Swift: how to make tab view controller button not show?

Question

Ok, I have all my view controllers managed by a tab bar controller, and obviously when you connect in the storyboard the relationship between the controller and the Vcs as "view controller" a button appears on the tab bar. These are then accessible via the tab bar controller.

My problem is I need to have one VC be the in view controller array but NOT BE SHOWN IN A BUTTON on the tab bar. It should not be accessible to the user, but I need to be able to switch to that VC in code with selectedIndex

I do not know how to do this. I have tried disabling the button and doing

self.tabBar.items?[3].accessibilityElementsHidden = true

But the button is still there on the tab bar. How can I have the VC in the array of the tab bar controller but not shown in a button?

Answer 1

This is not possible using the UITabBarController as is.

Not 100% sure on why you need to have a VC in that array but never visible on the bar, consider subclassing UITabBarController if thats the case.

Changes to the viewControllers or items property of a UITabBarController will encourage iOS to reload the Component and hence why you are seeing the VC in the TabBar.