Which Programming Language Is Best For iOS App Development?
Tags: programming, swift, csharp, ios
Published: 2022-12-05 09:18:53

Hey there! If you’re going to choose or negotiate with an iOS app development service or developer, at least you should know the basics about it.

For that, this blog clearly explains the top programming languages for iOS app development with effective references and examples.

As it’ll help newbies for coding languages, learners, and also entrepreneurs who deal with iOS app development services. Let’s get into the topic. 

## Top Programming Languages For iOS App Development:
Here we listed the top six programming languages to develop a mobile application for iOS. They are, 

1. Objective C
2. Swift
3. C#
4. Dart
5. Java
6. HTML 5

In this list, **Objective C** and **Swift** are **native languages** of Apple iOS. **C#**, **Dart**, and **Java** are the **programming languages** for **cross-platform development** through which you can get an application for iOS. **HTML 5** is a language that plays a major role in developing **Hybrid apps and Web apps** that can be accessed through an iPhone or any other iOS device. 

Now, let’s dive deeper to collect effective data on it. 

## Objective C
Simply, [Objective C](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/ProgrammingWithObjectiveC/Introduction/Introduction.html) is a complement of the C programming language with object-oriented and dynamic runtime capabilities. This language is one of the native languages of iOS that has been and is being used by iOS app development service providers.

This programming language was introduced in 1984 as an extension of **Object-oriented programming (OOP)**. Before Swift, it was the most popular among iOS developers. Even though, nowadays developers prefer it when they are dealing with heavy SDK. However, unlike other programming languages, it has a different syntax that makes it a little bit harder for beginners. However, now it’s out-of-date. So, most iOS app development services prefer Swift.  

## Swift
Since its launch in 2014, [Swift](https://www.apple.com/swift/) is the widely used programming language for iOS app development services. It plays a vital role in crafting **native apps** for **iPhones, Macs, Apple TVs**, and other Apple products. It’s completely **open source** and can be accessible to anyone with the proper requirements. Currently, famous applications like **Lyft, Linked, Khan academy,** etc are using Swift codes to run.
 
Using advanced options like **LLVM compiler** technology, Swift ensures its place and is efficient to power any advanced iOS application.

As it enables developers to identify the errors in the code, it reduces the possibility of bugs and errors in the outcome. Due to this quality, it’s ruling the current iOS app development market.

Its properties like Objective C interoperability, playgrounds, read-eval-print-loop, UI kit, Source Kit-LSP, and others are adding value to the language. Swift is the top recommendation from experts to develop an iOS application.

Using Swift, you can create iOS applications on [XCode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/), which is the integrated development environment (IDE) of Apple. It contains many features and tools like XCode Cloud, TestFlight, and others that help you to develop, test, and distribute iOS applications.

## C Sharp (C#)
C Sharp is currently denoted as [C#](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/). It is a modern, object-oriented, component-oriented, and type-safe programming language that runs in .NET. With this language, developers can develop numerous types of secure and robust applications for any OS.

To do that you may need **Xamarin**. It is an open-source app platform from Microsoft. This platform allows developers to utilize C# and .NET to develop iOS and Android apps.

C# is nothing but a high-level language while C++ is an **intermediate-level language**. Usually, it compiles programs to Common Language Runtime or CLR.

Simply, with the basic requirements like .NET 6 or later, C# 10 or later compiler that comes with  .NET 6 SDK, and an effective machine you can start the app development process.

The process should be started with the Xamarin platform and Visual Studio. It extends the **.NET** with multiple tools and libraries specifically for building apps.

A mobile application that is developed on the Xamarin platform by using the C# language has reusable code. That means it can be accessed through multiple OS like **iOS, Android, macOS, **etc.

Simply put, by using **C#, Xamarin, and Visual Studio**, you can craft a cross-platform application that can run on multiple OS. Now let’s check the next language to develop a mobile application for iOS.

## Dart
If you belong to the normal world which is apart from a developer’s, then you may be new to the term “[Dart](https://dart.dev/overview)”. In case, you are well familiar with such an app development process on “**Flutter**” then you are related to Dart. It is a client-optimized language for multi-platform app development.

Mistakenly, many people thought Flutter is a language. But it is not. It is an **open-source framework** that is powered by Drat from Google.

The framework has a multi-platform UI toolkit, UI libraries, and other features to run on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and the web. As it is also a single codebase, developers need only to write the code once and launch it for multiple OS. So, using Dart language through the Flutter framework, you can develop a **cross-platform application **that runs on iOS. 

**Java**
[Java](https://www.java.com/en/) is a well-known high-end, class-based, and object-oriented universal programming language. 

**But, does it help to build an iOS application?**
The answer is, “Yes. It can. But you need to practice some additional techniques”.

**Write Once Run Anywhere** (WORA) is one of the highlighted properties of Java language.  But it comes with a limitation, that is the application developed by the Java WORA, will run only on the hardware that has **JVM** (Java Virtual Machine).

The app powered by Java is converted to **bytecode**(.class file) and processed by the device by using the JVM.

But, nowadays the process is simple with third-party **open-source** mobile first toolkits like Codename One. Through it, you can convert the Java code to a **cross-platform app code**. So, you can convert Java code into an iOS app. However, the credibility of third-party intervention is a matter here.

## HTML 5
At last, you can reach iOS users by developing a Web application or a Hybrid application. The Hybrid application helps your users to run a web application through a mobile app frame.

As HTML 5 ensures mobile compatibility, local and online cache, video and audio support, and other engaging sessions along with Web App support, it is the major player in Hybrid and Web app development.

By combining HTML 5 code with other languages you can develop a **Hybrid app** that can be accessed by iOS users and other OS users.
That’s all!
**Conclusion**
This blog describes all the basic details that must be known by you before approaching an [iOS app development service](https://www.uplogictech.com/ios-app-development-company) provider. So that you can understand the possibilities and limitations of the programming languages and methods.

However, it is highly advisable to develop a native application with Swift. As it’s native and highly collaborative with other tools, and tech stacks of iOS, the performance of the application powered by Swift will be seamless.

Meanwhile, choosing the best custom iOS app development company is also an important thing. Good luck with your iOS app project!