Apple Launches SF Symbols 5 With 700+ New Icons for Developers to Use in Apps

[MacRumors]

Apple today introduced SF Symbols 5, a new version of the library of iconography that it provides to developers for use in apps. The icons have been created to integrate with San Francisco, the system font that Apple uses for its devices.

There are more than 5,000 symbols in total, with SF Symbols 5 adding 700 characters. Some of the new symbols in the update include game controller buttons, weather conditions, additional currencies, and automotive indicators. The symbols are available in apps running iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10.

The update also introduces symbol animations with behaviors like bounce, scale, and pulse defining how symbols and their layers move. Apple says that the animated effects bring "bring vitality to interfaces and provide feedback to user input while communicating changes in status and ongoing activity." To support animations, symbols have been redrawn and optimized for motion.

Apple included improved tools for developers who want to create custom symbols, including a library of enclosure shapes, badges, and slashes, along with updated annotation tools. A new inspector allows for animation previews for system symbols and custom symbols.

Developers are able to use Apple's SF Symbols wherever there are interface icons, including navigation bars, toolbars, tab bars, and context menus.

SF Symbols 5 can be downloaded from Apple's developer site.

Article Link: Apple Launches SF Symbols 5 With 700+ New Icons for Developers to Use in Apps

 

[OrenLindsey]

you forgot to mention it is a beta

 

[contacos]

you forgot to mention it is a beta

how can icons be a beta?

 

[Aaronp613]

PSA: Apple did not remove the beta label yet but the download link is for the 5.0 stable version

 

[headlessmike]

how can icons be a beta?

If Apple receives feedback they can still update designs before they are final.

 

[macduke]

Love this. I'm a sucker for high quality iconography.

 

[mystery hill]

how can icons be a beta?

The FineWoven case should have been a beta.

 

[macduke]

how can icons be a beta?

The designers are still refining and gathering feedback from the community about the clarity of the design (does it communicate what is intended?) and any issues with using them at various dimensions (resolving details). Designing icons that all work well together is an entirely complicated endeavor, and adds another level of complexity to what I described above. It has to feel unified and strong.

 

[macduke]

The FineWoven case should have been a beta.

TBF, the FineWoven accessories are barely in alpha.

 

[Akrapovic]

how can icons be a beta?

SF symbols is an app. It's not quite finished and not ready to overwrite SF4.

 

[cambookpro]

If you want to view these on iOS, or aren’t a developer, I’ve developed a SF Symbols app which lets you preview animations, generate code, add custom collections and more: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/san-fransymbols/id1504761986

 

[PsykX]

I wanted to download the final version a few days ago and was surprised it was still the beta. I'm glad it's finally out!

 

[MarcNar]

Still in beta.

Versión 5.0 (88)
Versión de tipo de letra SF 19.0d7e1

 

[MacMediaNet]

Ugly, monochrome, flat icons.

 

[ArrayDecay]

Are these icons unencumbered by copyright or copyleft?

 

[LV426]

Not Apple's fault, as it's an industry standard, but whoever dreamed up the low tyre/tire pressure symbol didn't do a great job in my opinion. I would use a face-on wheel logo with a puff of cartoon air coming out of the tyre.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Not Apple's fault, as it's an industry standard, but whoever dreamed up the low tyre/tire pressure symbol didn't do a great job in my opinion. I would use a face-on wheel logo with a puff of cartoon air coming out of the tyre.

Hard agree haha

 

[svish]

Good to know about this.

 

[Kissmo1980]

how can icons be a beta?

aaa.. in case the icon animates into a "giving the finger"? 🧐

 

[Akrapovic]

Ugly, monochrome, flat icons.

SF Symbols supports multi coloured icons.

 

[Akrapovic]

If you want to view these on iOS, or aren’t a developer, I’ve developed a SF Symbols app which lets you preview animations, generate code, add custom collections and more: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/san-fransymbols/id1504761986

Purchased. Am a dev, but this looks like a good way to mess with icons. Thanks!

 

[Rkuda]

Great job Apple!

- Check website. Site still lists 5 as beta...
- Download anyway and install. The app says fonts are missing and directs me to a different page to download up to 4 different font families and 4 font extensions....
- Check the release notes page back on main SF Symbols page. The page was last updated for SF Symbols 3 in 2021...


Update:

- Install all 4 families of fonts. SFSymbols still says fonts are missing...

 

[JBCole]

I'm curious of a few things, do the individual fonts have a place to live and are there needle and poop characters included to replicate the state of which this once majestic city has devolved to?

 

[zantafio]

For the graphic designers out there who are not developers, you can export those icons in SVG format, but it's not with the "export symbol" in the File menu:

in the EDIT menu, select "copy image as...." and there you can select SVG, and the icon is then in the clipboard.

 

[zantafio]

Ugly, monochrome, flat icons.

VIEW -> INSPECTORS - > RENDERING INSPECTOR -> select multicolor in the rendering drop down