Image view (system and asset) in iOS Swift

Introduction

Images make apps look nice and help users understand content quickly. Using image views lets you show pictures from your app or the system easily.

Showing a logo or icon from your app's files.

Displaying a photo or picture stored inside your app.

Using built-in system icons like a trash bin or heart.

Adding decorative images to buttons or backgrounds.

Syntax

iOS Swift

let imageView = UIImageView(image: UIImage(named: "imageName"))

// For system image
let systemImageView = UIImageView(image: UIImage(systemName: "star.fill"))

Use UIImage(named:) to load images you added to your app's assets.

Use UIImage(systemName:) to load Apple's built-in icons.

Examples

This creates an image view showing your app's "logo" image from assets.

iOS Swift

let logoImageView = UIImageView(image: UIImage(named: "logo"))

This creates an image view showing a filled heart icon from the system.

iOS Swift

let heartImageView = UIImageView(image: UIImage(systemName: "heart.fill"))

Sample App

This app screen shows two images side by side: one from your app's assets named "exampleImage" and one system star icon colored yellow.

iOS Swift

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController {
  override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    
    view.backgroundColor = .white
    
    // Image from app assets
    let assetImageView = UIImageView(image: UIImage(named: "exampleImage"))
    assetImageView.frame = CGRect(x: 50, y: 100, width: 100, height: 100)
    assetImageView.contentMode = .scaleAspectFit
    view.addSubview(assetImageView)
    
    // System image
    let systemImageView = UIImageView(image: UIImage(systemName: "star.fill"))
    systemImageView.frame = CGRect(x: 200, y: 100, width: 100, height: 100)
    systemImageView.tintColor = .systemYellow
    systemImageView.contentMode = .scaleAspectFit
    view.addSubview(systemImageView)
  }
}

Important Notes

Make sure your asset image name matches exactly, including capitalization.

System images can be tinted by changing the tintColor property.

Set contentMode to control how the image fits inside the image view.

Summary

Use UIImageView to display images in your app.

Load images from your assets with UIImage(named:).

Use Apple's system icons with UIImage(systemName:) and customize their color.