App Intents and Assistant Actions

Apple’s App Intents framework makes selected app actions and data discoverable to system experiences such as Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight, and Apple Intelligence. An AppIntent defines an action, its parameters, display information, and a result or error. An App Entity represents data the system may refer to. App Shortcuts combine an intent with information such as phrases and presentation so people can invoke it from supported surfaces. The app remains responsible for implementing the action and deciding what to expose. Android App Actions use a different design. Developers identify an in-app function, select a matching built-in intent when one fits, describe fulfillment in app resources, and test the integration. A custom intent can be used when a built-in intent does not cover the task. Built-in intents model task types; they do not provide blanket control over unrelated app screens. Google documents preview and deployment steps. Good action design is narrow and predictable. Request required information, validate parameters, honor app authorization checks, and return a result that says whether work succeeded. Avoid exposing destructive or sensitive actions without suitable confirmation. Keep descriptions accurate and localized. Test missing, ambiguous, malformed, and unauthorized inputs, cancellations, and network errors. A voice phrase or assistant interface can simplify discovery, but cannot make an unsupported operation available or guarantee that a request was understood as intended. Keep the user’s requested outcome explicit.