The creation of mobile apps in general, and iOS apps specifically, is expanding at a dizzying pace. iOS is the world’s second-most-used mobile operating system. Thus, there would be a significant need for iOS app developers.
As a result, iOS developers may choose from a wide variety of languages to build reliable, feature-rich applications for the platform. In 2023, these seven languages will be the most popular among iOS app developers.
Swift
Swift is Apple’s official programming language, often used to write apps for iOS.Apple’s programming language is robust, cutting-edge, and remarkably user-friendly. To simplify the process of creating high-performance applications, Swift provides a large variety of capabilities while yet being a quick and efficient language. By using Swift, designers of iOS applications may make their products more robust and resistant to hacking.
In addition to being simple to learn and use, secure, and scalable, Swift also has several other advantages for iOS programmers. Developers can access Swift’s source code and make any necessary changes.
Swift is a computer language that protects against inevitable common mistakes. This feature makes it easier for programmers to produce error-free code, which reduces development times and increases bug numbers.
Pros:
- iOS apps are often written in Swift, Apple’s official programming language.
- Swift is an efficient and secure contemporary programming language.
- Learning and maintaining Swift is simple.
- It’s friendly to both the object-oriented and functional styles of programming.
- A sizable group of contributors is working on it, and the documentation is first-rate.
Cons:
- Since Swift is a newer programming language, a smaller pool of Swift developers is available.
- Swift code may take longer to compile than code written in other languages.
- There may still be some iOS libraries that need to be tuned entirely for Swift.
Objective-C
Making applications for the iOS platform often involves using Objective-C. For more than 20 years, it has been used to make iOS applications since Brad Cox and Tom Love created it in the early 1980s. In addition to being compatible with C and C++, Objective-C is also a robust and versatile language in its own right.
Objective-C apps have been around long and are still very popular. While Swift has taken over as the go-to language for creating iOS apps, Objective-C is still useful for developers working on older iOS apps or who need to use existing Objective-C libraries and frameworks.
Pros:
- Before Swift came out, Objective-C was the most common language for making iOS apps.
- It’s been around for quite some time and has a vast development base.
- The Objective-C programming language is solid and well-supported by its
community.
- It is suitable for low-level tasks because it can use C and C++ apps.
Cons:
- Since Objective-C is a bit older, its syntax can be more verbose than that of more recent languages.
- It only has some of the advantages of more modern languages like Swift.
- Newcomers may need help to pick up the basics.
Kotlin
JetBrains, the creators of the IntelliJ IDEA integrated development environment, also developed the Kotlin programming language. Kotlin is a new, open-source programming language that aims to be more concise, secure, and compatible with Java than its predecessor, Scala. Kotlin is a fantastic option for creating iOS applications and top-notch Android ones.
Kotlin may be used with Swift and Objective-C to develop iOS applications since the three languages are compatible. Kotlin is a robust and flexible language with many convenient features that speed up the process of creating high-quality applications.
Pros:
- Kotlin is a cutting-edge programming language that is both secure and flexible.
- It may also be used to make Android applications because of its compatibility with Java.
- It’s compatible with both functional and object-oriented programming styles.
- Kotlin is simple to pick up and utilizes high-quality tools.
Cons:
- Kotlin is less famous than Swift and Objective-C when creating apps for iOS.
- Comparatively, fewer programmers work with it than do with Swift.
- Depending on the nature of the assignment, there may be better options than Kotlin.
Java
When creating apps for the Android platform, Java is the language of choice for many developers. Java is also an excellent language for developing iOS applications, particularly when cross-platform apps supporting Android and iOS devices must be built. Java is a universal language with many helpful features that speed up app development without sacrificing quality.
Java’s compatibility with Objective-C and Swift allows it to be used with these languages in developing iOS applications. As another mature language, Java boasts a sizable developer community constantly expanding the vocabulary with new libraries and frameworks that can be used to create iOS applications.
Pros:
- Because of this, Java has been around for a long time and has a vast and active development community.
- It works well for low-level tasks because it can communicate with C and C++ code.
- Java is simple to learn and provides good tools.
Cons:
- When creating apps for the iOS platform, Java is not the go-to language.
- For time-sensitive projects, there may be better options.
- Compared to more contemporary languages like Swift or Kotlin, its syntax can be more verbose.
C#
The C# language is frequently used for the creation of Windows applications. C# is a fantastic option for developing iOS applications, particularly when cross-platform apps supporting both Windows and iOS devices need to be made.
In addition to being a strong and flexible language, C# provides several useful features that simplify creation of high-quality applications. C#’s compatibility with Swift and Objective-C allows it to be utilized alongside those languages in developing iOS applications.
C# is another well-established language, and its extensive community of developers continually expands the vocabulary with new libraries and frameworks that may be utilized for building iOS apps. C# also supports many programming paradigms, such as object-oriented and functional, and provides conveniences like garbage collection and type safety.
Pros:
- Adaptable to a variety of contexts and uses
- Object-oriented
- Simple to pick up
- Compatibility with the.NET Framework across several platforms
Cons:
- Dependence on Microsoft
- Compared to low-level languages, performance might be slower.
- Control over recall could be much better.
- The learning curve is steep for complex ideas.
- Some types of applications have limited cross-platform support.
Python
Python is a widely-used programming language with many applications like web development, data analysis, and machine learning. Python is also a fantastic option for iOS app development, particularly when making cross-platform applications that can be used on multiple operating systems.
Python’s straightforward syntax, easy-to-learn structure, and a wide variety of libraries and frameworks that may be utilized for iOS app development are just a few of its many advantages to iOS developers. Since Python is classified as a high-level language, it provides programmers with several tools that aid in the creation of high-quality code in a short amount of time.
Pros:
- Python is widely used because of its high degree of comprehension and its popularity.
- The learning curve and ongoing upkeep are low.
- When creating an iOS app, you can use Python’s extensive library of libraries and frameworks.
Cons:
- When creating apps for iOS, Python is rarely used.
- It won’t perform as well as other languages do.
- There may be better options for activities that depend on speed.
React Native
For those interested in creating mobile applications using JavaScript, React Native provides a framework to do so. Building cross-platform applications compatible with iOS and Android devices makes React Native a fantastic option for iOS app developers.
To name just a few of its many advantages, React Native provides iOS programmers with a less complicated path to creating high-performance applications that function flawlessly across a wide variety of devices. One other way in which React Native helps developers save time and money is by letting them reuse code across platforms.
Pros:
- When creating apps for many platforms, including iOS, developers often turn to the JavaScript framework React Native.
- Developers may now create software once and deploy it to several systems.
- The developer community and infrastructure around React Native are robust.
Cons:
- Compared to other native iOS programming languages, its performance may fall short.
- There is a possibility that React Native applications lack the features of their native counterparts.
Conclusion
Several factors, such as the nature of the project, the developer’s skill level, and the accessibility of libraries and frameworks, influence the decision of which programming language to use when creating an iOS app. There are many languages that can be used to build iOS apps, but the seven we’ve talked about are the most popular and widely used in 2023.
The final product of an iOS app development project depends on the developer’s knowledge and experience with the selected programming language and framework. When you hire iOS app developers, they may produce high-quality applications that satisfy the demands of users and surpass expectations.