What language are iOS apps written in?
A programming language for iOS applications created in the early 1980s of the last century by crossing C (C) with the then popular Smalltalk (communication with objects through messages). Objective-C was initially perceived as a simple add-on to the C language, modifying its syntax, but after the licensing was taken over by Next Step, and then, as the successor to Apple, Objective-C became one of the most popular languages for developing applications for the iPhone and iPad. That’s why many data types in Objective-C inherited the prefix NS (Next Step). It is the primary language used by Apple, knowledge of which allows you to write for any Apple platform, including macOS.
Pros:
A high degree of code maintainability: with each update, changes to Objective-C are minimal;
a large amount of documentation, technical literature, and a huge community. Apple provides and regularly updates official books and resources. What kind of knowledge an iOS developer needs, you can learn from our article;
A quick transition from one of the languages of the C family. Objective-C is an extension of the C language. This means that any C code is also correct code for Objective-C, you just need to get used to the syntax;
Objective-C compatibility within projects written in Swift will allow you to apply the two languages at the same time.
Cons:
If you’ve never encountered programming and decide to start with Objective-C right away, you may have difficulty understanding OOP principles and cluttered syntax. Difficulties will disappear in the process of learning;
low code readability: at the beginning of the study syntax will seem complicated;
dynamic data type system, which is also a plus, suggests that errors may appear or be missed even during compilation. In particular, typos can delay the process;
poor performance in comparison with the Swift language;
interacting with Swift files using a “bridge” (a conditional adapter that translates code in Swift into Objective-C format), which greatly slows down the build process.