iOS Development Programming Language: What to Learn and Why It Matters

Key takeaways

You can select from several different native and hybrid programming languages to develop apps for iOS.

• You may create native iOS apps with Objective-C and Swift, enabling full use of the platform’s features.

• Swift is a fast and intuitive language for Apple platforms, offering a concise, expressive syntax, modern features, and strong performance.

• You can start developing for iOS by using a Mac computer, an Apple Developer account, and Xcode.

Learn about the different iOS development programming languages and which one is right for you. Afterward, consider enrolling in the Meta iOS Developer Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn programming fundamentals, how to create a user interface (UI), and best practices for designing the UI. By the end, you’ll have earned a Professional Certificate and gained the skills required for an entry-level career as an iOS developer.

What programming language is used for iOS app development?

You can choose from two different native programming languages for iOS app development: Swift and Objective-C. Swift is the official programming language for iOS development, featuring a concise, expressive syntax and modern capabilities. Meanwhile, Objective-C is the long-established Apple language with decades of use, originally derived from the C programming language. Apple suggests using the modern Swift programming language for native iOS app development. You can even reuse most of your app’s structure and data code across Apple platforms using Swift. 

What is Swift?

Swift is a powerful, intuitive language for Apple platforms that features a concise, expressive syntax, modern capabilities, and high performance. Swift uses a simpler, more modern syntax and places greater emphasis on safety than Objective-C, making it easier to write and maintain code. 

What is Objective-C?

Objective-C is a programming language that builds on C by inheriting its syntax, primitive types, and flow control while adding support for defining classes and methods. Many developers continue to maintain legacy Objective-C applications rather than migrate them to Swift. Since Swift is faster, more secure, and easier to use than Objective-C, consider using it for iOS development unless you have a strong reason to stay with Objective-C.

Does Apple use C or C++?

Although Apple now primarily uses Swift as its primary programming language, it previously used, and still supports, Objective-C, which is a superset of C. However, Apple also supports C++ using the Apple Clang compiler, which is part of Xcode, although some features may not work depending on your operating system.

Programming language to develop iOS apps vs. hybrid apps

You can choose between native and hybrid development languages for iOS app creation. For more complex apps, you may want to pick native app development. Alternatively, if you need your app to reach the market as fast as possible, you can go with hybrid app development. 

iOS development programming language for native apps

You can build native iOS apps using Objective-C and Swift, allowing you to create apps that fully leverage the platform’s capabilities. Native development can take more time and resources but delivers strong performance and user experiences, including greater customization and personalization. 

Hybrid app development languages

Hybrid app development uses web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build apps that run within a native shell with an embedded web browser. As an alternative to native iOS development languages like Objective-C or Swift, you can use languages like C#, JavaScript, Dart, or Python.

C#

You can use C# for iOS app development, which is particularly useful if you already know the .NET ecosystem. By leveraging XAML with C#, you may access native APIs and a large library of UI components. Using C#, you can quickly develop and deploy while also easily maintaining your apps.

JavaScript

You can use JavaScript in tandem with React to build apps that run natively on both iOS and Android from a single codebase. Pairing JavaScript with React enables rapid deployment, fast prototyping, and easy code sharing. Together, they also support hot reloading, letting you see changes in real time without recompiling.

Read more: What Is JavaScript Used For?

Dart 

Dart is a language for building web, desktop, server, and mobile apps that emphasizes the client. You can use Dart with the Flutter framework to create high-performance iOS applications. Then use Flutter’s “Hot Reload” feature to see code changes almost instantly in the app, speeding up development, boosting productivity, and simplifying iterative design and debugging.

Python 

You can combine Python with Kivy to build a graphical API and deploy to iOS. Although not a native iOS language, it remains valuable to developers for its fast integration, rapid prototyping, and support for advanced technologies like AI. Python also comes with an interpreter, allowing you to run code without compiling beforehand.

Requirements for iOS app development

To develop apps for iOS, you will need a Mac computer, an Apple Developer account (either the free version or the paid version, which costs $99 per year) [1]. Xcode, a free macOS IDE, provides everything you need to build, test, and release apps across Apple platforms, with features like smart code completion, device simulators, and powerful debugging and profiling tools. You must own an Apple Developer account and have Xcode sign your app before you can post it on the Apple App Store.

Is Swift as fast as C++?

C++ is usually faster than Swift, but the two languages’ strengths lie in different areas. Swift and C++ are object-oriented programming languages. However, Swift is typically used for developing iOS and macOS apps, and C++ is often used for machine learning development, and occasionally for web application development.

Getting started with Swift

You can begin using Swift for iOS app development by first visiting Apple's App Store and downloading Xcode, which you will need to use with Swift for iOS development projects. Then, visit Swift’s official website and download Swift. To learn more about how to use Swift, visit Apple’s official Swift documentation page, which contains further instructions [2]. You can also try Swift Playground, an innovative iPad and Mac app that teaches coding and app development using Swift [3].

Getting started with Objective-C

To start using Objective-C, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with object-oriented concepts and Xcode. You can learn more about programming with Objective-C by visiting Apple’s official Objective-C documentation in the Apple documentation archive. 

Explore our free resources for developers

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• Watch on YouTube: How to Become a Software Developer

• Learn about iOS developer salaries: iOS Developer Salary: Your 2026 Guide 

• Guide your learning: Mobile App Development: Quick Start Guide

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