What is the current proper way to load an image from local filesystem?

I'm just trying to display an image that is stored in the local filesystem, but the more I dig into this the more confused I get.

So previously I used this code (it's simplified):

func findImage(name: String) -> UIImage? {
    do {
        let url = try FileManager.default.url(for: .applicationSupportDirectory,
                                              in: .userDomainMask,
                                              appropriateFor: nil,
                                              create: false)
            .appendingPathComponent("MyFolder")
            .appendingPathComponent("\(name).png")
        
        guard let image = UIImage(contentsOfFile: url.path) else {
            return nil
        }
        return image
        
    } catch {
        print(error.localizedDescription)
    }
    
    return nil
}

Notice I create the URL with just .appendingPathComponent() and turning URL to path via url.path.

It works! So what's the question?

• In Improving performance and stability when accessing the file system I've read that you better use the new appendingPathComponent(_:isDirectory:), that's good, will do.

• Also url.path is deprecated in iOS18. Should I use url.path(percentEncoded:) instead? What should be the value of percentEncoded when accessing the local filesystem?

In this adjacent thread I've read:

Don't use UIImage(contentsOfFile:) either, because it's a path-based API. There's no URL-based equivalent, which is an Apple clue that should be doing something else.

Is this true? Then how should I store and load my images?

Just FYI, I create images like this:

private func generateThumbnail(name: String) {
    guard let drawingWidth = canvasGeo?.size.width,
          let drawingHeight = canvasGeo?.size.height else { return }
    
    let thumbnailRect = CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: drawingWidth, height: drawingHeight)
    
    Task {
        UITraitCollection(userInterfaceStyle: .light).performAsCurrent {
            let image = self.canvasView.drawing.image(from: thumbnailRect, scale: UIScreen.main.scale)
            guard let data = image.pngData() else { return } // -- HERE
            
            do {
                try FileManager.default.createDirectory(at: try FileManager.default.url(for: .applicationSupportDirectory,
                                                                                        in: .userDomainMask,
                                                                                        appropriateFor: nil,
                                                                                        create: true)
                    .appendingPathComponent("MyFolder"),
                                                        withIntermediateDirectories: true,
                                                        attributes: nil)
                
                let filename = "\(name).png"
                let url = try FileManager.default.url(for: .applicationSupportDirectory,
                                                      in: .userDomainMask,
                                                      appropriateFor: nil,
                                                      create: true)
                    .appendingPathComponent("MyFolder")
                    .appendingPathComponent(filename)
                
                try data.write(to: url, options: .atomic) // -- and HERE
                
            } catch {
                print(error.localizedDescription)
            }
            
        }
    }
}

My usecase — just save the user's PencilKit Canvas as an image and display it back to him on a different View. I'm on SwiftUI and iOS 16+.

Would be happy to learn the correct way, thanks!