What Programming Language Does iOS Use? What You Need to Know to Develop Apps

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 29, 2021 References

Every operating system uses different programming languages, and Apple's iOS is no exception. If you want to create an app to run on iOS, using the right programming language saves you a lot of time and effort you might otherwise spend on workarounds to get your app to run properly. Here, we've gathered answers to some of your top questions about Apple's programming languages, how they work, and where you can learn them.

Question 1

Question 1 of 9:
What programming languages can I use with iOS?

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IOS apps can be programmed in Swift or Objective-C, as of 2021. Swift was created and released to the public in 2014. It's an open-source language with a simplified grammar and syntax so it's easy to write. Objective-C was the precursor to Swift and can still be used to develop iOS apps. Swift is also backward-compatible with Objective-C.^{[1]
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- You can use other programming languages, such as Python, to develop iOS apps as well. However, you'll have to employ a lot of workarounds to get the apps to work properly in the iOS environment.

Question 2

Question 2 of 9:
What's the best language for iOS app development?

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Swift is the best programming language for iOS app development. While apps written in Objective-C, the precursor to Swift, will still run on iOS, it's unlikely that Apple will continue to support Objective-C in the future. For this reason, writing your app in Swift helps future-proof it. You won't have to undergo a costly rewrite when Apple stops supporting Objective-C—you'll be good to go!^{[2]
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- Swift is also faster and easier to scale. For example, the ride-share company, Lyft, completely rewrote its iOS app from Objective-C to Swift. The Swift version accomplished everything the Objective-C version did with less than a third of the code.
- Because Swift syntax is very close to standard English, it's also relatively easy to add new developers if your project needs them.
- While you can code iOS apps in other languages, they'll require significant workarounds. It's usually easier to just write in Swift from the beginning, so you don't have to worry about putting in that extra time and effort to get your app to work.

Question 3

Question 3 of 9:
Is Swift a backend or frontend language?

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Swift is a full-stack language that works with both. Frontend languages build the parts of an app that the user sees and interacts with, while the backend languages control the operation of the app. Because Swift can do both, it makes app development smoother and more efficient.^{[3]
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- Because Swift is general-purpose, you can more easily add developers to a project without having to worry about them understanding how to use multiple programming languages.

Question 4

Question 4 of 9:
How can I learn Swift?

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Apple offers plenty of free resources you can use to learn Swift. Swift is an open-source language, which means you can easily learn it online for free. If you have an iPad, you can also practice and play with the language in Swift Playgrounds, a free app available on the App Store.^{[4]
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- Apple offers playgrounds in Xcode (the program you use to build apps) as well, so you can mess around with the code and try new ideas without endangering your project.
- There are also online courses at Udemy, Treehouse, and Coursera if you prefer the structure of a class to learning on your own.
- Many community colleges in the US also offer the App Development with Swift program, which uses a curriculum originally designed by Apple.^{[5]
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Question 5

Question 5 of 9:
Should I learn Objective-C before Swift?

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No, there's really no need to learn Objective-C first. While, as of August 2021, Apple hasn't announced plans to completely sunset Objective-C, Swift Playgrounds stopped supporting Objective-C files in 2019. If you're aiming to develop apps for current and future Apple devices, Swift is the language you need to learn.^{[6]
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- Keep in mind that Swift apps only work on devices running iOS 7 or later. If you're working on a legacy project designed to run on an older system, you'd need to use Objective-C.
- Back in 2014, when Swift was first released, experienced developers recommended learning Objective-C first.^{[7]
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  Research source} At the time, Swift was new, and most iOS apps were still written in Objective-C.

Question 6

Question 6 of 9:
Is Swift compatible with Objective-C?

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Yes, Swift is completely compatible with Objective-C. Both Swift and Objective-C can be used interchangeably in the same project without needing any additional workarounds or code. So you can seamlessly update older projects written in Objective-C using Swift.^{[8]
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- The backward compatibility also makes it easy for more experienced coders who already know Objective-C to start learning Swift and incorporating it into their work.

Question 7

Question 7 of 9:
What iOS versions is Swift compatible with?

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The original version of Swift was compatible with iOS 7 and later. Fortunately for developers, data show only around 5% of active devices were running an earlier version of iOS. Assuming you're building an app for the open market, an app written in Swift would be compatible with the vast majority of active devices.^{[9]
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- As of August 2021, the most recent version of Swift is Swift 5.5. This version of Swift is compatible with iOS 15, macOS 12, tvOS 15, and watchOS 8.0, or any later versions of those.^{[10]
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Question 8

Question 8 of 9:
Is Swift an easy programming language?

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Yes, Apple designed Swift to be easy to learn and use. Swift's simple, intuitive syntax is easy to read and understand because it reflects standard English in many ways. This makes Swift a great first programming language for people who are just getting into coding.^{[11]
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- Developers estimate that you should be able to build a simple app after working with the language for only 3-4 months.

Question 9

Question 9 of 9:
What programs do I need to write an iOS app?

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You need to download Xcode to write an iOS app using Swift. Xcode is a free download from Apple and allows you to easily start designing an app. The program allows you to preview the app as you're writing it, so you can quickly correct errors on the fly.^{[12]
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- You can only write an iOS app on an Apple computer or device. Developers typically use a MacBook or Apple desktop computer to write apps, although you can also use an iPad.