contents of a search-role tab must be wrapped in `NavigationStack` with `.searchable()` applied to the stack. Without `NavigationStack`, the search field will not appear. For foundational `.searchable` patterns (suggestions, scopes, tokens, programmatic control), see `axiom-swiftui-search-ref`.

### 5.2 TabView with NavigationStack Per Tab

```swift
TabView {
    Tab("Home", systemImage: "house") {
        NavigationStack {
            HomeView()
                .navigationDestination(for: Item.self) { item in
                    ItemDetail(item: item)
                }
        }
    }
    Tab("Settings", systemImage: "gear") {
        NavigationStack {
            SettingsView()
        }
    }
}
```

Each tab has its own NavigationStack to preserve navigation state when switching tabs.

### 5.3 Sidebar-Adaptable TabView (WWDC 2024, 6:41)

```swift
TabView {
    Tab("Watch Now", systemImage: "play") {
        WatchNowView()
    }
    Tab("Library", systemImage: "books.vertical") {
        LibraryView()
    }
    TabSection("Collections") {
        Tab("Cinematic Shots", systemImage: "list.and.film") {
            CinematicShotsView()
        }
        Tab("Forest Life", systemImage: "list.and.film") {
            ForestLifeView()
        }
    }
    TabSection("Animations") {
        // More tabs...
    }
    Tab(role: .search) {
        SearchView()
    }
}
.tabViewStyle(.sidebarAdaptable)
```

`TabSection` creates sidebar groups. `.sidebarAdaptable` enables sidebar on iPad, tab bar on iPhone. Search tab with `.search` role gets special placement.

### 5.4 Tab Customization (WWDC 2024, 10:45)

```swift
@AppStorage("MyTabViewCustomization")
private var customization: TabViewCustomization

TabView {
    Tab("Watch Now", systemImage: "play", value: .watchNow) {
        WatchNowView()
    }
    .customizationID("Tab.watchNow")
    .customizationBehavior(.disabled, for: .sidebar, .tabBar)  // Can't be hidden

    Tab("Optional Tab", systemImage: "star", value: .optional) {
        OptionalView()
    }
    .customizationID("Tab.optional")
    .defaultVisibility(.hidden, for: .tabBar)  // Hidden by default
}
.tabViewCustomization($customization)
```

### 5.5 Tab Context Menus

Use `.contextMenu(menuItems:)` on a `Tab` to add a context menu to its sidebar representation (e.g., right-click on Mac, long-press on iPad sidebar).

```swift
Tab("Currently Reading", systemImage: "book") {
    CurrentBooksList()
}
.contextMenu {
    Button {
        pinnedTabs.insert(.reading)
    } label: {
        Label("Pin", systemImage: "pin")
    }
    Button {
        showShareSheet = true
    } label: {
        Label("Share", systemImage: "square.and.arrow.up")
    }
}
```

Return an empty closure to deactivate the context menu conditionally:

```swift
.contextMenu {
    if canPin {
        Button("Pin", systemImage: "pin") { pin() }
    }
}
```

#### iPhone Tab Bar Long-Press

`.contextMenu` on `Tab` only applies to the sidebar representation (iPad/Mac). iPhone tab bar context menus require UIKit interop (adding `UILongPressGestureRecognizer` to `UITabBar` via Introspect or a `UITabBarController` subclass). See `axiom-swiftui-nav-diag` for workaround patterns.

**Caveat**: Relies on private `UITabBarButton` subviews — fragile across iOS versions, not a public API guarantee.

### 5.6 Programmatic Tab Visibility

Use `.hidden(_:)` to show/hide tabs based on app state while preserving their navigation state.

#### State-Driven Tab Visibility

```swift
Tab("Libraries", systemImage: "square.stack") { LibrariesView() }
    .hidden(context == .browse)  // Hide based on app state
```

Apply `.hidden(condition)` to each tab. Tabs hidden this way preserve their navigation state (unlike conditional `if` rendering which destroys and recreates them).

#### State Preservation

**Key difference**: `.hidden(_:)` preserves tab state, conditional rendering does not.

```swift
// ✅ State preserved when hidden
Tab("Settings", systemImage: "gear") {
    SettingsView()  // Navigation stack preserved
}
.hidden(!showSettings)

// ❌ State lost when condition changes
if showSettings {
    Tab("Settings", systemImage: "gear") {
        SettingsView()  // Navigation stack recreated
    }
}
```

#### Common Patterns

```swift
Tab("Beta Features", systemImage: "flask") { BetaView() }
    .hidden(!UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: "enableBetaFeatures"))
```

Same pattern applies to authentication state, purchase status, and debug builds — bind `.hidden()` to any boolean condition.

#### Animated Transitions

Wrap state changes in `withAnimation` for smooth tab bar layout transitions:

```swift
Button("Switch to Browse") {
    withAnimation {
        context = .browse
        selection = .tracks  // Switch to first visible tab
    }
}
// Tab bar animates as tabs appear/disappear
// Uses system motion curves automatically
```

### 5.7 iOS 26+ Tab Features (WWDC 2025, 256)

```swift
// Tab bar minimization on scroll
TabView { ... }
    .tabBarMinimizeBehavior(.onScrollDown)

// Bottom accessory view (always visible)
TabView { ... }
    .tabViewBottomAccessory {
        PlaybackControls()
    }

// Dynamic visibility (recommended for mini-players)
// ⚠️ Requires iOS 26.1+ (not 26.0)
TabView { ... }
    .tabViewBottomAccessory(isEnabled: showMiniPlayer) {
        MiniPlayerView()
            .transition(.opacity)
    }
// isEnabled: true = shows accessory
// isEnabled: false = hides AND removes reserved space

// Search tab with dedicated search field
Tab(role: .search) {
    NavigationStack {
        SearchView()
            .navigationTitle("Search")
    }
    .searchable(text: $searchText)
}
// Morphs into search field when selected
// ⚠️ NavigationStack wrapper required for search field to appear
// Fallback: If no tab has .search role, the tab view applies search
// to ALL tabs, resetting search state when the selected tab changes
```

#### Dynamic Bottom Accessory

The accessory can switch on `activeTab` for per-tab content, though Apple's usage (Music mini-player) keeps it global. Read `@Environment(\.tabViewBottomAccessoryPlacement)` to adapt layout: `.bar` when above tab bar (full controls), other values when inline with collapsed tab bar (compact).

Reserve `tabViewBottomAccessory` for cross-tab content (playback, status). For tab-specific actions, prefer floating glass buttons within the tab's content view.

### 5.8 Tab API Quick Reference

| Modifier | Target | iOS | Purpose |
|----------|--------|-----|---------|
| `Tab(_:systemImage:value:content:)` | — | 18+ | New tab syntax with selection value |
| `Tab(role: .search)` | — | 18+ | Semantic search tab with morph behavior |
| `TabSection(_:content:)` | — | 18+ | Group tabs in sidebar view |
| `.contextMenu(menuItems:)` | Tab | 18+ | Add context menu to tab's sidebar representation |
| `.customizationID(_:)` | Tab | 18+ | Enable user customization |
| `.customizationBehavior(_:for:)` | Tab | 18+ | Control hide/reorder permissions |
| `.defaultVisibility(_:for:)` | Tab | 18+ | Set initial visibility state |
| `.hidden(_:)` | Tab | 18+ | Programmatic visibility with state preservation |
| `.tabViewStyle(.sidebarAdaptable)` | TabView | 18+ | Sidebar on iPad, tabs on iPhone |
| `.tabViewCustomization($binding)` | TabView | 18+ | Persist user tab arrangement |
| `.tabBarMinimizeBehavior(_:)` | TabView | 26+ | Auto-hide on scroll |
| `.tabViewBottomAccessory(isEnabled:content:)` | TabView | 26.1+ | Dynamic content below tab bar |

---

## iOS 26+ Navigation Features

### 6.1 Liquid Glass Navigation (WWDC 2025, 323)

Automatic adoption when building with Xcode 26:
- Navigation bars become Liquid Glass
- Sidebars float above content with glass effect
- Tab bars float with new compact appearance
- Toolbars get automatic grouping

### 6.2 Background Extension Effect

```swift
NavigationSplitView {
    Sidebar()
} detail: {
    HeroImage()
        .backgroundExtensionEffect()  // Content extends behind sidebar
}
```

### 6.3 Bottom-Aligned Search (WWDC 2025, 256)

**Foundational search APIs** For `.searchable`, `isSearching`, suggestions, scopes, tokens, and programmatic control, see `axiom-swiftui-search-ref`. This section covers iOS 26 bottom-aligned refinement only.

```swift
NavigationSplitView {
    Sidebar()
} detail: {
    DetailView()
}
.searchable(text: $query, prompt: "What are you looking for?")
// Automatically bottom-aligned on iPhone, top-trailing on iPad
```

### 6.4 Scroll Edge Effect

```swift
// Automatic blur effect when content scrolls under toolbar
// Remove any custom darkening backgrounds - they interfere

// For dense UIs, adjust sharpness
ScrollView { ... }
    .scrollEdgeEffectStyle(.soft)  // .sharp, .soft
```

### 6.5 Sheet Presentations with Zoom Transition

In iOS 26, sheets can morph directly out of the buttons that present them. Make the presenting toolbar item a source for a navigation zoom transition, and mark the sheet content as the destination:

```swift
@Namespace private var namespace

// Sheet morphs out of presenting button
.toolbar {
    ToolbarItem {
        Button("Settings") { showSettings = true }
            .matchedTransitionSource(id: "settings", in: namespace)
    }
}
.sheet(isPresented: $showSettings) {
    SettingsView()
        .navigationTransition(.zoom(sourceID: "settings", in: namespace))
}
```

Other presentations also flow smoothly out of Liquid Glass controls — menus, alerts, and popovers. Dialogs automatically morph out of the buttons that present them without additional code.

**Audit tip**: If you've used `presentationBackground` to apply custom backgrounds to sheets, consider removing it and let the new Liquid Glass sheet material shine. Partial height sheets are now inset with glass background by default.

### 6.6 Toolbar Morphing Transitions

iOS 26 automatically morphs toolbars during NavigationStack push/pop when each destination view declares its own `.toolbar {}`. Items with matching `toolbar(id:)` and `ToolbarItem(id:)` IDs stay stable during the transition (no bounce), while unmatched items animate in/out.

**Key rule**: Attach `.toolbar {}` to individual views inside NavigationStack, not to NavigationStack itself. Otherwise there is nothing to morph between.

See `axiom-swiftui-26-ref` skill for complete toolbar morphing API including DefaultToolbarItem, `toolbar(id:)` stable items, ToolbarSpacer patterns, and troubleshooting.

---

## Router/Coordinator Patterns

### 7.1 When to Use Coordinators

**Use coordinators when:**
- Navigation logic is complex with conditional flows
- Testing navigation in isolation
- Sharing navigation logic across multiple screens
- UIKit interop with heavy navigation requirements

**Use built-in navigation when:**
- Simple linear or hierarchical navigation
- State restoration is primary concern
- Fewer than 5-10 navigation destinations
- No need for navigation unit testing

### 7.2 Simple Router Pattern

```swift
// Route enum defines all possible destinations
enum AppRoute: Hashable {
    case home
    case category(Category)
    case recipe(Recipe)
    case settings
}

// Router class manages navigation
@Observable
class Router {
    var path = NavigationPath()

    func navigate(to route: AppRoute) {
        path.append(route)
    }

    func popToRoot() {
        path.removeLast(path.count)
    }

    func pop() {
        if !path.isEmpty {
            path.removeLast()
        }
    }
}

// Usage in views
struct ContentView: View {
    @State private var router = Router()

    var body: some View {
        NavigationStack(path: $router.path) {
            HomeView()
                .navigationDestination(for: AppRoute.self) { route in
                    switch route {
                    case .home:
                        HomeView()
                    case .category(let category):
                        CategoryView(category: category)
                    case .recipe(let recipe):
                        RecipeDetail(recipe: recipe)
                    case .settings:
                        SettingsView()
                    }
                }
        }
        .environment(router)
    }
}

// In child views
struct RecipeCard: View {
    let recipe: Recipe
    @Environment(Router.self) private var router

    var body: some View {
        Button(recipe.name) {
            router.navigate(to: .recipe(recipe))
        }
    }
}
```

### 7.3 Coordinator Pattern with Protocol

For larger apps, extract a `Coordinator` protocol with `associatedtype Route: Hashable` and `var path: NavigationPath`. Each feature area gets its own coordinator conformance with domain-specific routes and convenience methods (e.g., `showRecipeOfTheDay()` that resets path and navigates).

### 7.4 Testing Navigation

```swift
// Router is easily testable
func testNavigateToRecipe() {
    let router = Router()
    let recipe = Recipe(name: "Apple Pie")

    router.navigate(to: .recipe(recipe))

    XCTAssertEqual(router.path.count, 1)
}

func testPopToRoot() {
    let router = Router()
    router.navigate(to: .category(.desserts))
    router.navigate(to: .recipe(Recipe(name: "Apple Pie")))

    router.popToRoot()

    XCTAssertTrue(router.path.isEmpty)
}
```

---

## Testing Checklist

- [ ] Deep links navigate correctly from cold start AND while running
- [ ] Pop to root clears entire stack
- [ ] State restores on app relaunch (SceneStorage key unique per scene)
- [ ] Deleted items handled gracefully in restoration (compactMap)
- [ ] NavigationSplitView collapses correctly on iPhone (selection pushes)
- [ ] iOS 26+: Liquid Glass appearance, bottom-aligned search, tab bar minimization

---

## API Quick Reference

### NavigationStack

```swift
NavigationStack { content }
NavigationStack(path: $path) { content }
```

### NavigationSplitView

```swift
NavigationSplitView { sidebar } detail: { detail }
NavigationSplitView { sidebar } content: { content } detail: { detail }
NavigationSplitView(columnVisibility: $visibility) { ... }
```

### NavigationLink

```swift
NavigationLink(title, value: value)
NavigationLink(value: value) { label }
```

### NavigationPath

```swift
path.append(value)
path.removeLast()
path.removeLast(path.count)
path.count
path.codable  // For encoding
NavigationPath(codableRepresentation)  // For decoding
```

### Modifiers

```swift
.navigationTitle("Title")
.navigationDestination(for: Type.self) { value in View }
.searchable(text: $query)
.tabViewStyle(.sidebarAdaptable)
.tabBarMinimizeBehavior(.onScrollDown)
.backgroundExtensionEffect()
```

---

## Resources

**WWDC**: 2022-10054, 2024-10147, 2025-256, 2025-323 (Build a SwiftUI app with the new design)

**Docs**: /swiftui/tabrole/search, /swiftui/view/tabbarminimizebehavior(_:), /swiftui/view/tabviewbottomaccessory(isenabled:content:)

**Skills**: axiom-swiftui-nav, axiom-swiftui-nav-diag, axiom-swiftui-26-ref, axiom-liquid-glass, axiom-swiftui-search-ref

---

**Last Updated** Based on WWDC 2022-10054, WWDC 2024-10147, WWDC 2025-256, WWDC 2025-323 (Build a SwiftUI app with the new design)
**Platforms** iOS 16+, iPadOS 16+, macOS 13+, watchOS 9+, tvOS 16+