For ease of use, simplified versions of some traits are available for use with the Automation API on iOS.
A simplified trait stands in for a standard Home API trait, similar to how the facade pattern works. Simplified traits provide commands that make common tasks easier for certain device types. Simplified traits are Home API traits, and, like other Home API traits, they work for both Matter and Cloud-to-cloud devices.
A simplified trait offers an alternative subset of attributes and commands that
is more device-specific than those of the corresponding standard trait.
For example, the standard
LevelControlTrait
trait is a generic trait that can be used for any device that has a
setting that varies continuously across a range of numeric values.
BrightnessTrait is a
simplified trait that stands in for LevelControlTrait and provides just the
commands and attributes that a
DimmableLightDeviceType
device requires. BrightnessTrait has a
moveToBrightness
command that takes a single brightnessPercent argument, whereas
LevelControlTrait has multiple move commands, most of which have at least
four parameters in order to accommodate a wider range of use-cases.
The following table shows each simplified trait and the underlying standard trait(s). Each trait name links to the corresponding API documentation:
| Simplified trait | Standard trait |
|---|---|
SimplifiedThermostatTrait
|
ThermostatTrait
|
BrightnessTrait
|
LevelControlTrait
|
SimplifiedOnOffTrait
|
OnOffTrait
|
VolumeTrait
|
LevelControlTraitOnOffTrait
|
Simplified traits and the Discovery API
The Discovery API reports simplified traits as well as their underlying
standard traits, as long as both traits were configured correctly as
ReferencedAutomationTypes in the configuration for your app. For example, if
a DimmableLightDeviceType device is present in the structure, and the
developer registered both the
LevelControlTrait
and
BrightnessTrait
traits, the Discovery API would indicate the presence of both traits. The
developer may choose to use either trait in their automation.
See Home configuration for more information.