Are you an iOS app developer or a brand looking to get an iOS app for your business?
iOS apps have become an integral part of any digital business. While there was a time when businesses were OK launching their business apps as Android-only, today, having an iOS app is a necessity.
While it opens up a new set of opportunities and clientele for businesses, it has also given rise to confusion for iOS developers—the confusion of choosing the right tools for perfect iPhone app development.
One of the first dilemmas is choosing the right language for iOS development. In the initial days, Objective-C was the only language being used to push major iOS applications.
However, with the introduction of Swift, the game has certainly changed.
Both of these languages have their own features, advantages, and disadvantages. If you are facing this dilemma and can’t decide between Swift and Objective-C, don’t worry —this post will clear it up.
Keep reading, as in this one, we are going to discuss the key differences between Swift vs Objective-C. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Understanding Swift: Modern-Day iOS Programming Language
iOS programming was considered quite complex and boring because the syntax used was only understandable to professionals in the field.
Until 2014, when Apple launched Swift, a clearer and sophisticated language, which is easy to understand and more intuitive.
But why is it called “modern”?
Well, the reason behind Swift being called a modern iOS programming language is that the syntax is concise and easier to read.
People today are no longer interested in going through complex lines of code. Swift gives a much readable and understandable code that is easy to identify.
There are over half a million apps available on the App Store that have been built with Swift. This clearly indicates the dominance that the language has established over the years.
Moreover, the TIOBE Index, which ranks programming languages based on their popularity, currently ranks Swift as the 21st most popular language in the world, which is an achievement considering it is a relatively newer language than the existing ones.
Coming from Apple, the technology can be used to build for various platforms. This includes:
- macOS
- iOS
- watchOS
- tvOS
- Linux
Swift not only allows a developer to build multi-format apps for the Apple Ecosystem, but it also simplifies the process.
How? It comes with a range of features that are particularly useful for developers. What are these features? Let’s find out!
► Features of the Swift Programming Language
Swift, as a programming language, is known for its modern syntax and amazing features.
These features enable developers to complete the task without getting caught in complications.
Here are the core features of Swift:-
Swift has built-in features that help developers avoid common programming errors, such as optional chaining.
This allows developers to handle situations where a value may be missing or nil.
The programming language is designed to be a fast language. And with a high-performance compiler, it can optimize code for maximum speed.
Swift is designed to work seamlessly with existing Objective-C code, making it easy to use in existing codebases and with Apple’s frameworks.
Again, this solution has a modern and concise syntax that is easy to read and write. This makes it a popular choice for developers of all skill levels.
Automatic Reference Counting (ARC)
Swift automatically manages memory usage. Thus, it reduces the risk of memory leaks and other memory-related issues.
Closures are a powerful feature of Swift. This feature allows iOS app developers to pass functions around as variables or arguments.
It makes it easier to write asynchronous and event-driven code.
The language supports generics. For those who don’t know, generics are a way of writing code independent of the specific type being used.
This allows developers to write code that can work with multiple data types, reducing code duplication and improving efficiency.
A programming language that automatically infers the type of a variable or constant. This helps reduce the need for explicit type declarations and makes code more concise.
All these features can help in finishing the code faster with more accuracy and reducing manual efforts.
Swift is certainly a great programming language when it comes to iOS app development. From its early days, it has supported Linux as well, giving it more flexibility and use cases.
However, that does not mean that there are no cons to Swift. If you are planning to opt for Swift for your iPhone app, then make sure you check the following section, where we have listed the pros and cons of choosing Swift.
► Pros and Cons of Swift for iOS App Development
Pros
Cons
Supports protocol-oriented programming
Steep learning curve
High performance
Frequent updates and changes
Seamless interoperability
Limited support for other platforms
Modern and concise syntax
Limited libraries and tools
Growing and active community
Debugging can be challenging
The pros and cons of using Swift for iOS app development clearly indicate the reason why it is popular among users.
The choice between Objective-C and Swift, however, is not always about the efficiency of the language.
People often opt for a programming language that they are more familiar with and have confidence in.
Since Objective-C is an older language and has so many resources available, people are more than happy to learn and go for the same.
To identify which among the two is better, we must discuss the same attributes of Objective-C, as it will help us compare Swift vs Objective-C and identify a winner.
Objective-C: The Most Relevant iOS Programming Language
Objective-C was first introduced back in the 1980s by none other than Brad Cox and Tom Love.
The language was later licensed by NeXT Computer Inc., another Steve Jobs company. In general, Objective-C can be called a subset of the programming language C.
It is ranked 31st in terms of popularity among programming languages as per the TIOBE Index.
This shows the relevance of the language and the impact it has in the programming and development world.
Even though the use of Objective-C is declining, it’s one of the more popular programming languages in the market.
It is an object-oriented programming language mainly used for software development for Apple’s platforms.
Concepts like classes, inheritance, and dynamic binding make this platform stand out from the rest. Apart from this, it also has a Smalltalk-like syntax for sending messages to objects.
What makes it relevant even today is the fact that it offers compatibility with legacy systems and helps with modern projects that require C, C++ integration.
In fact, the features that this language offers are modern and can easily be compared to any modern programming language, including Swift.
What features are we talking about? Find out in the next section!
► Features of Objective-C
When it comes to features, Objective-C is not short on anything. It is an object-oriented language that offers cross-platform compatibility.
To help you learn more about the usability and functionalities of Objective-C, we have listed all the features below.
Objective-C allows you to define classes, create objects, and use inheritance, polymorphism, and other object-oriented concepts.
Dynamic Binding refers to a condition where the method to be called is determined at runtime based on the object being referred to.
Again, method calls are done via message passing. Since the message is sent to an object, requesting an action, it’s way more natural and promotes intuitive coding.
This programming language’s syntax is similar to Smalltalk. Meaning it is a simple and expressive programming language.
This syntax is used for sending messages to objects, which allows for concise and readable code.
Objective-C is a language that can be used for hybrid app development. Therefore, it can be used to develop software for macOS, iOS, and other Apple platforms, as well as other platforms like Windows and Linux.
C is a superset of the C programming language. Consequently, developers here can use C libraries and code, making it easy to integrate with existing C-based systems.
While these features do give a great glance into how functional Objective-C is as a language for iPhone app development, you should not make a decision just yet.
Just like Swift, Objective-C also has its own ups and downs.
Let’s discuss them in the next section.
► Pros and Cons of Objective-C for iOS App Development
Pros
Cons
Mature language
Syntax
Interoperability with C
Steep learning curve
Dynamic runtime
Memory management
Wide range of libraries and frameworks
Not as popular as Swift
The language can be considered a great package for mature developers who have experience and want to keep their legacy systems intact.
However, it is definitely a task to learn and get a grip on the language, which makes it quite difficult to implement for new developers.
Objective-C vs Swift: Comparison
After looking at the features, pros, and cons of both Objective-C and Swift, we have enough understanding to compare the two.
To draw a fair comparison, we tested them both in terms of code, speed, and compatibility.
Let’s start by analysing their basic differences and then slowly make our way through all the necessary factors for a better comparison.
Features
Objective-C
Swift
Age
Developed in the early 1980s
Introduced in 2014
Syntax
Uses C-based syntax with Smalltalk-style message passing
Modern, concise syntax with a focus on readability
Options
Not supported natively
Supports optionals to help prevent runtime errors
Memory management
Manual memory management required, with support for ARC
Automatic memory management with ARC
Error handling
Uses traditional error handling with @try, @catch, and @finally
Supports modern error handling with try, catch, and throw
Performance
Slower compared to Swift due to overhead and lack of optimization
Faster due to modern compilers and optimization features
Open source
Yes, open-sourced by Apple and available on GitHub
Yes, open-sourced by Apple and available on GitHub
Interoperability
Can interoperate with C and C++ code
Can interoperate with Objective-C code
Learning curve
Steeper learning curve due to complex syntax and memory management
Easier to learn due to modern syntax and automatic memory management
1. Objective-C vs Swift Performance
Let’s talk Objective-C vs Swift performance.
Swift performance is much faster than Objective-C. The reason is that Swift uses a “modern” compiler, which is highly optimized for better performance.
In addition to this, the programming language has features like type inference. This helps reduce code execution overhead, greatly adding to the performance.
2. Objective-C vs Swift Syntax
Let’s talk about one of the most important factors when comparing Objective-C vs Swift, i.e.,. Syntax.
Starting with Objective C, this programming language uses a syntax that is heavily influenced by Smalltalk. Here’s a code example –
NSString *myString = @” Hello, world!”;
NSLog(@”%@”, myString);
On the other hand, Swift has a more modern syntax, as we discussed in the previous point. Here’s a code example:
let myString = “Hello, world!”
print(myString)
Looking at the syntax, it is clear that Swift is simpler and easier to understand. All in all, Swift gains the upper hand here.
3. Swift Vs Objective-C Speed
When it comes to speed, Swift is generally faster than Objective-C.
This is because Swift is designed to be more efficient than Objective-C, with features like optional and automatic memory management that help to reduce the overhead of code execution.
In addition to this, Swift uses a more modern compiler that is optimized for performance.
Swift Vs Objective-C: The Final Verdict
Looking at all the aspects, it can be said that Swift has the upper hand in terms of modern features, speed, and syntax.
However, if you are looking for an iOS app development language that you can use for legacy app integration into your latest solution, Objective-C makes more sense.
All in all, you can –
- Use Swift if you are starting a new project from scratch or planning an animation-rich app. With Swift, you can expect high scalability and ease of maintenance in the long run.
- Use Objective-C if your app is already built on a similar platform or uses a similar codebase. It is also not for the latest solutions, so if you are looking to revamp your app and have enough time, you can go for the same.
The verdict can vary depending on the needs of the project and, of course, the time forward. However, today, Swift wins hands down.
If you have a project for which you are looking for the right tools, we can do one better! We can offer highly qualified developers as we are the leading iOS app development company in the market.
Conclusion
There’s no specific right choice when it comes to choosing between Swift vs Objective-C. Both have their pros and cons.
Hence, it truly depends on what your requirements are and how comfortable a developer is in a particular language.
For instance, if Swift has a more convenient syntax, but the developer you have hired is more proficient in Objective-C, it is better to go with that, as the chances of timely completion are higher there. The same goes for Swift.
All in all, making the right choice is certainly a key factor in starting your next project. With that said, we have reached the end of this post.
Hope you find the comparison drawn helpful. Thanks for reading, Good luck!
FAQ
Objective-C is an object-oriented programming language that has been around since the 1980s, while Swift was introduced in 2014 as a modern alternative. Swift is easier to read and write than Objective-C and has better memory management, making it a more efficient and safer language.
Swift is easier to learn and write, has better performance, is safer, and has more modern features than Objective-C. Swift also has a simpler syntax that is more readable and maintainable than Objective-C.
Swift is a general-purpose programming language that can be used to build all kinds of applications, while SwiftUI is a declarative user interface framework that is specifically designed for building user interfaces for Apple’s operating systems.
SwiftUI provides a simpler and more intuitive way to build user interfaces than traditional interfaces, which can be more complex and difficult to maintain. SwiftUI also provides better performance and more flexibility in terms of layout and design.
No, Swift is generally considered to be a better language than Objective-C due to its modern features, improved safety, and simpler syntax.
Swift has largely replaced Objective-C as the preferred language for developing applications for Apple’s operating systems, but Objective-C is still used in many legacy codebases.
Apple now primarily uses Swift for developing its applications and operating systems, but Objective-C is still used in some legacy codebases and frameworks.
Objective-C has a steeper learning curve than Swift due to its complex syntax and memory management system, while Swift is designed to be easier to read and write. However, proficiency in either language largely depends on individual experience and preferences.
Niketan Sharma, CTO, Nimble AppGenie, is a tech enthusiast with more than a decade of experience in delivering high-value solutions that allow a brand to penetrate the market easily. With a strong hold on mobile app development, he is actively working to help businesses identify the potential of digital transformation by sharing insightful statistics, guides & blogs.
