MapKit Basics (SwiftUI)

The iOS 17 MapKit API replaces the old wrapped Map view with a full SwiftUI integration. Map takes a MapContentBuilder closure, a result builder like ViewBuilder but for types conforming to MapContent. The old Map is deprecated but still useful on earlier targets.

Markers and Annotations

Marker places a predefined pin. Annotation places any SwiftUI view at a coordinate. Other MapContent types include MapCircle, MapPolygon, MapPolyline, and UserAnnotation.

import MapKit
import SwiftUI

Map {
  Annotation("Seattle", coordinate: .seattle) {
    Image(systemName: "mappin")
      .foregroundStyle(.black)
      .padding()
      .background(.red)
      .clipShape(Circle())
  }

  Marker(coordinate: .newYork) {
    Label("New York", systemImage: "mappin")
  }

  Marker("San Francisco", monogram: Text("SF"), coordinate: .sanFrancisco)
}

Initial Camera Position

Map(initialPosition:) takes a MapCameraPosition. Build one from userLocation (with a fallback), or from the camera, region, rect, or item static functions. The default is automatic, which fits the map content.

let initialPosition: MapCameraPosition = .userLocation(
  fallback: .camera(
    MapCamera(centerCoordinate: .newYork, distance: 0)
  )
)

Map(initialPosition: initialPosition) {
  // markers
}

Binding the Camera

For continuous control, pass a binding. SwiftUI writes to it when the user drags the map, and moves the camera when your code sets the property.

@State private var position: MapCameraPosition = .userLocation(
  fallback: .camera(MapCamera(centerCoordinate: .newYork, distance: 0))
)

Map(position: $position) { /* content */ }

Restricting Interactions

The interactionModes parameter limits what the user can do. MapInteractionModes covers pan, pitch, rotate, and zoom; all are enabled by default.

Map(position: $position, interactionModes: .pitch) { /* content */ }