MVI Architecture in SwiftUI: A Complete Guide to Model-View-Intent Pattern (2025)

Build scalable, maintainable iOS apps with unidirectional data flow and clean architecture patterns

Originally published on Medium

Ever found yourself debugging a SwiftUI app where state is scattered everywhere? Binding chains that make no sense? UI getting into weird states you can't trace?

You're not alone. And there's a solution that's been quietly gaining traction in the iOS community: MVI (Model-View-Intent) architecture.

What Makes MVI Different?

Unlike traditional patterns where data flows in multiple directions, MVI creates a unidirectional flow:

User Action → Intent → Model → View → User sees change 

No shortcuts. No backdoors. Completely predictable.

What You'll Learn

I've written a comprehensive guide that covers:

🏗️ MVI Fundamentals

• Core concepts: Model, View, Intent
• How it differs from MVVM
• Benefits of unidirectional data flow

🛠️ Practical Implementation

• Building your first MVI store
• Clean SwiftUI integration patterns
• Handling async operations and side effects

📱 Real-World Examples

• Simple counter app (learning the basics)
• Complete Todo app with CRUD operations
• AppStorage persistence and optimistic updates

🎯 When to Use MVI

• Complex state management scenarios
• Team collaboration benefits
• MVI vs MVVM decision framework

Why I Chose MVI

After struggling with scattered state in complex SwiftUI apps, MVI transformed how I think about app architecture. Here's what I love about it:

✅ Predictable state transitions - Every change is traceable
✅ Easier debugging - Follow the intent → state → UI flow
✅ Team-friendly - Explicit contracts between components
✅ Testable - Pure functions and isolated state

Multiple Learning Formats

📖 Read the complete article:
MVI Architecture in SwiftUI - Complete Guide

🎥 Watch the video walkthrough:
YouTube Tutorial - See the implementation in action with live code explanations

💻 Get the source code:
GitHub Repository - Complete Counter and Todo app implementations

What You'll Build

By the end of the guide, you'll have:

• A working counter app demonstrating MVI basics
• A full-featured Todo app with filtering, editing, and persistence
• Understanding of when to use MVI vs other patterns
• Clean SwiftUI integration patterns you can use immediately

Perfect For

• iOS developers working with SwiftUI
• Teams looking for scalable architecture patterns
• Anyone dealing with complex state management
• Developers curious about unidirectional data flow

The Bottom Line

MVI isn't about following trends - it's about solving real problems. Use it when you need predictable state management for complex apps. Skip it for simple CRUD operations.

Ready to transform your SwiftUI architecture? The complete guide is waiting for you.

🔗 Connect & Follow

• Twitter: @swift_karan
• LinkedIn: Karan Pal
• Medium: @karan.pal

What's your biggest SwiftUI state management challenge? Share your experiences in the comments!