A placeholder is a generic preview of your widget shown
when the widget has no data yet — like when it's
first added to the home screen.

It is never shown with real data.
The system automatically blurs/redacts it.

Core Rule

Return something fast and hardcoded.
No network calls. No async. No logic.
Just a default entry.

From the Project

func placeholder(in context: Context) -> SimpleEntry {
    makeEntry(from: FocusState.all[0], index: 0, date: Date())
}

Always returns the first state (Focus / Deep Work)
Hardcoded → index 0, current date
No configuration read → intent is ignored here

When is it shown?

1. Widget first added to home screen
2. Widget is loading / transitioning
3. WidgetKit doesn't have a valid snapshot yet

How the System Renders it

Your entry → system applies redaction
→ text becomes grey placeholder bars
→ colors are muted
→ user sees the shape/layout but not real content

Like this:

┌─────────────────┐
│ ▓▓▓▓▓   ▓▓▓▓  │  ← title + time redacted
│                 │
│ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓   │  ← value redacted
│ ▓▓▓▓▓▓         │  ← subtitle redacted
│                 │
│ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓  │  ← progress bar redacted
└─────────────────┘

Placeholder vs Snapshot

Placeholder → no data yet, system redacts it
             → layout preview only

Snapshot    → real data, shown in widget gallery
             → user sees actual content

Mental Model

Placeholder → "Here's the shape of my widget"
Snapshot    → "Here's my widget with real data"
Timeline    → "Here's my widget running live"

Important Rule

Never do heavy work in placeholder().
It must return instantly — it is synchronous,
not async like snapshot() and timeline().