Modal presentation
A transition where a new view slides up over the current view to present a self-contained task.
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Design
Engineering
Modal presentations imply 'pause your current task and complete this one before returning'. iOS sheets slide up from the bottom; web modals fade in over a scrim. The motion is perpendicular to a push transition — push goes sideways through a hierarchy, modal comes from below as an interruption. The user dismisses with a swipe down, a close button, or Escape.
Also called
modal slide-upsheet presentation
When to use
- Self-contained tasks that interrupt the main flow (compose new message, create record)
- Forms that should feel temporary and dismissable
- Confirmations and destructive-action prompts
When not to use
- Navigation between peer views (modals stack badly when used as navigation)
- Critical errors that need acknowledgement, not dismissal (use an alert)
Related
Source
Apple HIG ('Modal presentation'); supported on iOS via UISheetPresentationController and on Android/web via similar conventions.