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iOS app development, which is often also referred to as iPhone app development refers to the process of developing a mobile application specifically for the iOS platform.
For those who aren’t familiar with the platform, iOS is the mobile device-based operating system designed by Apple and exclusive to select products of the Apple brand.
iPhone, iPad, and iPods are the lineups that have an iOS operating system. As such, an iOS or iPhone app can belong to any category from gaming to eWallet and more. It’s called iOS development as the app is designed specifically for this platform. i.e. it’s not useable or compatible with any other.
Moving on, iPhones are pretty popular and are seen as luxury devices. Therefore, the iOS platform doesn’t need an introduction.
However, more often than not, people compare the iOS platform or iPhone itself with Android platforms and devices. So, let’s compare them to see what they are
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What’s the process to develop an iOS app? The iOS App development process is simple and complex at the same time.
To make it easier for you to understand, here’s a complete breakdown with each step and process discussed in detail.
The very first thing you need to do is create a strategy for iPhone app development. Understand and define several things. These are:
Moving on, with this out of the way, let’s move to the next thing we need to do which is, ideation.
The very first step of the iOS app development is coming up with an idea. This is how iOS app solutions start. And arguably the most important part of the entire development.
Now, there’s no method to come up with an idea for app development. You can brainstorm, base apps around solving a problem, improve on an existing idea, and so on.
All in all, it’s important to make sure the idea is viable and can actually be converted into a mobile app and generate revenue.
Once you have an idea for an iOS app solution, it’s time to conduct market research. Understanding the market is a very important and crucial part of creating a successful mobile application.
The market will highly vary based on the type of iOS app you are developing. For instance, if you hire iOS app developers to create an eCommerce app you will be competing against Amazon and Etsy. On the other hand, if you are creating a car parking app, you have a much easier market to analyze.
You get the gist of it. And then once information is collected, it’s time to develop an MVP app. Let’s discuss all about it in the section below.
MVP or minimum viable product is a must for iPhone app development. So, what is it? Well, this is a bare-bone version of your iOS application with all the basic functionality and design features.
Once you have created a strategy, it’s time to plan for the iOS app development process. There are a number of things that you need to deal with here.
For instance, the most important thing is choosing a tech stack, the set of technologies. In addition to this, you also need to create a roadmap. With this said, let’ ’s get right into it:
Can’t decide tech stack for the iOS app? Here’s our recommendation.
iOS App Tech Stack | Description |
---|---|
Programming Languages | Swift and Objective-C are the two main programming languages used for iOS app development. |
Integrated Development Environment (IDE) | Xcode is Apple’s official IDE for iOS app development. |
Frameworks | Apple provides a range of frameworks for iOS app development, including UIKit, Core Data, Core Animation, and Core Location. |
Backend Services | AWS, Firebase, and Parse are some of the popular backend services used for iOS app development. |
Version Control | Git is a widely used version control system for iOS app development. |
Testing Tools | XCTest, Appium, and Calabash are some of the popular testing tools for iOS app development. |
Choosing the right iOS app tech stack is very important considering the fact that it can highly affect the performance, cost, as well as look, and feel of the app.
Never the less, once you are done with this, it’s time to develop a road map for iOS native app development.
An iOS app development roadmap is a plan that outlines the steps and milestones involved in the development of a mobile application. It is a comprehensive document that lays out the tasks, timelines, and resources required to complete an app development project successfully. A roadmap helps to ensure that everyone involved in the project is on the same page and working towards a common goal. It provides a clear and concise overview of the project, making it easier to manage and track progress.
Therefore, it’s a crucial part of iOS mobile app development. And with this out of the way, let’s get into the designing part.
Design is one of the most important aspects of any iOS application. And that’s why we need to pay special attention to iOS App Design. So, let’s see what UI/UX design and what’s the process to create one.
User experience (UX) design is the process of designing the interaction and overall experience that a user has while using a product or service.
When it comes to iOS app development, UX design involves understanding the needs and behaviors of the target users and creating a user-centered design that is intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.
User interface (UI) design, on the other hand, focuses on designing the visual and interactive elements of a product or service, such as buttons, menus, and icons.
UI design in the context of iPhone app development involves creating a visually appealing and consistent interface that aligns with the app’s branding and provides a seamless user experience.
Now that you know what UI and UX design are, here is the process to create a design for your iOS mobile application.
This involves creating a basic layout and structure of the app's interface, including the placement of buttons, menus, and other elements. Wireframes are usually created using simple sketches or digital tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD.
A style guide is a set of rules and guidelines that govern the visual design of the app. It includes things like the color palette, typography, and other design elements that ensure a consistent and cohesive look and feel throughout the app.
Mockups are more detailed representations of the app's interface that include more visual details, such as images and icons. They are usually created using digital tools and can be static or interactive, depending on the designer's needs.
It is an interactive version of the app that allows designers to test and refine the user experience. Prototypes can be created using various tools, such as InVision, Marvel, or Figma, and can include basic functionality and navigation.
IPhone app development is quite a complex process that can take up to months or even weeks based on the solution. Now, the process itself can be divided into two different parts. These are:
iOS App Frontend Development is like being an artist who crafts a visually stunning masterpiece.
The frontend developer gets to design and create the look and feel of the app, deciding on the perfect colors, shapes, and animations to create an intuitive and engaging user interface.
They are like magicians who can make the app feel alive with their creative skills.
iOS App Backend Development is like being a wizard who creates the magic behind the scenes.
Moreover, the backend hire iOS app developer gets to build the brains of the app, deciding on the perfect algorithms, data structures, and communication protocols to make the app function seamlessly.
They are like superheroes who can make the app do amazing things with their technical expertise.
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of protocols and tools used for building software applications. In the context of iOS app development, an API is used to define how an iOS app interacts with the server side of an application.
Using an API in iOS app development has several benefits.
First, it enables developers to access and manipulate data from different sources, such as a remote server or a cloud-based service.
This makes it possible to create dynamic and data-rich iOS applications. Second, APIs provide a standardized way of communication between the client-side (iOS app) and the server side, making it easier to maintain and update both sides.
Finally, APIs can improve the security of the iOS app by providing controlled access to sensitive data.
There are several architectures for developing APIs in iOS app development, including REST (Representational State Transfer) and GraphQL.
REST is a widely used architecture that uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to manipulate resources.
GraphQL, on the other hand, uses a single endpoint to receive and return data, providing more flexibility in querying and retrieving data.
API documentation is a critical component of developing an iOS app API. Documentation provides developers with clear and concise information about how to use the API, including its endpoints, parameters, data types, and response codes.
Moreover, Good API documentation can help developers integrate the API into their iOS app more quickly and easily, and can also help reduce the number of errors and bugs in the iOS app.
iOS app testing is one of the most crucial steps that you need to deal with once the app is developed. Even though the iOS mobile app testing is done throughout the development process, once the iOS app company develops the app, we test apps iOS for one final time.
Functional testing | This type of testing involves checking the app's basic functions such as navigation, user interface, input validation, and output correctness. |
Compatibility testing | Compatibility testing is performed to ensure that the app works as expected on various iOS versions, devices, and screen sizes. |
Performance testing | This type of testing is done to evaluate the app's performance under various load conditions and to ensure that it runs smoothly without any lags or crashes. |
Security testing | Security testing is done to identify any vulnerabilities and to ensure that the app is secure from potential threats such as data breaches or hacking attempts. |
Usability testing | Usability testing is performed to evaluate how user-friendly and intuitive the app is and to identify any areas that need improvement in terms of user experience. |
Localization testing | This type of testing is done to ensure that the app is compatible with various languages, cultures, and local customs. |
Regression testing | Regression testing involves retesting the app after changes have been made to ensure that existing functionality has not been impacted. |
Acceptance testing | Acceptance testing is done to ensure that the app meets the requirements specified by the client or stakeholders and is ready for release. |
Exploratory testing | Exploratory testing involves testing the app without a formal test plan to identify any unexpected issues or bugs. |
In this step, the testing team defines the scope of testing, which includes the features, functionality, and performance requirements that need to be tested. This step helps ensure that all critical areas of the iOS application are covered during testing.
The testing team then creates a detailed test plan, which outlines the testing strategy, test scenarios, test cases, and test data requirements. This step helps ensure that the testing is structured, organized, and effective.
During the execution phase, the testing team runs the test cases and records the results. They identify and report any defects, bugs, or issues that they encounter during testing. This step helps ensure that the iOS application meets the desired quality standards and is ready for deployment.
The testing team tracks the progress of testing, including the number of test cases executed, the number of defects found, and the time taken for testing. This step helps ensure that the testing is completed within the allocated time and budget.
Finally, the testing team reviews the testing results and provides feedback to the development team. They verify that all identified issues have been addressed, and that the iOS application is ready for release. This step helps ensure that the iOS application is of high quality, meets the user requirements, and is ready for deployment.
Some of the top iOS app testing tools are, as mentioned below:
With all said and done, it’s time to deploy the app in the market. Now, there’s a simple process that you have to follow to deploy an iOS app. And here’s how you do it.
Mobile app needs maintenance and support to make sure the iOS app cans stand the test of time. iOS app maintenance involves keeping the app up-to-date, solving issues, and other things like:
So, why should you hire an iOS app development company over an Android one? From aesthetically pleasing apps and secure data to fluid UI/UX there are many reasons to choose iOS mobile app development. Some of these reasons are, as mentioned below:
We can all agree on the fact that iOS is known for its better app quality and superior user experience. The main reason behind it is that Apple has strict guidelines when it comes to app development. Thus ensuring overall higher quality.
iOS is well known for its high-end and nigh-impregnable security. The platform has strong security features and being close sourced only adds to it. Furthermore, with newer versions of iOS, the company implements several measures to protect its users’ data and privacy.
So, there’s a thing called fragmentation. This is something that the Android platform suffers with and iOS doesn’t. The reason is that whether it is hardware or software iOS devices are very tightly regulated. And this is also the reason behind its consistent delivery. In other words, there’s an unmatched consistency among iOS devices.
iOS application development is faster and easier than Android app development. This is because iOS has a smaller variety of devices and screen sizes, which means that developers can create apps more quickly. Moreover, the iOS development environment is more streamlined, which makes it easier for developers to create high-quality apps.
IOS/iPhone users are more likely to pay for apps and premium subscriptions than Android users. This has been a long-established fact and also the reason why most of the premium apps are seen on iPhones. Therefore, if you want to make a lot of money, iOS app development services are just what you need.
Apple is well known for the ecosystem it creates between its different devices like iPhone, iPad, Macbook, and so on. Therefore, to make your solution, you need to partner iPhone app development with a wearable and iPad app, creating a 360 and seamless user experience.
Apple Watch is one of the most well-known and widely used wearable devices or what we call smartwatches today. Based on a variation of iOS known as WatchOS, the device sync right in with the iPhone.
In fact, most of the best iPhone apps also come with an Apple Watch version. This includes eWallet apps, fitness apps, and so on. That’s why, you should consider wearable app development for your iOS app solution.
iPad is the second most popular Apple device after their phone. And this too fits seamlessly with the other Apple device.
In fact, the majority of people prefer to use iPad due to the larger screen size and ease of using the device. Therefore, if you want to create a 360 experience, you should consider iPad app development.
To create the best iOS applications, you need the best iOS app development services and the best iPhone app development platform.
Therefore, here are some of the top iPhone app development tools that you should know about. These are, as mentioned below:
Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) created by Apple. It is the primary tool used for building iOS apps. Xcode comes with a suite of software development tools and libraries for creating apps for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. With Xcode, developers can write code, design user interfaces, test and debug the app and submit the app to the App Store.
Swift is a powerful and intuitive programming language developed by Apple for building iOS apps. It is designed to be safe, fast, and interactive. Swift combines the best features of Objective-C and C, without the constraints of C compatibility. Swift is easy to learn and has a syntax that is concise and expressive.
Interface Builder is a graphical user interface (GUI) editor integrated into Xcode. It allows developers to create and design user interfaces visually, without writing any code. Developers can drag and drop UI elements into the storyboard canvas and connect them with code. Interface Builder also provides built-in support for Auto Layout, which makes it easy to create layouts that adapt to different screen sizes.
CocoaPods is a dependency manager for Swift and Objective-C projects. It makes it easy to install and manage third-party libraries and frameworks in your project. CocoaPods maintains a central repository of over 80,000 libraries, which can be easily integrated into your app. CocoaPods also handles versioning and resolution of dependencies, which makes it easy to keep your app up to date.
TestFlight is a beta testing service provided by Apple. It allows developers to distribute beta versions of their app to a group of testers for feedback. TestFlight makes it easy to invite testers, manage builds, and collect feedback. TestFlight also provides crash reports and analytics, which can help developers identify and fix issues before the app is released to the public.
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