Camera Capture API Reference

Quick Reference

// SESSION SETUP
import AVFoundation

let session = AVCaptureSession()
let sessionQueue = DispatchQueue(label: "camera.session")

sessionQueue.async {
    session.beginConfiguration()
    session.sessionPreset = .photo

    guard let camera = AVCaptureDevice.default(.builtInWideAngleCamera, for: .video, position: .back),
          let input = try? AVCaptureDeviceInput(device: camera),
          session.canAddInput(input) else { return }
    session.addInput(input)

    let photoOutput = AVCapturePhotoOutput()
    if session.canAddOutput(photoOutput) {
        session.addOutput(photoOutput)
    }

    session.commitConfiguration()
    session.startRunning()
}

// CAPTURE PHOTO
var settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings()
settings.photoQualityPrioritization = .balanced
photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: settings, delegate: self)

// ROTATION (iOS 17+)
let coordinator = AVCaptureDevice.RotationCoordinator(device: camera, previewLayer: previewLayer)
previewLayer.connection?.videoRotationAngle = coordinator.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelPreview

AVCaptureSession

Central coordinator for capture data flow.

Session Presets

Session Configuration

// Batch configuration (atomic)
session.beginConfiguration()
defer { session.commitConfiguration() }

// Check preset support
if session.canSetSessionPreset(.hd4K3840x2160) {
    session.sessionPreset = .hd4K3840x2160
}

// Add input/output
if session.canAddInput(input) {
    session.addInput(input)
}

if session.canAddOutput(output) {
    session.addOutput(output)
}

Session Lifecycle

// Start (ALWAYS on background queue)
sessionQueue.async {
    session.startRunning()  // Blocking call
}

// Stop
sessionQueue.async {
    session.stopRunning()
}

// Check state
session.isRunning      // true/false
session.isInterrupted  // true during phone calls, etc.

Session Notifications

// Session started
NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    forName: .AVCaptureSessionDidStartRunning,
    object: session, queue: .main) { _ in }

// Session stopped
NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    forName: .AVCaptureSessionDidStopRunning,
    object: session, queue: .main) { _ in }

// Session interrupted (phone call, etc.)
NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    forName: .AVCaptureSessionWasInterrupted,
    object: session, queue: .main) { notification in
        let reason = notification.userInfo?[AVCaptureSessionInterruptionReasonKey] as? Int
    }

// Interruption ended
NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    forName: .AVCaptureSessionInterruptionEnded,
    object: session, queue: .main) { _ in }

// Runtime error
NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    forName: .AVCaptureSessionRuntimeError,
    object: session, queue: .main) { notification in
        let error = notification.userInfo?[AVCaptureSessionErrorKey] as? Error
    }

Interruption Reasons

AVCaptureDevice

Represents a physical capture device (camera, microphone).

Getting Devices

// Default back camera
AVCaptureDevice.default(.builtInWideAngleCamera, for: .video, position: .back)

// Default front camera
AVCaptureDevice.default(.builtInWideAngleCamera, for: .video, position: .front)

// Default microphone
AVCaptureDevice.default(for: .audio)

// Discovery session for all cameras
let discoverySession = AVCaptureDevice.DiscoverySession(
    deviceTypes: [.builtInWideAngleCamera, .builtInUltraWideCamera, .builtInTelephotoCamera],
    mediaType: .video,
    position: .unspecified
)
let cameras = discoverySession.devices

Device Types

Device Configuration

do {
    try device.lockForConfiguration()
    defer { device.unlockForConfiguration() }

    // Focus
    if device.isFocusModeSupported(.continuousAutoFocus) {
        device.focusMode = .continuousAutoFocus
    }

    // Exposure
    if device.isExposureModeSupported(.continuousAutoExposure) {
        device.exposureMode = .continuousAutoExposure
    }

    // Torch (flashlight)
    if device.hasTorch && device.isTorchModeSupported(.on) {
        device.torchMode = .on
    }

    // Zoom
    device.videoZoomFactor = 2.0  // 2x zoom

} catch {
    print("Failed to configure device: \(error)")
}

Switching Cameras

// Switch between front and back during active session
func switchCamera() {
    sessionQueue.async { [self] in
        session.beginConfiguration()
        defer { session.commitConfiguration() }

        // Remove current camera input
        if let currentInput = session.inputs.first(where: { ($0 as? AVCaptureDeviceInput)?.device.hasMediaType(.video) == true }) as? AVCaptureDeviceInput {
            session.removeInput(currentInput)

            // Get opposite camera
            let newPosition: AVCaptureDevice.Position = currentInput.device.position == .back ? .front : .back
            guard let newDevice = AVCaptureDevice.default(.builtInWideAngleCamera, for: .video, position: newPosition),
                  let newInput = try? AVCaptureDeviceInput(device: newDevice) else { return }

            if session.canAddInput(newInput) {
                session.addInput(newInput)
            }
        }
    }
}

Important: Always switch on the session queue, within beginConfiguration/commitConfiguration.

Authorization

// Check status
let status = AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatus(for: .video)

switch status {
case .authorized: break
case .notDetermined:
    await AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(for: .video)
case .denied, .restricted:
    // Show settings prompt
@unknown default: break
}

AVCaptureDevice.RotationCoordinator (iOS 17+)

Automatically tracks device orientation and provides rotation angles.

Setup

// Create with device and preview layer
let coordinator = AVCaptureDevice.RotationCoordinator(
    device: captureDevice,
    previewLayer: previewLayer
)

Properties

Observation

// KVO observation for preview updates
let observation = coordinator.observe(
    \.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelPreview,
    options: [.new]
) { [weak previewLayer] coordinator, _ in
    DispatchQueue.main.async {
        previewLayer?.connection?.videoRotationAngle = coordinator.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelPreview
    }
}

// Set initial value
previewLayer.connection?.videoRotationAngle = coordinator.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelPreview

Applying to Capture

func capturePhoto() {
    if let connection = photoOutput.connection(with: .video) {
        connection.videoRotationAngle = coordinator.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelCapture
    }
    photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: settings, delegate: self)
}

AVCapturePhotoOutput

Output for capturing still photos.

Configuration

let photoOutput = AVCapturePhotoOutput()

// High resolution
photoOutput.isHighResolutionCaptureEnabled = true

// Max quality prioritization
photoOutput.maxPhotoQualityPrioritization = .quality

// Deferred processing (iOS 17+)
photoOutput.isAutoDeferredPhotoDeliveryEnabled = true

// Live Photo
photoOutput.isLivePhotoCaptureEnabled = true

// Depth
photoOutput.isDepthDataDeliveryEnabled = true

// Portrait Effects Matte
photoOutput.isPortraitEffectsMatteDeliveryEnabled = true

Supported Features

// Check support before enabling
photoOutput.isHighResolutionCaptureEnabled && photoOutput.isHighResolutionCaptureSupported
photoOutput.isLivePhotoCaptureSupported
photoOutput.isDepthDataDeliverySupported
photoOutput.isPortraitEffectsMatteDeliverySupported
photoOutput.maxPhotoQualityPrioritization  // .speed, .balanced, .quality

Responsive Capture APIs (iOS 17+)

// Zero Shutter Lag - uses ring buffer for instant capture
photoOutput.isZeroShutterLagSupported
photoOutput.isZeroShutterLagEnabled  // true by default for iOS 17+ apps

// Responsive Capture - overlapping captures
photoOutput.isResponsiveCaptureSupported
photoOutput.isResponsiveCaptureEnabled

// Fast Capture Prioritization - adapts quality for burst-like capture
photoOutput.isFastCapturePrioritizationSupported
photoOutput.isFastCapturePrioritizationEnabled

// Deferred Processing - proxy + background processing
photoOutput.isAutoDeferredPhotoDeliverySupported
photoOutput.isAutoDeferredPhotoDeliveryEnabled

AVCapturePhotoOutputReadinessCoordinator (iOS 17+)

Provides synchronous shutter button state updates.

Setup

let coordinator = AVCapturePhotoOutputReadinessCoordinator(photoOutput: photoOutput)
coordinator.delegate = self

Tracking Captures

// Call BEFORE capturePhoto()
coordinator.startTrackingCaptureRequest(using: settings)
photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: settings, delegate: self)

Delegate

func readinessCoordinator(_ coordinator: AVCapturePhotoOutputReadinessCoordinator,
                          captureReadinessDidChange captureReadiness: AVCapturePhotoOutput.CaptureReadiness) {
    switch captureReadiness {
    case .ready:                         // Can capture immediately
    case .notReadyMomentarily:           // Brief delay, prevent double-tap
    case .notReadyWaitingForCapture:     // Flash firing, sensor reading
    case .notReadyWaitingForProcessing:  // Processing previous photo
    case .sessionNotRunning:             // Session stopped
    @unknown default: break
    }
}

AVCapturePhotoSettings

Configuration for a single photo capture.

Basic Settings

// Standard JPEG
var settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings()

// HEIF format
settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings(format: [AVVideoCodecKey: AVVideoCodecType.hevc])

// RAW
settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings(rawPixelFormatType: kCVPixelFormatType_14Bayer_BGGR)

// RAW + JPEG
settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings(
    rawPixelFormatType: kCVPixelFormatType_14Bayer_BGGR,
    processedFormat: [AVVideoCodecKey: AVVideoCodecType.jpeg]
)

Quality Prioritization

settings.photoQualityPrioritization = .speed

Flash

settings.flashMode = .auto  // .off, .on, .auto

Apple ProRAW and HDR

// Check ProRAW support
if photoOutput.isAppleProRAWSupported {
    photoOutput.isAppleProRAWEnabled = true

    // Capture ProRAW
    let query = photoOutput.isAppleProRAWEnabled
        ? AVCapturePhotoOutput.AppleProRAWQuery(photoOutput)
        : nil
    if let rawType = query?.availableRawPixelFormatTypes.first {
        let settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings(
            rawPixelFormatType: rawType,
            processedFormat: [AVVideoCodecKey: AVVideoCodecType.hevc]
        )
    }
}

// HDR configuration
settings.photoQualityPrioritization = .quality  // Enables computational photography/HDR
// HDR is automatic with .balanced or .quality — no separate toggle needed

Note: ProRAW requires iPhone 12 Pro or later. HDR is automatic with quality prioritization — Apple's Deep Fusion and Smart HDR are controlled by the system based on the quality setting.

Resolution

// High resolution still image
settings.isHighResolutionPhotoEnabled = true

// Max dimensions (limit resolution)
settings.maxPhotoDimensions = CMVideoDimensions(width: 4032, height: 3024)

Preview/Thumbnail

// Preview for immediate display
settings.previewPhotoFormat = [
    kCVPixelBufferPixelFormatTypeKey as String: kCVPixelFormatType_32BGRA
]

// Thumbnail
settings.embeddedThumbnailPhotoFormat = [
    AVVideoCodecKey: AVVideoCodecType.jpeg,
    AVVideoWidthKey: 160,
    AVVideoHeightKey: 120
]

Important Notes

// Settings cannot be reused
// Each capture needs a NEW settings instance
let settings1 = AVCapturePhotoSettings()  // Use once
let settings2 = AVCapturePhotoSettings()  // Use for second capture

// Copy settings for similar captures
let settings2 = AVCapturePhotoSettings(from: settings1)

AVCapturePhotoCaptureDelegate

Delegate for photo capture events.

extension CameraManager: AVCapturePhotoCaptureDelegate {

    // Photo capture will begin
    func photoOutput(_ output: AVCapturePhotoOutput,
                     willBeginCaptureFor resolvedSettings: AVCaptureResolvedPhotoSettings) {
        // Show shutter animation
    }

    // Photo capture finished
    func photoOutput(_ output: AVCapturePhotoOutput,
                     didFinishProcessingPhoto photo: AVCapturePhoto,
                     error: Error?) {
        guard error == nil else {
            print("Capture error: \(error!)")
            return
        }

        // Get JPEG data
        if let data = photo.fileDataRepresentation() {
            savePhoto(data)
        }

        // Or get raw pixel buffer
        if let pixelBuffer = photo.pixelBuffer {
            processBuffer(pixelBuffer)
        }
    }

    // Deferred processing proxy (iOS 17+)
    func photoOutput(_ output: AVCapturePhotoOutput,
                     didFinishCapturingDeferredPhotoProxy deferredPhotoProxy: AVCaptureDeferredPhotoProxy,
                     error: Error?) {
        guard error == nil, let data = deferredPhotoProxy.fileDataRepresentation() else { return }
        replaceThumbnailWithFinal(data)
    }
}

AVCaptureMovieFileOutput

Output for recording video to file.

Setup

let movieOutput = AVCaptureMovieFileOutput()

if session.canAddOutput(movieOutput) {
    session.addOutput(movieOutput)
}

// Add audio input
if let microphone = AVCaptureDevice.default(for: .audio),
   let audioInput = try? AVCaptureDeviceInput(device: microphone),
   session.canAddInput(audioInput) {
    session.addInput(audioInput)
}

Recording

// Start recording
let outputURL = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
    .appendingPathComponent(UUID().uuidString)
    .appendingPathExtension("mov")

// Apply rotation
if let connection = movieOutput.connection(with: .video) {
    connection.videoRotationAngle = rotationCoordinator.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelCapture
}

movieOutput.startRecording(to: outputURL, recordingDelegate: self)

// Stop recording
movieOutput.stopRecording()

// Check state
movieOutput.isRecording
movieOutput.recordedDuration
movieOutput.recordedFileSize

Delegate

extension CameraManager: AVCaptureFileOutputRecordingDelegate {

    func fileOutput(_ output: AVCaptureFileOutput,
                    didStartRecordingTo fileURL: URL,
                    from connections: [AVCaptureConnection]) {
        // Recording started
    }

    func fileOutput(_ output: AVCaptureFileOutput,
                    didFinishRecordingTo outputFileURL: URL,
                    from connections: [AVCaptureConnection],
                    error: Error?) {
        if let error = error {
            print("Recording failed: \(error)")
            return
        }

        // Video saved to outputFileURL
        saveToPhotoLibrary(outputFileURL)
    }
}

AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer

Layer for displaying camera preview.

Setup

let previewLayer = AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer(session: session)
previewLayer.videoGravity = .resizeAspectFill
previewLayer.frame = view.bounds
view.layer.addSublayer(previewLayer)

Video Gravity

SwiftUI Integration

struct CameraPreview: UIViewRepresentable {
    let session: AVCaptureSession

    func makeUIView(context: Context) -> PreviewView {
        let view = PreviewView()
        view.previewLayer.session = session
        view.previewLayer.videoGravity = .resizeAspectFill
        return view
    }

    func updateUIView(_ uiView: PreviewView, context: Context) {}

    class PreviewView: UIView {
        override class var layerClass: AnyClass { AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer.self }
        var previewLayer: AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer { layer as! AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer }
    }
}

Common Code Patterns

Complete Camera Manager

import AVFoundation

@MainActor
class CameraManager: NSObject, ObservableObject {
    let session = AVCaptureSession()
    let photoOutput = AVCapturePhotoOutput()
    private let sessionQueue = DispatchQueue(label: "camera.session")
    private var rotationCoordinator: AVCaptureDevice.RotationCoordinator?
    private var rotationObservation: NSKeyValueObservation?

    @Published var isSessionRunning = false

    func setup() async -> Bool {
        guard await AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(for: .video) else { return false }

        return await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
            sessionQueue.async { [self] in
                session.beginConfiguration()
                defer { session.commitConfiguration() }

                session.sessionPreset = .photo

                guard let camera = AVCaptureDevice.default(.builtInWideAngleCamera, for: .video, position: .back),
                      let input = try? AVCaptureDeviceInput(device: camera),
                      session.canAddInput(input) else {
                    continuation.resume(returning: false)
                    return
                }
                session.addInput(input)

                guard session.canAddOutput(photoOutput) else {
                    continuation.resume(returning: false)
                    return
                }
                session.addOutput(photoOutput)
                photoOutput.maxPhotoQualityPrioritization = .quality

                continuation.resume(returning: true)
            }
        }
    }

    func start() {
        sessionQueue.async { [self] in
            session.startRunning()
            DispatchQueue.main.async {
                self.isSessionRunning = self.session.isRunning
            }
        }
    }

    func stop() {
        sessionQueue.async { [self] in
            session.stopRunning()
            DispatchQueue.main.async {
                self.isSessionRunning = false
            }
        }
    }

    func capturePhoto() {
        var settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings()
        settings.photoQualityPrioritization = .balanced

        if let connection = photoOutput.connection(with: .video),
           let angle = rotationCoordinator?.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelCapture {
            connection.videoRotationAngle = angle
        }

        photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: settings, delegate: self)
    }
}

extension CameraManager: AVCapturePhotoCaptureDelegate {
    nonisolated func photoOutput(_ output: AVCapturePhotoOutput,
                                  didFinishProcessingPhoto photo: AVCapturePhoto,
                                  error: Error?) {
        guard let data = photo.fileDataRepresentation() else { return }
        // Handle photo data
    }
}

Resources

Docs: /avfoundation/avcapturesession, /avfoundation/avcapturedevice, /avfoundation/avcapturephotosettings, /avfoundation/avcapturedevice/rotationcoordinator

Skills: axiom-camera-capture, axiom-camera-capture-diag