swiftui-charts-3d

name	swiftui-charts-3d
description	Create 3D data visualizations using Swift Charts. Use when the user wants to create a 3D chart, asks about Chart3D or SurfacePlot, needs interactive drag-to-rotate, or wants height-based surface coloring. Requires iOS 26 / macOS 26+.
metadata	{"author":"rshankras"}

3D Charts with Swift Charts

Create 3D data visualizations using Chart3D and SurfacePlot. Covers math-driven surfaces, data-driven surfaces, interactive camera pose control, surface styling, and camera projection modes.

When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user:

• Wants to create a 3D chart or 3D data visualization
• Asks about Chart3D, SurfacePlot, or 3D surface plots
• Needs to visualize a mathematical function as a 3D surface
• Wants interactive drag-to-rotate on a 3D chart
• Asks about 3D chart camera angles, pose, or projection
• Needs to style 3D surfaces with gradients or height-based coloring
• Wants to render multiple surfaces in a single 3D chart

API Availability

API	Minimum Version	Notes
Chart3D	iOS 26 / macOS 26	Main 3D chart container
SurfacePlot	iOS 26 / macOS 26	3D surface mark
Chart3DPose	iOS 26 / macOS 26	Viewing angle control
Chart3DCameraProjection	iOS 26 / macOS 26	.automatic, .perspective, .orthographic
Chart3DSurfaceStyle	iOS 26 / macOS 26	.heightBased, .normalBased

Quick Start

Math-Driven Surface

import SwiftUI
import Charts

struct WaveSurfaceView: View {
    var body: some View {
        Chart3D {
            SurfacePlot(
                x: "X",
                y: "Height",
                z: "Z",
                function: { x, z in
                    sin(x) * cos(z)
                }
            )
            .foregroundStyle(.blue)
        }
    }
}

Data-Driven Surface

struct DataPoint: Identifiable {
    let id = UUID()
    let x: Double
    let y: Double
    let z: Double
}

struct DataSurfaceView: View {
    let points: [DataPoint]

    var body: some View {
        Chart3D(points) { point in
            SurfacePlot(
                x: .value("X", point.x),
                y: .value("Height", point.y),
                z: .value("Z", point.z)
            )
        }
    }
}

Interactive Rotation

struct InteractiveChartView: View {
    @State private var pose = Chart3DPose.default

    var body: some View {
        Chart3D {
            SurfacePlot(x: "X", y: "Height", z: "Z", function: { x, z in sin(x) * cos(z) })
                .foregroundStyle(.blue)
        }
        .chart3DPose($pose)
    }
}

Surface Styling Patterns

Height-Based Surface Style

SurfacePlot(x: "X", y: "Y", z: "Z", function: { x, z in sin(x) * cos(z) })
    .foregroundStyle(
        Chart3DSurfaceStyle.heightBased(
            Gradient(colors: [.blue, .cyan, .green, .yellow, .red]),
            yRange: -1...1
        )
    )

Normal-Based Surface Style

SurfacePlot(x: "X", y: "Y", z: "Z", function: { x, z in sin(x) * cos(z) })
    .foregroundStyle(Chart3DSurfaceStyle.normalBased)

Surface Roughness

SurfacePlot(...)
    .foregroundStyle(.blue)
    .roughness(0.3)  // 0 = reflective, 1 = matte

Interactive Pose Control

Preset Poses

.chart3DPose(.default)   // Standard 3/4 angle
.chart3DPose(.front)     // Viewing from front
.chart3DPose(.top)       // Top-down view

Custom Pose

.chart3DPose(
    Chart3DPose(azimuth: .degrees(45), inclination: .degrees(30))
)

Read-Only vs Interactive

// ✅ Read-only — user cannot rotate the chart
.chart3DPose(Chart3DPose.front)

// ✅ Interactive — user can drag to rotate
@State private var pose = Chart3DPose.default
.chart3DPose($pose)

Camera Projection

.chart3DCameraProjection(.perspective)   // Objects farther away appear smaller (visual appeal)
.chart3DCameraProjection(.orthographic)  // No perspective distortion (scientific precision)
.chart3DCameraProjection(.automatic)     // System decides

Top Mistakes

#	Mistake	Fix
1	Forgetting to import Charts	Both SwiftUI and Charts imports are required
2	Using .chart3DPose(.default) and expecting drag-to-rotate	Use a @State binding: .chart3DPose($pose)
3	Setting yRange that does not cover actual function output	Match yRange to actual min/max of your function
4	Applying .roughness() without .foregroundStyle()	Set a foreground style first
5	Using orthographic projection for presentation contexts	Prefer .perspective for visual appeal

Review Checklist

• Both import SwiftUI and import Charts are present
• Deployment target is iOS 26 / macOS 26 or later
• Chart3D wraps all SurfacePlot content
• Axis labels are descriptive and meaningful
• yRange in .heightBased() matches actual output range
• Pose is @State binding if drag-to-rotate is intended
• Camera projection set appropriately