Set background color of active tab bar item in Swift

Question

I\'m hoping to accomplish this without the use of images, if at all possible. Is there a way to create the effect shown in the image programmatically without have to render

Answer 1

I took a similar approach to @matcartmill but without the need for a special image. This solution is just based on your color.

// set red as selected background color
let numberOfItems = CGFloat(tabBar.items!.count)
let tabBarItemSize = CGSize(width: tabBar.frame.width / numberOfItems, height: tabBar.frame.height)
tabBar.selectionIndicatorImage = UIImage.imageWithColor(color: UIColor.red, size: tabBarItemSize).resizableImage(withCapInsets: UIEdgeInsets.zero)

// remove default border
tabBar.frame.size.width = self.view.frame.width + 4
tabBar.frame.origin.x = -2

I'm making use of the following extension of UIImage:

extension UIImage {

    class func imageWithColor(color: UIColor, size: CGSize) -> UIImage {
        let rect: CGRect = CGRectMake(0, 0, size.width, size.height)
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, 0)
        color.setFill()
        UIRectFill(rect)
        let image: UIImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return image
    }

}

I hope this helps!

for swift 4

extension UIImage {

   class func imageWithColor(color: UIColor, size: CGSize) -> UIImage {
    let rect: CGRect = CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: size.width, height: size.height)
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, 0)
    color.setFill()
    UIRectFill(rect)
    let image: UIImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()!
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
    return image
   }
}