The Core iOS Developer’s Cookbook, Fifth Edition

Recipe: Tab Bars

On the iPhone and iPod touch, the UITabBarController class allows users to move between multiple view controllers and to customize the bar at the bottom of the screen. This is best seen in the music application. It offers one-tap access to different views and a More button that leads to user selection and editing of the bottom bar. Tab bars are not recommended for use as a primary design pattern on the iPad, although Apple supports their use when needed, especially in split views and popovers.

With tab bars, you don’t push views the way you do with navigation bars. Instead, you assemble a collection of controllers (they can individually be UIViewControllers, UINavigationControllers, or any other kind of view controllers) and ...