# Popovers

Source: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/popovers
Skill: hig-components-dialogs
Snapshot: 2025-02-02

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<!-- hig-doctor:attribution -->
> **Source**: Apple Inc. Canonical content at https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/popovers.
> This file is a structured index of that content, snapshot 2025-02-02.
> Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc.; this repository provides organization and cross-referencing for AI agent consumption only.

# Popovers

## Best practices

**Use a popover to expose a small amount of information or functionality.**

**Consider using popovers when you want more room for content.**

**Position popovers appropriately.**

**Use a Close button for confirmation and guidance only.**

**Always save work when automatically closing a nonmodal popover.**

**Show one popover at a time.**

**Don’t show another view over a popover.**

**When possible, let people close one popover and open another with a single click or tap.**

**Avoid making a popover too big.**

**Provide a smooth transition when changing the size of a popover.**

**Avoid using the word _popover_ in help documentation.**

**Avoid using a popover to show a warning.**

## Platform considerations

### iOS, iPadOS

**Avoid displaying popovers in compact views.**

### macOS

  * Attached popover 
  * Detached popover 

**Consider letting people detach a popover.**

**Make minimal appearance changes to a detached popover.**

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For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/popovers