Navigating the Deprecation of statusBarOrientation in iOS 13
Problem: Developers using the statusBarOrientation property in iOS to determine app orientation faced a roadblock with the release of iOS 13. The property was deprecated, leaving many scratching their heads about the correct way to get the app's orientation.
Simplified: Imagine trying to find your way around a city using an outdated map. You're familiar with the landmarks, but the streets have changed! Similarly, iOS 13 introduced a change in how app orientation is handled, making the old statusBarOrientation method ineffective.
Scenario:
Let's say you had a piece of code that relied on statusBarOrientation to, for example, rotate an image based on the device orientation:
import UIKit
class ViewController: UIViewController {
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
// Get the current orientation
let orientation = UIApplication.shared.statusBarOrientation
// Rotate the image accordingly
if orientation == .landscapeLeft || orientation == .landscapeRight {
// Rotate the image 90 degrees
}
}
}
The Issue:
This code would work perfectly fine on iOS versions prior to 13, but after the update, attempting to access statusBarOrientation would result in a deprecation warning. This is because Apple introduced a new method of determining app orientation, making the old method obsolete.
Solution:
The recommended approach to getting the current app orientation in iOS 13 and beyond is to use the value(forKey:) method on UIApplication.shared. This method provides access to the underlying interfaceOrientation value, giving you the desired information.
import UIKit
class ViewController: UIViewController {
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
// Get the current orientation
let orientation = UIApplication.shared.value(forKey: "interfaceOrientation") as! UIInterfaceOrientation
// Rotate the image accordingly
if orientation == .landscapeLeft || orientation == .landscapeRight {
// Rotate the image 90 degrees
}
}
}
Analysis and Explanation:
The deprecation of statusBarOrientation might seem confusing at first. However, it's a step towards streamlining iOS development by promoting consistent and modern practices. The interfaceOrientation property provides a more reliable way to determine the device's orientation, as it's directly linked to the underlying system logic.
Benefits of the New Method:
- Consistent Behavior: The
interfaceOrientationproperty ensures consistent results across different iOS versions and devices. - Future Compatibility: This approach guarantees your code won't be affected by future changes in iOS orientation handling.
- Clarity: The
value(forKey:)method provides a more explicit way to access the desired information.
Further Considerations:
- Device Rotation: While the
interfaceOrientationproperty provides information about the current app's orientation, remember that device rotation might not always be reflected in the orientation value. For example, the user might have locked the device into portrait mode. - Alternative Methods: If you need to know the actual device orientation (regardless of the app's orientation), you can use the
UIDeviceclass'sorientationproperty. However, be mindful of the differences between device and app orientation.
Conclusion:
The deprecation of statusBarOrientation might seem like a hurdle, but by understanding the changes and embracing the new approach, developers can ensure their code remains compatible with the latest iOS versions. The interfaceOrientation property offers a robust and future-proof method for obtaining accurate app orientation information.
References:
- Apple Developer Documentation: UIApplication Class Reference
- Apple Developer Documentation: UIDevice Class Reference
By using these resources and understanding the nuances of orientation handling, developers can navigate the changes in iOS development with ease and create apps that are future-proof and perform optimally on all compatible devices.
