René's URL Explorer Experiment

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"DiscussionForumPosting","headline":"SwiftUI.Tab accessibilityIdentifier is not surfaced on native tab targets","articleBody":"## Summary\n\nXcodeBuildMCP v2.6.1 fixed the important tab automation issue: native `UITabBar` items are now discoverable and tappable through `snapshot-ui`. I verified this with XcodeBuildMCP 2.6.2.\n\nThere may still be a smaller SwiftUI identifier propagation issue: an `.accessibilityIdentifier(...)` applied to a `SwiftUI.Tab(...)` does not appear on the native tab target emitted by `snapshot-ui`.\n\nThis is not blocking automation, because agents can target tabs by `role=tab` plus visible label. I am filing this as a maybe-bug / enhancement request to clarify whether the identifier can be surfaced or whether this is expected SwiftUI/UIKit behavior.\n\n## Example SwiftUI shape\n\n```swift\nTabView(selection: $selectedTab) {\n    SwiftUI.Tab(\"Wheels\", systemImage: \"arrow.trianglehead.2.clockwise\", value: Tab.wheels) {\n        NavigationStack {\n            WheelsView()\n        }\n        .accessibilityIdentifier(\"screen_wheels\")\n    }\n    .accessibilityLabel(\"Wheels\")\n    .accessibilityIdentifier(\"tab_wheels\")\n}\n```\n\n## Observed `snapshot-ui` behavior\n\nThe native tab item is discovered and tappable, but the identifier field is empty:\n\n```text\neNN|tap|tab|Dashboard|1|\neNN|tap|tab|Wheels|0|\neNN|tap|tab|Positions|0|\neNN|tap|tab|Spec Trades|0|\neNN|tap|tab|Trade Log|0|\n```\n\nTapping the `Wheels` tab element reference works and changes to the Wheels screen.\n\n## Expected or requested behavior\n\nIf SwiftUI forwards the identifier in a way XcodeBuildMCP can observe, it would be useful for `snapshot-ui` to surface `tab_wheels` on the native tab target.\n\nIf SwiftUI does not forward that identifier to the underlying `UITabBarItem`, documentation confirming that tab automation should use role + label would also resolve the ambiguity.\n\n## Environment\n\n- XcodeBuildMCP: 2.6.2\n- Relevant fix already present: v2.6.1 tab bar item discovery fix\n- App UI: SwiftUI `TabView` using `SwiftUI.Tab`\n","author":{"url":"https://github.com/dpearson2699","@type":"Person","name":"dpearson2699"},"datePublished":"2026-06-03T04:32:33.000Z","interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":"https://schema.org/CommentAction","userInteractionCount":1},"url":"https://github.com/442/XcodeBuildMCP/issues/442"}