Sample CodeiOS, iPadOS, Mac Catalyst, iPadReviewed 2026-07-21View on Apple Developer

Classifying Images with Vision and Core ML

At a glance

Item Summary
Purpose Crop and scale photos using the Vision framework and classify them with a Core ML model.
App architecture A Swift sample with the source-visible chain AppDelegateMainViewControllerUIKit / Vision APIs.
Main patterns View-controller organization, Delegate or data-source callbacks
Project style 7 scanned source file(s) across Swift, organized around ranked entry, type, and file boundaries.

Project structure

Source bundle/
├── App/
│   ├── AppDelegate.swift
│   ├── Base.lproj/
│   │   └── LaunchScreen.storyboard
│   └── Info.plist
├── Image Predictor/
│   └── ImagePredictor.swift
├── Main View/
│   ├── MainViewController.swift
│   ├── MainViewController+CameraPicker.swift
│   ├── MainViewController+PhotoPicker.swift
│   └── Base.lproj/
│       └── Main.storyboard
├── Extensions/
│   ├── CGImagePropertyOrientation+UIImageOrientation.swift
│   └── VNClassificationObservation+confidenceString.swift
├── Configuration/
│   └── SampleCode.xcconfig
└── Vision+Core-ML.xcodeproj/
    └── .xcodesamplecode.plist

Structure observations

  • Architecturally prominent files are ranked from entry points and role-named declarations; resource-only paths are omitted.
  • Primary languages: Swift.
  • The verified tree contains 6 project/configuration file(s) and 4 source declaration(s).

Overall architecture

Reference code

App/AppDelegate.swift:10 — architecture anchor

@UIApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {
    var window: UIWindow?
}

Interpretation

The arrows summarize the source-visible entry, role-named types or folders, and framework direction; when nodes come from structural folders, the sequence is a high-level interpretation rather than proof that every adjacent node calls the next. Ownership is claimed only where the next section cites a stored property or assignment. The diagram is intentionally limited to the dominant path into Core ML.

Ownership and state

Ownership evidence

App/AppDelegate.swift:12 — stored dependency or nearest verified ownership anchor

@UIApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {
    var window: UIWindow?
}
Owner Object or state Relationship Mutation authority
AppDelegate UIWindow (window) stores or receives App/module collaborators
Prediction String (classification) owns value state Initialized by the owner; the binding is immutable
Prediction String (confidencePercentage) owns value state Initialized by the owner; the binding is immutable
MainViewController ImagePredictor (imagePredictor) creates and retains Initialized by the owner; the binding is immutable

Composition arrows indicate a source-visible construction expression or locally owned value state; aggregation means the owner stores or receives a dependency without proving exclusive lifetime ownership.

Class and protocol design

App/AppDelegate.swift:11 — representative type boundary

class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {
    var window: UIWindow?
}
Type Responsibility Depends on or conforms to
AppDelegate Receives callback-driven events UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate
MainViewController View lifecycle, callbacks, and feature coordination UIViewController
ImagePredictor Owns feature behavior and collaborator lifecycle Concrete collaborators/imported frameworks
Prediction Represents a feature value or composable behavior Concrete collaborators/imported frameworks

No local protocol conformance is claimed as protocol-oriented design; external framework conformances are listed only as dependencies.

Access control

Symbol Access Verified effect Likely rationale
imageClassifier (Image Predictor/ImagePredictor.swift:48) private Use is restricted to the lexical declaration and same-file extensions allowed by Swift. Inference: keep state mutation or dependency lifetime inside the owning implementation.
predictionHandlers (Image Predictor/ImagePredictor.swift:66) private Use is restricted to the lexical declaration and same-file extensions allowed by Swift. Inference: keep state mutation or dependency lifetime inside the owning implementation.
createImageClassificationRequest (Image Predictor/ImagePredictor.swift:69) private Use is restricted to the lexical declaration and same-file extensions allowed by Swift. Inference: hide an implementation step that is not part of the collaboration surface.
visionRequestHandler (Image Predictor/ImagePredictor.swift:106) private Use is restricted to the lexical declaration and same-file extensions allowed by Swift. Inference: hide an implementation step that is not part of the collaboration surface.

Reference code

Image Predictor/ImagePredictor.swift:48 — representative boundary

class ImagePredictor {
    // ...
    private static let imageClassifier = createImageClassifier()
    // ...
}

Swift declarations without a modifier are internal; explicit private, fileprivate, private(set), public, or open entries above are interpreted by language semantics. Objective-C/C samples instead rely on header and implementation boundaries, which are not equivalent to Swift lexical privacy.

Logic ownership and placement

Logic Owning type or file Placement rationale
View lifecycle, callbacks, and feature coordination MainViewController The source’s Controller suffix makes this role explicit.
Receives callback-driven events AppDelegate The source’s Delegate suffix makes this role explicit.

Design patterns

Pattern Source evidence Purpose or tradeoff
View-controller organization Main View/MainViewController.swift:10 A controller is the verified coordination boundary; this is MVC-style only where a separate model is present.
Delegate or data-source callbacks App/AppDelegate.swift:11 Callback protocols invert event delivery back into the sample’s owner.

Naming conventions

  • Types: Controller: MainViewController; Delegate: AppDelegate.
  • Protocols: no local protocol declaration in the scanned source.
  • Methods: createImageClassifier, createImageClassificationRequest, makePredictions, visionRequestHandler, singleTap, doubleTap, updateImage, updatePredictionLabel.
  • Files: App/AppDelegate.swift, Image Predictor/ImagePredictor.swift, Main View/MainViewController.swift.

Architecture takeaways

  • AppDelegate is the main source-visible entry or composition anchor for this sample.
  • Framework work reaches UIKit, Vision, ImageIO, PhotosUI through a deliberately small high-level chain; the detailed API graph remains inside the cited implementation files.
  • Stored-property evidence identifies lifecycle collaboration; it does not by itself prove exclusive object ownership.
  • Access-control conclusions separate verified language visibility from the likely design rationale.
  • The source does not justify labeling the design protocol-oriented.

Source map

Source file Relevant symbols
App/AppDelegate.swift AppDelegate
Image Predictor/ImagePredictor.swift ImagePredictor, Prediction
Main View/MainViewController.swift MainViewController
Extensions/CGImagePropertyOrientation+UIImageOrientation.swift Feature implementation
Extensions/VNClassificationObservation+confidenceString.swift Feature implementation
Main View/MainViewController+CameraPicker.swift Feature implementation
Main View/MainViewController+PhotoPicker.swift Feature implementation