Overview
Great keyboard apps use the main app to show the user the state of the keyboard, if it’s enabled in System Settings, if Full Access is enabled, etc.
KeyboardKit adds many utilities to make this easier, such as URL extensions and navigation links.
Core Features
KeyboardKit has a .keyboardSettings URL that can be used to open your app’s keyboard settings in System Settings. There’s also a KeyboardSettings.Link that renders a customizable navigation link.
Data Syncing
Many keyboards open the main app to let users manage app settings, such as the locale, feedback settings, etc. The larger UI makes for a great alternative for app and keyboard settings.
To share data between the app and the keyboard, you must use an App Group to persist data in a way that allows it to be accessed by both the app and the keyboard.
Once you have defined an App Group, you can use UserDefaults(suiteName: "group-id") to create a defaults instance that automatically syncs data between all targets.
The main app will always write data to an App Group in a way that makes it instantly available to the keyboard. A keyboard must however have Full Access enabled for data to be immediately synced.
Limitations
A common request is to be able to access values from System Settings, for instance a user’s audio or feedback preferences. This is not possible, at least not with the public APIs.
Documentation
The information on this page is shortened to be easier to overview. For more information about this feature, code samples, etc. please see the online documentation.
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Essentials
KeyboardKit provides essential features, utilities & views.
Actions
KeyboardKit makes it easy to trigger keyboard-related actions
AI Support
KeyboardKit has features that are needed for AI.
App
KeyboardKit has app-specific screens & views.
Autocomplete
KeyboardKit can perform autocomplete.
Callouts
KeyboardKit can show input & secondary action callouts.
Colors
KeyboardKit defines keyboard-specific colors.
Device Utilities
KeyboardKit has device-specific utilities.
Dictation
KeyboardKit can perform dictation from the keyboard.
Emojis
KeyboardKit defines emojis, categories, skin tones, etc.
External Keyboards
KeyboardKit Pro can detect if an external keyboard is being used.
Feedback
KeyboardKit can trigger audio & haptic feedback.
Gestures
KeyboardKit has a customizable keyboard gesture engine.
Host
KeyboardKit can identify the host application.
Images
KeyboardKit defines keyboard-specific images.
Layout
KeyboardKit has customizable input sets & keyboard layouts.
Localization
KeyboardKit supports 60+ locales and languages.
Navigation
KeyboardKit lets you open urls and apps from the keyboard.
Previews
KeyboardKit has extension keyboard preview support.
Proxy Utilities
KeyboardKit makes your text document proxy do a LOT more.
Settings
KeyboardKit has tools for in-app settings & System Settings.
Status
KeyboardKit detects if a keyboard is enabled, has full access, etc.
Styling
KeyboardKit lets you style your keyboards to great extent.
Text Input
KeyboardKit can input text inside the keyboard extension itself.
Themes
KeyboardKit can use themes to style keyboards in flexible ways.