UICKeyChainStore
A simple wrapper for Apple's Keychain APIs on iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS, making secure storage as easy as NSUserDefaults.
What is UICKeyChainStore?
UICKeyChainStore is an Objective-C library that simplifies secure data storage on Apple platforms by wrapping the native Keychain APIs. It allows developers to store sensitive information like passwords and tokens as easily as using NSUserDefaults, while providing advanced features like Touch ID integration and iCloud synchronization. The library eliminates the complexity and boilerplate code typically required for Keychain interactions.
iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS developers who need to securely store credentials, tokens, or other sensitive data in their apps. It's particularly useful for those who find Apple's native Keychain APIs cumbersome or verbose.
Developers choose UICKeyChainStore because it dramatically reduces the code and complexity needed to use Apple's Keychain securely. Unlike lower-level APIs, it offers a simple, NSUserDefaults-like interface while still supporting advanced features like biometric authentication, iCloud sync, and shared web credentials.
Overview
UICKeyChainStore is a simple wrapper for Keychain on iOS, watchOS, tvOS and macOS. Makes using Keychain APIs as easy as NSUserDefaults.
Use Cases
Best For
- Storing user passwords and authentication tokens securely in iOS apps
- Implementing Touch ID or Face ID protected storage for sensitive data
- Sharing credentials between multiple apps from the same developer team
- Syncing passwords and tokens across devices via iCloud
- Integrating with Safari autofill using Shared Web Credentials
- Debugging and inspecting Keychain contents during development
Not Ideal For
- Teams that have fully adopted Swift and want a modern, Swift-native keychain solution
- Projects requiring cross-platform keychain support beyond Apple's iOS/macOS/watchOS/tvOS ecosystems
- Apps needing granular, low-level control over every Keychain Services parameter that UICKeyChainStore abstracts away
- Environments where server-side key management or non-Apple secure storage is required
Pros & Cons
Pros
Uses subscripting and simple methods similar to NSUserDefaults, drastically reducing the boilerplate code needed for Keychain operations, as shown in the basic saving and retrieval examples.
Works seamlessly across iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS with a unified API, enabling consistent secure storage on all Apple devices, highlighted by platform badges and cross-platform examples.
Integrates Touch ID authentication, iCloud synchronization, and shared web credentials, providing robust security options beyond basic storage, detailed in dedicated README sections.
Includes methods to list all stored keys and items, making it easy to inspect and debug Keychain contents during development, as demonstrated in the debugging section.
Cons
Written in Objective-C, which may require bridging in Swift projects and feels outdated compared to the author's own Swift-native alternative, KeychainAccess.
Touch ID operations must be run in background threads to avoid UI locks, adding concurrency management overhead and potential bugs for developers.
Includes deprecated methods like synchronize, indicating parts of the library are legacy and may not align with the latest Keychain best practices.
Tightly coupled to Apple's Keychain Services, making it useless for any non-Apple platforms or hybrid apps that need portable secure storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
KeychainAccessSimple Swift wrapper for Keychain that works on iOS, watchOS, tvOS and macOS.
ValetValet lets you securely store data in the iOS, tvOS, watchOS, or macOS Keychain without knowing a thing about how the Keychain works. It’s easy. We promise.
LocksmithA powerful, protocol-oriented library for working with the keychain in Swift.
SwiftKeychainWrapperA simple wrapper for the iOS Keychain to allow you to use it in a similar fashion to User Defaults. Written in Swift.
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