Share sheet (UIActivityViewController) in iOS Swift - Mini App: Build & Ship

Build: Share Sheet Demo

This screen shows a button that opens the iOS share sheet to share a text message.

Target UI

-------------------------
| Share Sheet Demo       |
|-----------------------|
|                       |
|      [Share Text]      |
|                       |
-------------------------

Add a UIButton labeled 'Share Text' centered on the screen.

When the button is tapped, open a UIActivityViewController to share the text 'Hello from my app!'.

Ensure the share sheet works on both iPhone and iPad (use popoverPresentationController for iPad).

Starter Code

iOS Swift

import UIKit

class ShareSheetViewController: UIViewController {
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        view.backgroundColor = .systemBackground

        // TODO: Add Share Text button and action
    }
}

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Solution

iOS Swift

import UIKit

class ShareSheetViewController: UIViewController {
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        view.backgroundColor = .systemBackground

        let shareButton = UIButton(type: .system)
        shareButton.setTitle("Share Text", for: .normal)
        shareButton.titleLabel?.font = UIFont.systemFont(ofSize: 20, weight: .medium)
        shareButton.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        shareButton.addTarget(self, action: #selector(shareText), for: .touchUpInside)

        view.addSubview(shareButton)

        NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
            shareButton.centerXAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.centerXAnchor),
            shareButton.centerYAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.centerYAnchor)
        ])
    }

    @objc func shareText() {
        let textToShare = "Hello from my app!"
        let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [textToShare], applicationActivities: nil)

        // For iPad: set popover source
        if let popover = activityVC.popoverPresentationController {
            popover.sourceView = self.view
            popover.sourceRect = CGRect(x: self.view.bounds.midX, y: self.view.bounds.midY, width: 0, height: 0)
            popover.permittedArrowDirections = []
        }

        present(activityVC, animated: true)
    }
}

We create a UIButton labeled 'Share Text' and center it using Auto Layout. When tapped, it triggers shareText() which creates a UIActivityViewController with the text to share. For iPad compatibility, we set the popoverPresentationController sourceView and sourceRect to avoid crashes and show the share sheet properly as a popover.

This approach uses standard UIKit patterns and ensures the share sheet works on all iOS devices.

Final Result

Completed Screen

-------------------------
| Share Sheet Demo       |
|-----------------------|
|                       |
|      [Share Text]      |
|                       |
-------------------------

User taps the 'Share Text' button.

The iOS share sheet appears with options to share the text 'Hello from my app!' via Messages, Mail, AirDrop, etc.

User can select an option or cancel to return to the screen.

Stretch Goal

Add an image to share along with the text in the share sheet.

💡 Hint

Create a UIImage from your assets and include it in the activityItems array passed to UIActivityViewController.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of UIActivityViewController in an iOS app?

easy

A. To manage app settings

B. To present a share sheet allowing users to share content

C. To create a custom navigation bar

D. To handle background tasks

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of UIActivityViewController

   UIActivityViewController is designed to present a share sheet for sharing content.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options A, B, and D relate to different app functions not handled by UIActivityViewController.

3. Final Answer:

   To present a share sheet allowing users to share content -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Share sheet = UIActivityViewController [OK]

Hint: UIActivityViewController always shows sharing options [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing UIActivityViewController with navigation or settings controllers
• Thinking it manages background tasks
• Assuming it customizes UI elements beyond sharing

2. Which of the following is the correct way to initialize a UIActivityViewController with a text string to share?

easy

A. UIActivityViewController(activityItems: ["Hello World"], applicationActivities: nil)

B. UIActivityViewController(items: "Hello World")

C. UIActivityViewController(shareItems: ["Hello World"])

D. UIActivityViewController(content: "Hello World")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the initializer signature

   The correct initializer is UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [Any], applicationActivities: [UIActivity]?).

2. Step 2: Match the correct syntax

   UIActivityViewController(activityItems: ["Hello World"], applicationActivities: nil) matches the correct syntax with an array of items and nil for activities.

3. Final Answer:

   UIActivityViewController(activityItems: ["Hello World"], applicationActivities: nil) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Initializer uses activityItems array [OK]

Hint: Use activityItems array to pass share content [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing a single string instead of an array
• Using wrong parameter names like items or shareItems
• Omitting applicationActivities parameter

3. Given the code snippet below, what will happen when the button is tapped?

let textToShare = "Check this out!"
let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [textToShare], applicationActivities: nil)
present(activityVC, animated: true)

medium

A. The text is copied automatically to clipboard

B. The app crashes due to missing delegate

C. A share sheet appears allowing the user to share the text

D. Nothing happens because the share sheet is not presented

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the code behavior

   The code creates a UIActivityViewController with a text item and presents it modally.

2. Step 2: Understand UIActivityViewController presentation

   Presenting it modally shows the share sheet with sharing options for the text.

3. Final Answer:

   A share sheet appears allowing the user to share the text -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Presenting UIActivityViewController shows share sheet [OK]

Hint: Presenting UIActivityViewController shows share sheet [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming delegate is required to present share sheet
• Thinking share sheet appears automatically without present()
• Confusing share sheet with clipboard copy

4. Identify the error in the following code that tries to present a share sheet:

let image = UIImage(named: "photo.png")
let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [image], applicationActivities: nil)
present(activityVC, animated: true)

medium

A. present() must be called on the activityVC instance

B. UIActivityViewController requires a delegate to present

C. The activityItems parameter must be a single item, not an array

D. UIImage named "photo.png" may be nil

Solution

1. Step 1: Check UIImage initialization

   UIImage(named:) returns an optional and may be nil if the image is missing.

2. Step 2: Understand impact on activityItems

   Passing nil in activityItems array results in no shareable content.

3. Final Answer:

   UIImage named "photo.png" may be nil -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   UIImage(named:) can be nil if image missing [OK]

Hint: Always unwrap UIImage before sharing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming delegate is required for UIActivityViewController
• Passing single item instead of array to activityItems
• Calling present() on wrong object

5. You want to share both a URL and a text message using UIActivityViewController. Which code snippet correctly sets this up and presents the share sheet?

hard

A. let url = URL(string: "https://example.com")!
let message = "Check this out!"
let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [url, message], applicationActivities: nil)
present(activityVC, animated: true)

B. let url = URL(string: "https://example.com")
let message = "Check this out!"
let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: url, applicationActivities: message)
present(activityVC, animated: true)

C. let url = URL(string: "https://example.com")!
let message = "Check this out!"
let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(items: [url, message])
present(activityVC, animated: true)

D. let url = URL(string: "https://example.com")!
let message = "Check this out!"
let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [message], applicationActivities: [url])
present(activityVC, animated: true)

Solution

1. Step 1: Verify correct initializer usage

   UIActivityViewController requires activityItems as an array of items to share and applicationActivities as optional custom activities.

2. Step 2: Check each option's parameters

   let url = URL(string: "https://example.com")! let message = "Check this out!" let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [url, message], applicationActivities: nil) present(activityVC, animated: true) correctly passes an array with URL and text, and nil for applicationActivities.

3. Step 3: Confirm safe URL unwrapping

   let url = URL(string: "https://example.com")! let message = "Check this out!" let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [url, message], applicationActivities: nil) present(activityVC, animated: true) force unwraps URL safely assuming it exists, which is common in examples.

4. Final Answer:

   let url = URL(string: "https://example.com")! let message = "Check this out!" let activityVC = UIActivityViewController(activityItems: [url, message], applicationActivities: nil) present(activityVC, animated: true) -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Pass array of items to activityItems [OK]

Hint: Pass all share items in activityItems array [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing items or applicationActivities incorrectly
• Not using an array for activityItems
• Confusing applicationActivities with share content