# Pickers

{% embed url="https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/controls/pickers/" %}



A picker includes one or more scrollable lists of distinct values, each of which has a single selected value—appearing in darker text in the center of the view. A picker is often displayed at the bottom of the screen or in a popover when the user is editing a field or tapping a menu. Pickers can also appear inline, such as while editing a date in a Calendar event. The height of a picker is roughly the height of five rows of list values. The width of a picker is either the width of the screen or its enclosing view, depending on the device and context.

![](https://4132241749-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-Lx-rODU78wKXcWFO5Gt%2F-Lx4Ry3duARwCKuqe_yD%2F-Lx4TfjNgDglA5U4xRev%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=ff787bfe-2b14-49bf-9b1f-b43595a777c4)

**Use predictable and logically ordered values.** Many values in a picker may be hidden when the scrollable lists are stationary. It's best when people can predict what these values are, such as with a list of alphabetized countries, so they can move through the lists quickly.

**Avoid switching screens to show a picker.** A picker works well when displayed in context, below or in close proximity to the field being edited.

**Use a table instead of a picker for large value lists.** Long lists can be tedious to navigate in a picker. A table has adjustable height and can include an index, making scrolling much faster.

For developer guidance, see [UIPickerView](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/uipickerview).

## Date Pickers

A date picker is an efficient interface for selecting a specific date, time, or both. It also provides an interface for displaying a countdown timer.

![](https://4132241749-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-Lx-rODU78wKXcWFO5Gt%2F-Lx4Ry3duARwCKuqe_yD%2F-Lx4ToV-BinrzE481rsJ%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=0990124b-8985-4a63-88d8-1177e4ad4c68)

A date picker has four modes, each of which presents a different set of selectable values.

* **Date.** Displays months, days of the month, and years.
* **Time.** Displays hours, minutes, and (optionally) an AM/PM designation.
* **Date and time.** Displays dates, hours, minutes, and (optionally) an AM/PM designation.
* **Countdown timer.** Displays hours and minutes, up to a maximum of 23 hours and 59 minutes.

The exact values shown in a date picker and their order depend upon the user’s locale.

**Consider providing less granularity when specifying minutes.** By default, a minute list includes 60 values (0 to 59). You can optionally increase the minute interval as long as it divides evenly into 60. For example, you might want quarter-hour intervals (0, 15, 30, and 45).

For developer guidance, see [UIDatePicker](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/uidatepicker).





