> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cometchat-22654f5b-feature-react-native-sdk-quotedmessage-a.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create Conversation

Enable users to start new 1:1 or group chats in your iOS app using CometChat’s UIKit for iOS by integrating the **CreateConversationVC** screen.

## Overview

The `CreateConversation` enables users to:

* Browse CometChat users and groups via native list components.
* Search within users and groups.
* Toggle between “Users” and “Groups” tabs using a segmented control.
* Swipe between lists with a `UIPageViewController`.
* Navigate to `MessagesVC` upon selecting a user or group.

## Prerequisites

* A UIKit-based iOS project.
* CometChat UIKit for iOS v5 installed via CocoaPods or Swift Package Manager.
* User authenticated with `CometChat.login()` before presenting this screen.
* A `UINavigationController` embedded in your flow.
* `MessagesVC` implemented to handle chat screens.

## Components

| Component              | Role                                                |
| :--------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------- |
| `UISegmentedControl`   | Switches between “Users” and “Groups” tabs.         |
| `UIPageViewController` | Enables swipe navigation between list views.        |
| `CometChatUsers`       | Displays the list of CometChat users.               |
| `CometChatGroups`      | Displays the list of CometChat groups.              |
| `MessagesVC`           | Chat interface, launched upon item selection.       |
| `searchController`     | Provides search for both users and groups.          |
| `CometChatTheme`       | Applies theming (colors, fonts) for UI consistency. |
| `CometChatTypography`  | Defines text styles for segment labels.             |

## Integration Steps

### 1. Presenting the Create Conversation Screen

Push `CreateConversations` to allow starting a chat.

```swift theme={null}
import UIKit
import CometChatSDK

func showCreateConversation() {
    let createVC = CreateConversationVC()
    navigationController?.pushViewController(createVC, animated: true)
}
```

**File reference:**\
[`HomeScreenViewController.swift`](https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-ios/blob/v5/SampleApp/View%20Controllers/HomeScreenViewController.swift)

Provides entry point to the create-conversation flow.

### 2. Setting Up the User Interface

Build the segmented control and page view controller.

```swift theme={null}
override public func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    buildUI()  // sets up segmentedControl, pageViewController, and searchController
    setupPageViewController()
    segmentedControl.addTarget(self, action: #selector(segmentChanged(_:)), for: .valueChanged)
    navigationItem.searchController = usersViewController.searchController
}
```

**File reference:**\
[`CreateConversations.swift`](https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-ios/blob/v5/SampleApp/View%20Controllers/CometChat%20Components/CreateConversations.swift)

Initializes the UI elements and search integration.

### 3. Configuring Segmented Control Navigation

Toggle between user and group lists when the segment changes.

```swift theme={null}
@objc public func segmentChanged(_ sender: UISegmentedControl) {
    let index = sender.selectedSegmentIndex
    let direction: UIPageViewController.NavigationDirection = index == 0 ? .reverse : .forward
    navigationItem.searchController = (index == 0)
        ? usersViewController.searchController
        : groupsViewController.searchController
    pageViewController.setViewControllers([pages[index]], direction: direction, animated: true)
}
```

**File reference:**\
[`CreateConversations.swift`](https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-ios/blob/v5/SampleApp/View%20Controllers/CometChat%20Components/CreateConversations.swift)

Keeps the proper search bar and view in sync with the selected tab.

### 4. Handling Item Selection

Navigate to `MessagesVC` when a user or group is tapped.

```swift theme={null}
// User tap
public lazy var usersViewController: CometChatUsers = {
    let vc = CometChatUsers()
    vc.set(onItemClick: { [weak self] user, _ in
        let chatVC = MessagesVC()
        chatVC.user = user
        self?.navigationController?.pushViewController(chatVC, animated: true)
    })
    vc.searchController.hidesNavigationBarDuringPresentation = false
    return vc
}()

// Group tap
public lazy var groupsViewController: CometChatGroups = {
    let vc = CometChatGroups()
    vc.set(onItemClick: { [weak self] group, _ in
        let chatVC = MessagesVC()
        chatVC.group = group
        self?.navigationController?.pushViewController(chatVC, animated: true)
    })
    vc.searchController.hidesNavigationBarDuringPresentation = false
    return vc
}()
```

**File reference:**\
[`CreateConversations.swift`](https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-ios/blob/v5/SampleApp/View%20Controllers/CometChat%20Components/CreateConversations.swift)

Routes the user to the appropriate chat screen.

### 5. Managing Page View Transitions

Implement data source and delegate for smooth swiping.

```swift theme={null}
extension CreateConversationVC: UIPageViewControllerDataSource {
    public func pageViewController(_ pvc: UIPageViewController, viewControllerBefore vc: UIViewController) -> UIViewController? {
        guard let idx = pages.firstIndex(of: vc), idx > 0 else { return nil }
        return pages[idx - 1]
    }
    public func pageViewController(_ pvc: UIPageViewController, viewControllerAfter vc: UIViewController) -> UIViewController? {
        guard let idx = pages.firstIndex(of: vc), idx < pages.count - 1 else { return nil }
        return pages[idx + 1]
    }
}

extension CreateConversationVC: UIPageViewControllerDelegate {
    public func pageViewController(_ pvc: UIPageViewController, didFinishAnimating finished: Bool, previousViewControllers: [UIViewController], transitionCompleted completed: Bool) {
        if completed, let current = pvc.viewControllers?.first, let idx = pages.firstIndex(of: current) {
            segmentedControl.selectedSegmentIndex = idx
        }
    }
}
```

**File reference:**\
[`CreateConversations.swift`](https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-ios/blob/v5/SampleApp/View%20Controllers/CometChat%20Components/CreateConversations.swift)

Synchronizes the segmented control with page swipes.

## Customization Options

* **Segment Styling:** Use `CometChatTheme` to customize tint and font.
* **Labels:** Localize or rebrand “USERS” / “GROUPS” labels.
* **Search:** Adjust `searchController.placeholder` and styling.

## Filtering & Edge Cases

* **Live Search:** Built-in in `CometChatUsers` and `CometChatGroups`.
* **Empty States:** Components display default “no results” views.
* **Segment Disabled:** Hide tabs if only one list is relevant.

## Error Handling

* **Load Errors:** Use `setErrorView()` on list components.
* **Navigation Failures:** Present an alert if push fails.
* **Blocked Users:** Intercept in `onItemClick` to prevent navigation.

## Feature Matrix

| Feature              | Implementation                                |
| :------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- |
| Show create screen   | `showCreateConversation()`                    |
| Tabbed lists         | `UISegmentedControl` + `UIPageViewController` |
| Display users        | `CometChatUsers()`                            |
| Display groups       | `CometChatGroups()`                           |
| Search functionality | `searchController`                            |
| Navigate to chat     | `MessagesVC(user:)` / `MessagesVC(group:)`    |

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="Full Sample App">
    Explore the complete create-conversation flow:
    [GitHub → SampleApp](https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-ios/tree/v5/SampleApp)
  </Card>

  <Card title="UIKit Source Code">
    Browse the source for `CreateConversationVC`:
    [GitHub → CreateConversationVC.swift](https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-ios/blob/v5/SampleApp/View%20Controllers/CometChat%20Components/CreateConversationVC.swift)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>