Understanding UIToolBar and Hiding it in a View with UIImagePickerController

As a developer, one of the most common challenges when working with iOS is dealing with the UIToolBar. The UIToolBar is a built-in UI element that provides various tools such as back button, navigation bar title, and other controls to the user. While it can be very useful in some scenarios, there are cases where we want to hide or minimize its visibility.

In this article, we’ll explore one common use case: hiding the UIToolBar when presenting a UIImagePickerController. We’ll go through various approaches to achieve this, including adjusting the frame of the UIToolBar and using custom toolbar creation.

What is a UIToolBar?

A UIToolBar is a UI element that provides access to various tools such as back button, navigation bar title, and other controls. It’s typically used in conjunction with a UINavigationController or another view controller hierarchy.

The UIToolBar appears at the top of the screen and contains several elements:

• Back button: A button that allows the user to go back to the previous view.
• Navigation bar title: The title displayed on the navigation bar.
• Other controls: Depending on the context, other controls such as the app’s logo or other UI elements may be present.

Why Hide the UIToolBar?

There are several reasons why you might want to hide the UIToolBar:

• Customization: If your app requires a specific layout or design, hiding the UIToolBar can help achieve this.
• Performance: In some cases, hiding the UIToolBar can improve performance by reducing the number of UI elements that need to be updated.
• User experience: Hiding the UIToolBar can help create a more streamlined user interface that focuses on the main content.

Approaches to Hide the UIToolBar

There are several approaches to hide the UIToolBar when presenting a UIImagePickerController:

1. Adjusting the Frame of the UIToolBar

One common approach is to adjust the frame of the UIToolBar to shift it off the screen. This can be achieved by providing a y-coordinate value that is greater than 480, which is the default height of the iPhone screen.

Here’s an example code snippet that demonstrates how to do this:

UIImagePickerController *imagePicker = [[UIImagePickerController alloc] init];
imagePicker.sourceType = UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera;
imagePicker.allowsEditing = NO;
imagePicker.delegate = self;

// Adjust the frame of the UIToolBar
imagePicker.toolbarFrame = CGRectMake(0, 480, self.view.frame.size.width, 44);

[self presentModalViewController:imagePicker animated:YES];

In this code snippet, we adjust the toolbarFrame property of the UIImagePickerController instance to shift the UIToolBar off the screen.

2. Creating a Custom Toolbar

Another approach is to create a custom toolbar that replaces the standard one provided by the UIKit framework. This can be done using the UINavigationBar and UINavigationController classes.

Here’s an example code snippet that demonstrates how to do this:

@interface MyViewController () <UIImagePickerControllerDelegate, UINavigationControllerDelegate>

@end

@implementation MyViewController

- (void)viewDidLoad {
    [super viewDidLoad];

    // Create a custom toolbar
    UINavigationBar *customToolbar = [[UINavigationBar alloc] init];
    customToolbar.frame = CGRectMake(0, 480, self.view.frame.size.width, 44);

    // Add a back button to the custom toolbar
    UIButton *backButton = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeCustom];
    backButton.frame = CGRectMake(10, 10, 30, 30);
    backButton.backgroundColor = [UIColor redColor];
    backButton.setTitle:@"Back", forState:UIControlStateNormal;
    [customToolbar addSubview:backButton];

    // Set the custom toolbar as the navigation bar
    self.navigationController.toolbar = customToolbar;

    // Present the UIImagePickerController with the custom toolbar
    UIImagePickerController *imagePicker = [[UIImagePickerController alloc] init];
    imagePicker.sourceType = UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera;
    imagePicker.allowsEditing = NO;
    imagePicker.delegate = self;
    imagePicker.toolbar = customToolbar; // Set the custom toolbar as the image picker's toolbar

    [self presentModalViewController:imagePicker animated:YES];
}

@end

In this code snippet, we create a custom toolbar using UINavigationBar and add a back button to it. We then set the custom toolbar as the navigation bar for our view controller and use it when presenting the UIImagePickerController.

3. Resizing the Camera View

Another approach is to resize the camera view to allow the camera controls to be used.

Here’s an example code snippet that demonstrates how to do this:

UIImagePickerController *imagePicker = [[UIImagePickerController alloc] init];
imagePicker.sourceType = UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera;
imagePicker.allowsEditing = NO;
imagePicker.delegate = self;

// Resize the camera view
self.view.frame = CGRectMake(0, 480, self.view.frame.size.width, self.view.frame.size.height - 44);

[self presentModalViewController:imagePicker animated:YES];

In this code snippet, we resize the view frame to remove space for the UIToolBar. However, be aware that this approach may affect other elements of your app’s layout.

Conclusion

Hiding the UIToolBar when presenting a UIImagePickerController can be achieved through various approaches. By adjusting the frame of the UIToolBar or creating a custom toolbar, you can customize the presentation of your image picker to suit your app’s design and functionality requirements. Remember to consider the implications of hiding the UIToolBar on other elements of your app’s layout and performance.

Additional Considerations

When working with UINavigationController and UIImagePickerController, there are several additional considerations to keep in mind:

• Storyboard Segues: Make sure to update any storyboard segues that may be referencing the standard UIKit navigation controller.
• Navigation Bar Title: Update the navigation bar title to reflect the current view controller’s name.
• Toolbar Items: Remove any toolbar items that are not necessary for your app’s functionality.
• Customization: Consider customizing the appearance of the UINavigationBar and UINavigationController instances to match your app’s design.

By understanding these considerations, you can create a more streamlined and user-friendly experience when presenting an image picker in your iOS app.

Last modified on 2023-09-08