HomeKit, also known as Apple Home, is a
software framework
In computer programming, a software framework is an abstraction in which software, providing generic functionality, can be selectively changed by additional user-written code, thus providing application-specific software. It provides a standard ...
developed by
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, United States. Apple is the largest technology company by revenue (totaling in 2021) and, as of June 2022, is the world's biggest company ...
, made available in iOS and iPadOS that lets users configure, communicate with and control
smart-home appliances using Apple devices.
It provides users with a way to automatically discover such devices and configure them.
By designing rooms, items, and actions in HomeKit, users can enable automatic actions in the home through a simple voice command to
Siri
Siri ( ) is a virtual assistant that is part of Apple Inc.'s iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, and audioOS operating systems. It uses voice queries, gesture based control, focus-tracking and a natural-language user interface to answer questio ...
or through the Home app. With HomeKit, developers are able to create complex applications in order to manage accessories at a high level. HomeKit is simply a communication protocol, which integrates and operates several types of accessories within the home.
Overview
HomeKit was created for several reasons. The main reason was to make tasks inside the home easier. It was created to provide people with methods and different tools to change and adapt certain home capabilities to their specific desires. This was done to compensate for the on-going request of user-system co-evaluation.
HomeKit manages connected home appliances through the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP). Messages from HomeKit are continuously being sent by powered devices, which are connected to HomeKit. They incorporate fields which recognize the specific accessory and what category it is under. Each category, also, has a code that is used to identify what the device is. It, also, identifies with the Global State Number (GSN). This number is increased each time that the state of the accessory is altered. Like most Apple devices, Apple Continuity Protocols are used. Continuity protocols consist of wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth/BLE and WiFi. They can be conducted through device-to-device connection.
HomeKit uses
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is limi ...
, and
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wave ...
protocols. On HomePods and some
Apple TV
An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple fruit tree, trees are agriculture, cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, wh ...
s,
Thread is also used to connect and communicate with devices. Manufacturers of HomeKit-enabled devices are required to enroll in the
MFi Program
Apple Inc.'s MFi Program, referring to "Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad", is a licensing program for developers of hardware and software peripherals that work with Apple's iPod, iPad and iPhone. The name is a shortened version of the long-form Made ...
, and initially all HomeKit-based products were required to include an
encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of encoding information. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Ideally, only authorized parties can decip ...
co-processor. The latter requirement was later changed in
iOS 11
iOS 11 is the iOS version history, eleventh major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 10. It was announced at the company's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Worldwide Developers C ...
, which added support for software-based authentication. Equipment manufactured without HomeKit support can be enabled for use through a "gateway" product, a bridge that connects those devices to the HomeKit service.
HomeKit primarily competes with smart home standards from
Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology c ...
and
Google
Google LLC () is an American multinational technology company focusing on search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics. ...
. As of October 2019, Apple lists 450 devices compatible with HomeKit, compared to 10,000 for Google and 85,000 for Amazon.
Matter
On December 18, 2019, Apple announced that it will be working closely with Samsung, Amazon, and Google to create an open standard for smart home automation called
Matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic partic ...
. Matter aims to reduce fragmentation across different vendors, and achieve interoperability among smart home devices and Internet of things (IoT) platforms from different providers. The project was delayed to fall 2022 due to "unprecedented interest" by the
Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). Version 1.0 of Matter was published on the 4th of October 2022.
Device categories
HomeKit currently supports the following device categories (an extended list):
Garage doors, locks, security systems, and windows are categorized as secure appliances, and require a device with
authentication
Authentication (from ''authentikos'', "real, genuine", from αὐθέντης ''authentes'', "author") is the act of proving an assertion, such as the identity of a computer system user. In contrast with identification, the act of indicati ...
such as an
iPhone or
iPad
The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating s ...
to unlock.
Home hub
iPad
The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating s ...
s (supporting
iOS 10
iOS 10 is the iOS version history, tenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 9. It was announced at the company's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Worldwide Developers Conf ...
or later),
Apple TV
An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple fruit tree, trees are agriculture, cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, wh ...
s (4th generation or newer) and
HomePod
The HomePod is a smart speaker developed by Apple Inc. The HomePod was designed to work with the Apple Music subscription service.
The HomePod was announced on June 5, 2017, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Its launch was later del ...
s can be used as a home hub to control HomeKit appliances remotely, grant guest access, and set up automations. Only the
HomePod Mini and
Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) support
Thread. The third-generation Apple TV only supports remote access. The use of iPads as a home hub was deprecated with
iPadOS 16
iPadOS 16 is the fourth and current major release of the iPadOS operating system developed by Apple for its iPad line of tablet computers. The successor to iPadOS 15, it was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on ...
; iPads will not support
Matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic partic ...
and new architectures being extended to Apple TV and HomePod, but will retain all previous functionality.
Home app
iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
HomeKit was introduced on
iPhones and
iPad
The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating s ...
s on September 17, 2014, with
iOS 8
iOS 8 is the eighth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 7. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 2, 2014, and was released on September 17, ...
. The framework allowed third-party apps to interface with HomeKit devices using Siri and allow remote access through home hubs.
The Home app, which unifies all devices into one app, was introduced on iPhones and iPads on September 13, 2016, with
iOS 10
iOS 10 is the iOS version history, tenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 9. It was announced at the company's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Worldwide Developers Conf ...
, and on
Apple Watch
Apple Watch is a line of smartwatches produced by Apple Inc. It incorporates fitness tracking, health-oriented capabilities, and wireless telecommunication, and integrates with iOS and other Apple products and services. The Apple Watch was rel ...
es with
watchOS
watchOS is the operating system of the Apple Watch, developed by Apple Inc. It is based on iOS, the operating system used by the iPhone, and has many similar features. It was released on April 24, 2015, along with the Apple Watch, the only dev ...
3. The app also added support for automations using a home hub, and preprogrammed "scenes", which can set multiple devices using a single command.
HomePod
The
HomePod
The HomePod is a smart speaker developed by Apple Inc. The HomePod was designed to work with the Apple Music subscription service.
The HomePod was announced on June 5, 2017, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Its launch was later del ...
supported HomeKit at launch in February 2018. It lacks a
graphical user interface
The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...
to control HomeKit devices and instead uses Siri voice commands.
Mac
The Home app was introduced on Macs with
macOS 10.14 Mojave
macOS Mojave ( ; version 10.14) is the fifteenth software versioning, major release of macOS, Apple Inc.'s desktop operating system for Macintosh computers. Mojave was announced at Apple's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Worldwide Devel ...
, which was released on September 24, 2018.
Apple TV
Fourth-generation and newer
Apple TV
An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple fruit tree, trees are agriculture, cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, wh ...
s can control HomeKit devices using Siri voice commands.
tvOS
tvOS (formerly known as Apple TV Software) is an operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the Apple TV, a digital media player. In the first-generation Apple TV, Apple TV Software was based on Mac OS X. Starting with the second-generation ...
14, which was released on September 16, 2020, added direct control of HomeKit devices in Control Center and camera feeds and picture-in-picture monitoring for HomeKit-enabled security cameras. Neither the HomePod nor Apple TV can unlock or open secure appliances like locks.
See also
*
HomePod
The HomePod is a smart speaker developed by Apple Inc. The HomePod was designed to work with the Apple Music subscription service.
The HomePod was announced on June 5, 2017, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Its launch was later del ...
*
IFTTT
IFTTT (, an acronym of If This Then That) is a private commercial company that runs online digital automation platforms which it offers as a service. Their platforms provide a visual interface for making cross-platform if statements to its us ...
*
Matter (standard)
Matter, formerly Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP), is a proprietary standard for home automation that is royalty-free, with manufacturers only incurring certification costs. Announced on 18 December 2019, Matter aims to reduce fragmentatio ...
References
External links
Apple Products PageHomebridge an open source implementation of the Apple Home Automation Protocol
HomeKit SubredditHomeKit FrameworkApple's Developing for HomeKit guide
{{iOS
IOS-based software made by Apple Inc.
IOS
Home automation
Apple Inc. software