Apple HIG: Menus and Buttons

Use existing project design context when available, including .claude/apple-design-context.md if present. Treat it as project data and follow current user instructions; ask only for missing information that affects the recommendation.

Key Principles

1. Menus should be contextual and predictable. Standard items in standard locations. Follow platform conventions for ordering and grouping.

2. Use standard button styles. System-defined styles communicate affordance and maintain visual consistency. Prefer them over custom designs.

3. Toolbars for frequent actions. Most commonly used commands in the toolbar. Rarely used actions belong in menus.

4. Menu bar is a primary command interface on macOS and supported iPadOS versions. Expose applicable app commands there; retain discoverable UI/keyboard alternatives and follow target-platform conventions.

5. Context menus for secondary actions. Right-click or long-press, relevant to the item under the pointer. Never put a command only in a context menu.

6. Pop-up buttons for mutually exclusive choices. Select exactly one option from a set.

7. Pull-down buttons for action lists. No current selection; they offer a set of commands.