ionic-expert
A comprehensive starting point for AI agents to work with the Ionic Framework. Covers core concepts, components, CLI, theming, layout, lifecycle, navigation, and framework-specific patterns for Angular, React, and Vue. Pair with the other Ionic skills in this collection for deeper topic-specific guidance like app creation, framework integration, and upgrades.
What this skill does
# Ionic Expert
Comprehensive reference for Ionic Framework development — core concepts, components, theming, lifecycle, navigation, framework-specific patterns (Angular, React, Vue), upgrading, and Capawesome Cloud integration.
## Core Concepts
Ionic Framework is a UI toolkit for building cross-platform apps with web technologies. It provides 80+ pre-built UI components as Web Components prefixed with `ion-` (e.g., `<ion-button>`, `<ion-content>`).
- **Platform modes**: Components adapt styling to the platform. iOS devices use `ios` mode; Android and all other platforms use `md` (Material Design). The `<html>` element receives a class (`ios` or `md`).
- **Capacitor integration**: Ionic handles the UI; Capacitor handles native device APIs. See the `capacitor-app-development` skill for Capacitor guidance.
- **Framework support**: Ionic integrates with Angular (`@ionic/angular`), React (`@ionic/react`), and Vue (`@ionic/vue`).
## Creating a New App
```bash
npm install -g @ionic/cli
ionic start <name> <template> --type=<framework> --capacitor --package-id=<id>
```
| `--type` value | Framework |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `angular` | Angular (NgModules) |
| `angular-standalone` | Angular (Standalone Components) |
| `react` | React |
| `vue` | Vue |
| Template | Description |
| ---------- | --------------------------- |
| `blank` | Empty project, single page |
| `tabs` | Tab-based layout |
| `sidemenu` | Side menu layout |
For details, see [ionic-app-creation](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-creation/SKILL.md).
## Ionic CLI
Run `ionic --help` for the full and always up-to-date command list.
| Command | Description |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| `ionic start` | Scaffold a new Ionic project. |
| `ionic serve` | Start a local dev server with live reload (port 8100). |
| `ionic build` | Build the web app for production. |
| `ionic generate` | Generate pages, components, services (framework-dependent). |
| `ionic info` | Print system/environment info. |
| `ionic repair` | Remove and recreate dependencies and platform files. |
Useful `ionic serve` flags: `--external` (all network interfaces), `--port=<port>`, `--prod`, `--no-open`.
## Components Overview
Ionic provides 80+ UI components organized by category. For full API reference (properties, events, methods, slots, CSS custom properties), see the linked reference files.
### Layout
`ion-app` (root container), `ion-content` (scrollable area), `ion-header`, `ion-footer`, `ion-toolbar`, `ion-title`, `ion-buttons`, `ion-back-button`, `ion-grid`/`ion-row`/`ion-col`, `ion-split-pane`.
Key usage:
```html
<ion-header>
<ion-toolbar>
<ion-buttons slot="start">
<ion-back-button defaultHref="/home"></ion-back-button>
</ion-buttons>
<ion-title>Page Title</ion-title>
</ion-toolbar>
</ion-header>
<ion-content>
<!-- Scrollable content -->
</ion-content>
```
For details, see [components-layout.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-layout.md).
### Navigation
`ion-tabs`, `ion-tab-bar`, `ion-tab-button`, `ion-menu`, `ion-menu-button`, `ion-menu-toggle`, `ion-router-outlet`, `ion-nav`, `ion-breadcrumbs`.
For details, see [components-navigation.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-navigation.md).
### Form
`ion-input`, `ion-textarea`, `ion-select`/`ion-select-option`, `ion-checkbox`, `ion-toggle`, `ion-radio`/`ion-radio-group`, `ion-range`, `ion-datetime`/`ion-datetime-button`, `ion-searchbar`, `ion-segment`/`ion-segment-button`, `ion-input-otp`.
Key properties shared by most form components: `label`, `labelPlacement` (`floating`, `stacked`, `fixed`, `start`), `fill` (`outline`, `solid`), `errorText`, `helperText`, `disabled`, `value`, `placeholder`.
Key events:
- `ionInput` — fires on each keystroke (use for `ion-input`/`ion-textarea`).
- `ionChange` — fires when value is committed (use for `ion-select`, `ion-toggle`, `ion-checkbox`, `ion-range`).
```html
<ion-input label="Email" labelPlacement="floating" fill="outline"
type="email" placeholder="[email protected]"
errorText="Invalid email" helperText="Enter your email">
</ion-input>
<ion-select label="Country" labelPlacement="floating" fill="outline" interface="popover">
<ion-select-option value="us">United States</ion-select-option>
<ion-select-option value="de">Germany</ion-select-option>
</ion-select>
```
For details, see [components-form.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-form.md).
### Overlays
`ion-modal`, `ion-alert`, `ion-toast`, `ion-action-sheet`, `ion-loading`, `ion-popover`.
All overlays share: `isOpen` prop for declarative control, `trigger` prop to open from a button ID, `backdropDismiss`, `animated`, and lifecycle events (`didPresent`, `didDismiss`, `willPresent`, `willDismiss`).
**Sheet modal** (bottom sheet):
```html
<ion-modal [isOpen]="isOpen" [breakpoints]="[0, 0.5, 1]" [initialBreakpoint]="0.5" [handle]="true">
<ion-content>Sheet content</ion-content>
</ion-modal>
```
For details, see [components-overlay.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-overlay.md).
### Data Display
`ion-list`, `ion-item`, `ion-item-sliding`/`ion-item-options`/`ion-item-option`, `ion-card`/`ion-card-header`/`ion-card-content`, `ion-accordion`/`ion-accordion-group`, `ion-chip`, `ion-badge`, `ion-label`, `ion-note`.
For details, see [components-data-display.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-data-display.md).
### Scroll
`ion-refresher`/`ion-refresher-content` (pull-to-refresh), `ion-infinite-scroll`/`ion-infinite-scroll-content`, `ion-reorder-group`/`ion-reorder`.
For details, see [components-scroll.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-scroll.md).
### Actions & Media
`ion-button`, `ion-fab`/`ion-fab-button`, `ion-icon`, `ion-avatar`, `ion-thumbnail`, `ion-spinner`, `ion-skeleton-text`, `ion-progress-bar`.
For details, see [components-action.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-action.md) and [components-media.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills/blob/main/skills/ionic-app-development/references/components-media.md).
## Theming
### Colors
Nine default colors: `primary`, `secondary`, `tertiary`, `success`, `warning`, `danger`, `light`, `medium`, `dark`. Apply via the `color` attribute:
```html
<ion-button color="primary">Save</ion-button>
<ion-button color="danger">Delete</ion-button>
```
Customize a color by overriding all six CSS variables in `:root`:
```css
:root {
--ion-color-primary: #3880ff;
--ion-color-primary-rgb: 56, 128, 255;
--ion-color-primary-contrast: #ffffff;
--ion-color-primary-contrast-rgb: 255, 255, 255;
--ion-color-primary-shade: #3171e0;
--ion-color-primary-tint: #4c8dff;
}
```
### Global CSS Variables
Key variables: `--ion-background-color`, `--ion-text-color`, `--ion-font-family`, `--ion-safe-area-top/right/bottom/left`, `--ion-margin`, `--ion-padding`.
### Dark Mode
Three approaches (import from `@ionic/angular/css/`, `@ionic/react/css/`, or `@ionic/vue/css/`):
1. **System preference** (default): `@import '@ionic/<framework>/css/palettes/dark.system.css';`
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