CoreSpotlight

CoreSpotlight is an Apple framework that lets developers index app content directly into the on-device Spotlight search index. When users search on their iPhone or iPad, indexed items from your app appear alongside system results, web suggestions, and other app content. Each indexed item can include a title, description, thumbnail image, keywords, and a deep link back into the specific content within your app.

How to Use CoreSpotlight

Developers create CSSearchableItem objects with associated CSSearchableItemAttributeSet metadata and add them to the Spotlight index. The attribute set supports a wide range of properties including content type, creation date, rating, and custom keywords. Items can be added, updated, or removed individually or in batches. CoreSpotlight also supports indexing content that the user has never viewed, unlike NSUserActivity which only indexes visited content. This makes it ideal for apps with large catalogs of browsable content like products, articles, or media libraries.

Value for App Growth

CoreSpotlight indexing creates persistent, searchable entry points into your app on the user’s device. Every indexed item becomes a potential re-engagement trigger when a user searches for related terms. This is especially powerful for content-rich apps where users may forget specific items but search for them later. High-quality indexed content with relevant keywords improves the likelihood of your app appearing in Spotlight results, driving organic sessions and strengthening retention without any additional marketing spend.