The Untapped Power of iOS Safari Extensions in Everyday Apps

When most developers think of building browser extensions, they picture Chrome and desktop workflows. But Safari Extensions on iOS are quietly becoming one of the most powerful and underused tools in mobile app development. In this post, I’ll share how and why I started exploring iOS Safari Extensions and why I think they’ll play a key role in the next generation of mobile-first, content-aware apps. Why Safari Extensions on iOS Matter Let’s start with the basics: Safari iOS Extensions allow developers to inject scripts into websites on a mobile device , detect patterns, and pass data back to a native iOS app, all while respecting privacy and Apple’s permissions system. That unlocks a lot of creative possibilities: Scanning a page for structured or semi-structured content Detecting when a user is shopping or watching a video Triggering reminders or in-app actions based on Browse behavior Offering content-aware UI overlays inside Safari The key difference is ...