homekit

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---
name: homekit
description: "Control smart-home accessories and commission Matter devices using HomeKit and MatterSupport. Use when managing homes/rooms/accessories, creating action sets or triggers, reading accessory characteristics, onboarding Matter devices, or building a third-party smart-home ecosystem app."
---

# HomeKit

Control home automation accessories and commission Matter devices. HomeKit manages
the home/room/accessory model, action sets, and triggers. MatterSupport handles device commissioning into your ecosystem.

## Contents

- [Setup](#setup)
- [HomeKit Data Model](#homekit-data-model)
- [Managing Accessories](#managing-accessories)
- [Reading and Writing Characteristics](#reading-and-writing-characteristics)
- [Action Sets and Triggers](#action-sets-and-triggers)
- [Matter Commissioning](#matter-commissioning)
- [MatterAddDeviceExtensionRequestHandler](#matteradddeviceextensionrequesthandler)
- [Common Mistakes](#common-mistakes)
- [Review Checklist](#review-checklist)
- [References](#references)

## Setup

### HomeKit Configuration

1. Enable the **HomeKit** capability in Xcode (Signing & Capabilities)
2. Add `NSHomeKitUsageDescription` to Info.plist:

```xml
<key>NSHomeKitUsageDescription</key>
<string>This app controls your smart home accessories.</string>
```

### MatterSupport Configuration

For Matter commissioning into your own ecosystem:

1. Add a **MatterSupport Extension** target and set its principal class to a
   `MatterAddDeviceExtensionRequestHandler` subclass
2. Add `NSBonjourServices` entries for `_matter._tcp`, `_matterc._udp`, and
   `_matterd._udp`
3. Add `com.apple.developer.matter.allow-setup-payload` only if the caller
   supplies a Matter setup payload programmatically

### Framework Boundary

| Need | Framework |
|---|---|
| Homes, rooms, accessories, characteristics, actions, triggers | HomeKit |
| Commission Matter into the app ecosystem | MatterSupport |
| Select and authorize a nearby Bluetooth or Wi-Fi accessory | AccessorySetupKit |
| Exchange Bluetooth GATT data after selection | CoreBluetooth |
| Join or configure an accessory's Wi-Fi network after selection | NetworkExtension |

## HomeKit Data Model

HomeKit organizes home automation in a hierarchy:

```text
HMHomeManager
  -> HMHome (one or more)
       -> HMRoom (rooms in the home)
            -> HMAccessory (devices in a room)
                 -> HMService (functions: light, thermostat, etc.)
                      -> HMCharacteristic (readable/writable values)
       -> HMZone (groups of rooms)
       -> HMActionSet (grouped actions)
       -> HMTrigger (time or event-based triggers)
```

### Initializing the Home Manager

Create a single `HMHomeManager` and implement the delegate to know when
data is loaded. HomeKit loads asynchronously -- do not access `homes` until
the delegate fires.

```swift
import HomeKit

final class HomeStore: NSObject, HMHomeManagerDelegate {
    let homeManager = HMHomeManager()

    override init() {
        super.init()
        homeManager.delegate = self
    }

    func homeManagerDidUpdateHomes(_ manager: HMHomeManager) {
        // Safe to access manager.homes now
        let homes = manager.homes
        let primaryHome = manager.primaryHome
        print("Loaded \(homes.count) homes")
    }

    func homeManager(
        _ manager: HMHomeManager,
        didUpdate status: HMHomeManagerAuthorizationStatus
    ) {
        if status.contains(.authorized) {
            print("HomeKit access granted")
        }
    }
}
```

### Accessing Rooms

```swift
guard let home = homeManager.primaryHome else { return }

let rooms = home.rooms
let kitchen = rooms.first { $0.name == "Kitchen" }

// Room for accessories not assigned to a specific room
let defaultRoom = home.roomForEntireHome()
```

## Managing Accessories

### Discovering and Adding Accessories

Use the [Framework Boundary](#framework-boundary) table before adding an
accessory; only HomeKit/MatterSupport work continues in this skill.