---
title: UITabBarController.Mode.automatic
framework: uikit
role: symbol
role_heading: Case
path: uikit/uitabbarcontroller/mode-swift.enum/automatic
---

# UITabBarController.Mode.automatic

The system sets the display mode based on the tab’s content.

## Declaration

```swift
case automatic
```

## Discussion

Discussion Different platforms handle the mode differently: On iPad, If the tabs array contains one or more UITabGroup items, the system displays the content as either a tab bar or a sidebar, depending on the context. Otherwise, it only displays the content only as a tab bar. On Mac Catalyst, the system displays a sidebar if the tabs array contains one or more UITabGroup items. Otherwise, it displays a tab bar. On iPhone and Apple TV, the system displays the platform’s regular tab bar. In visionOS, the system displays the platform’s regular tabs, but a UITabGroup can display a sidebar when it displays the group’s view controller. For more information, see Elevating your iPad app with a tab bar and sidebar.

## See Also

### Setting modes

- [UITabBarController.Mode.tabBar](uikit/uitabbarcontroller/mode-swift.enum/tabbar.md)
- [UITabBarController.Mode.tabSidebar](uikit/uitabbarcontroller/mode-swift.enum/tabsidebar.md)