Message Bubble Styling - CometChat Docs

AI Integration Quick Reference

Field	Value
Platform	iOS UI Kit
Incoming Style	`CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming`
Outgoing Style	`CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing`
Global Properties	`backgroundColor`, `borderWidth`, `borderColor`, `cornerRadius`
Bubble Types	`textBubbleStyle`, `imageBubbleStyle`, `videoBubbleStyle`, `audioBubbleStyle`, `fileBubbleStyle`, `pollBubbleStyle`, `linkPreviewBubbleStyle`, `deleteBubbleStyle`, `aiAssistantBubbleStyle`
Action Bubble	`CometChatMessageBubble.actionBubbleStyle`

Overview

The MessageBubble styling API allows developers to customize the appearance of incoming and outgoing message bubbles globally or at the component level. This includes various message types such as text, image, video, audio, file, and document bubbles. There are two primary classes for styling message bubbles:

CometChat Incoming Message Bubble Style
CometChat Outgoing Message Bubble Style

Both classes provide properties for customizing background color, border, corner radius, and specific styles for individual message types.

Properties

Global Styling (Static Variables)

Property	Description
backgroundColor	The background color for message bubbles
backgroundDrawable	A background image for message bubbles
borderWidth	The width of the border for message bubbles
borderColor	The color of the border for message bubbles
cornerRadius	The corner radius for message bubbles

Specific Message Type Styles

Property	Description
textBubbleStyle	Style for text message bubbles
imageBubbleStyle	Style for image message bubbles
videoBubbleStyle	Style for video message bubbles
audioBubbleStyle	Style for audio message bubbles
fileBubbleStyle	Style for file message bubbles
documentBubbleStyle	Style for document message bubbles

Customization Examples

Customizing Incoming Message Bubble

The following code snippet shows how to customize the incoming message bubble style:

Swift

// Customize incoming message bubble appearance
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.borderWidth = 2
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.borderColor = UIColor.black

Customizing Outgoing Message Bubble

The following code snippet shows how to customize the outgoing message bubble style:

Swift

// Customize outgoing message bubble appearance
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.borderWidth = 2
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.borderColor = UIColor.black

Text Bubble

Text bubbles display plain text messages, which are the most common message type. The following code snippet shows how to customize the text message bubble:

Swift

// Customize text bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.textBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")

// Customize text bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.textBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

Image Bubble

Image bubbles display messages with images. The following code snippet shows how to customize the image message bubble:

Swift

// Customize image bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.imageBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")

// Customize image bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.imageBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

Video Bubble

Video bubbles display messages with video clips. The following code snippet shows how to customize the video message bubble:

Swift

// Customize video bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.videoBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.videoBubbleStyle.playButtonTint = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

// Customize video bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.deleteBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.videoBubbleStyle.playButtonTint = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

Audio Bubble

Audio bubbles display audio messages. The following code snippet shows how to customize the audio message bubble:

Swift

// Customize audio bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.audioBubbleStyle.audioWaveFormTintColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.audioBubbleStyle.playImageTintColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.audioBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")

// Customize audio bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.audioBubbleStyle.playImageTintColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.audioBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

Media Grid Bubble

Media grid bubbles render messages that carry multiple image or video attachments as a count-based grid (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5+ tiles). When there are more items than visible tiles, the last tile shows a “+N” overflow badge; video tiles carry a play badge and duration pill. Tapping any tile opens the fullscreen media viewer with swipe navigation, pinch-to-zoom, inline video playback, per-photo download, and share.

Media grid bubbles rendering multiple video attachments with play badges on each tile and a +3 overflow badge on the last tile, shown for both incoming and outgoing messages

Grid layout and colors come from GalleryBubbleStyle:

Swift

var style = GalleryBubbleStyle()
style.gridSpacing = 4
style.tileCornerRadius = 8
style.overflowOverlayColor = UIColor.black.withAlphaComponent(0.6)
style.playIconTint = .white

Key GalleryBubbleStyle properties for the grid:

Property	Type	Description
`bubbleWidth`	`CGFloat`	Content width of the media grid — screen-relative (≈62% of screen width, clamped 210–300) so the bubble keeps its proportion across iPhone and iPad
`gridSpacing`	`CGFloat`	Gap between tiles
`containerCornerRadius`	`CGFloat`	Corner radius of the whole grid container
`tileCornerRadius`	`CGFloat`	Corner radius of each media tile
`singleAspectRatio`	`CGFloat`	Height/width ratio when a single item is shown full width
`placeholderColor`	`UIColor`	Shown while a tile’s media loads
`overflowOverlayColor`	`UIColor`	Dark scrim over the last tile when items overflow
`overflowTextColor` / `overflowTextFont`	`UIColor` / `UIFont`	The “+N” overflow label
`playIconTint` / `playIconBackgroundColor`	`UIColor`	The play badge on video tiles

Audio Files Bubble

Audio files bubbles render messages carrying audio file attachments — one playback row per file, with a play/pause button, a seekable progress slider, the duration, the file name, and a download control. Only one row plays at a time.

This bubble is distinct from the Audio Bubble above, which renders voice notes recorded with the composer’s microphone. Voice notes keep their waveform look and are never grouped with other attachments.

Audio rows share the caption and section styling of GalleryBubbleStyle (sectionSpacing, captionFont, captionColor), and flip their colors automatically on outgoing bubbles.

Files Bubble

Files bubbles render messages carrying document attachments as a connected stack of file cards — each with a file-type icon (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ZIP, …), the file name, and its metadata. Four or more files collapse behind a “+N more” toggle. Tapping a card opens the file: a downloaded copy previews in-app, otherwise the file is offered through the share sheet.

File card styling comes from GalleryBubbleStyle:

Swift

var style = GalleryBubbleStyle()
style.fileCardBackgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")
style.fileNameFont = .systemFont(ofSize: 15, weight: .semibold)
style.expandButtonColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Key GalleryBubbleStyle properties for file cards and the shared caption row:

Property	Type	Description
`fileCardBackgroundColor`	`UIColor`	Background of each file card
`fileCardSpacing`	`CGFloat`	Gap between cards in the stack
`fileIconTint`	`UIColor`	Tint of the file-type icon
`fileNameFont` / `fileNameColor`	`UIFont` / `UIColor`	File name text
`fileMetaFont` / `fileMetaColor`	`UIFont` / `UIColor`	File size/type metadata text
`expandButtonFont` / `expandButtonColor`	`UIFont` / `UIColor`	The “+N more” / “Show less” toggle
`sectionSpacing`	`CGFloat`	Vertical spacing between media, audio, files and caption sections
`captionFont` / `captionColor`	`UIFont` / `UIColor`	The shared caption row under the attachments
`captionDividerColor`	`UIColor`	The divider line above the caption

Captions containing rich text (code blocks, quote blocks, inline code) render through the same pipeline as Text Bubbles, so their formatting looks identical across message types.

Poll Bubble

Poll bubbles display messages with polling options. The following code snippet shows how to customize the poll message bubble:

Swift

// Customize poll bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.pollBubbleStyle.optionProgressTintColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.pollBubbleStyle.selectedPollImageTint = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.pollBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")

// Customize poll bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.pollBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

Link Preview Bubble

The Link Preview Bubble displays a preview of links shared in messages. It enriches the messaging experience by showing details such as the page title, description, and an image from the linked content, making links more engaging and informative. The following code snippet shows how to customize the link preview message bubble:

Swift

// Customize link preview bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.linkPreviewBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")

// Customize link preview bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.linkPreviewBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

Action Bubble

Action bubbles provide a customizable interface for displaying a variety of actions, such as group actions, within a chat. The following code snippet shows how to customize the action message bubble:

Swift

// Customize action bubble appearance
CometChatMessageBubble.actionBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")
CometChatMessageBubble.actionBubbleStyle.bubbleTextColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")
CometChatMessageBubble.actionBubbleStyle.borderColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

Delete Bubble

Delete bubbles display messages that have been deleted by the sender. These indicate the message removal within the chat interface. The following code snippet shows how to customize the delete message bubble:

Swift

// Customize delete bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.deleteBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")

// Customize delete bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.deleteBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Default

Customization

AI Assistant Bubble

The AI Assistant Bubble displays responses or messages sent by the AI assistant within the chat interface. These bubbles are designed to visually distinguish AI-generated messages from user messages, maintaining a clear and intuitive conversation flow. You can customize the appearance of the AI Assistant message bubble to match your app’s theme — including background color, text color, font, and border styling. The following code snippet shows how to customize the AI Assistant message bubble:

Swift

// Customize AI assistant bubble for incoming messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.incoming.aiAssistantBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#FEEDE1")

// Customize AI assistant bubble for outgoing messages
CometChatMessageBubble.style.outgoing.aiAssistantBubbleStyle.backgroundColor = UIColor(hexString: "#F76808")

Next Steps

Message List

Display and customize the message list component

Message Composer

Customize the message input component

Component Styling

Learn about global styling options

​Overview

​Properties

​Global Styling (Static Variables)

​Specific Message Type Styles

​Customization Examples

​Customizing Incoming Message Bubble

​Customizing Outgoing Message Bubble

​Text Bubble

​Image Bubble

​Video Bubble

​Audio Bubble

​Media Grid Bubble

​Audio Files Bubble

​Files Bubble

​Poll Bubble

​Link Preview Bubble

​Action Bubble

​Delete Bubble

​AI Assistant Bubble

​Next Steps

Message List

Message Composer

Component Styling

Overview

Properties

Global Styling (Static Variables)

Specific Message Type Styles

Customization Examples

Customizing Incoming Message Bubble

Customizing Outgoing Message Bubble

Text Bubble

Image Bubble

Video Bubble

Audio Bubble

Media Grid Bubble

Audio Files Bubble

Files Bubble

Poll Bubble

Link Preview Bubble

Action Bubble

Delete Bubble

AI Assistant Bubble

Next Steps