Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Mobile

Top 10 Programming Languages for Mobile App Development

The Mobile app development industry is evolving with each passing day, changing the way businesses function worldwide. Mobile technology has opened new doors of opportunities, empowering businesses, or startups to take t

The next big step in the business world Today, a large number of startups and established companies are looking forward to mobile app development to create loyal customers by engaging with them.

In today’s time, it is common for everyone to use smartphones for day-to-day activities like online shopping, food ordering, ticket booking, etc.

If you have a mobile app idea and want to build a mobile application for your business, it’s time to validate it. Keeping in mind your business strategy to make native, hybrid, or cross-platform apps, in this article we are going to discuss the top 10 programming languages for mobile app development.

Years ago, there were only two platforms for which developers used to write code—one for Android and the second one, for iOS. But, in today’s time, there are various programming languages, frameworks, SDKs, and tools available on the market that you can use to build a mobile application.

This guide contains everything you need to know about programming languages for app development, from low-level to high-level programming for hybrid apps and native development.

Let’s dive in.

Let’s Have a Took at Types of Mobile Applications

Mobile applications now can be built using different mobile app development platforms that are given below-

Native Apps

You can write the code in a particular language for a particular mobile operating system, like a Native iOS or Native Android app.

Hybrid Apps

It is also known as cross-platform development, in which developers can build a single code and run it on multiple platforms such as Android, iOS, and Microsoft.

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)

It is a lightweight app that runs on a mobile browser. Apps built on PWA look and feel like native mobile apps.

The Top 10 Programming Languages for Mobile App Development

Let’s take a look at each one of these programming languages below.

Objective-C

Objective-C was the first programming language by Apple to develop iOS applications that were scalable and robust. As a part of the Apple development framework, Objective-C is fully integrated into all the iOS and macOS frameworks. It uses syntax from C and the OO aspects of SmallTalk.

Swift

Swift is considered the future of programming languages and was introduced in 2014 as an Apple programming language for iOS app development. It has become the first choice of developers when it comes to developing modern and feature-rich iOS applications. If compared with Objective-C, Swift is a more advanced language that makes it easier to build robust applications. Apple developers who are familiar with Objective-C can easily switch to Swift.

Java

Java is the official language, launched in 2008, for Android app development. And today, it is the most commonly used language for Android app development. Mobile app developers prefer Java for Android application development. Many apps in the Play Store are built using Java. There are many reasons, like large community support, easy debugging, and easy-to-write code, that makes it the best language for app development. However, it is a little complex for beginners who want to learn mobile app development.

Kotlin

Kotlin is the most popular general-purpose and open-source programming language, which is used to build an Android application. This was introduced in 2017, and since then has been trending among Android application developers. Designed by Google for the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and Android, Kotlin has similar features and functionalities as Java. Overall, Kotlin is the upgraded version of Java.

# Xamarin and C

Considered as one of the best languages for mobile app development, Xamarin is a free and open-source technology made up of tools, programming languages, and libraries to build different types of mobile applications. Loved by developers and trusted by enterprises, Xamarin is easy to learn and build applications for Android, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, macOS, and Windows. It allows mobile application developers to write code using C# against other frameworks.

JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

Android applications can be made utilizing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript utilizing the Adobe PhoneGap system that is fueled by Apache Cordova. The PhoneGap framework fundamentally permits developers to use their web development abilities to make hybrid applications that appear through “WebView”.

However, this framework is quite easy to use for basic tasks in the domain of Android App Development. With basic coding or programming skills, one can easily build a mobile app in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

Scala

Scala is one of the most up-to-date programming languages on the market, released as a stable version in June 2020. It is a free and general-purpose programming language, providing support for both object-oriented programming and functional programming. Basically, this language is designed to address the problems faced by Java. It comes equipped with advanced tools and libraries that make it the best choice for mobile app development.

Ruby

Ruby is also the best and easiest-to-use language for building mobile apps. This is an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language that is inspired by other languages like Perl, Effiel, Ada, and Smalltalk. Ruby supports multiple programming languages that are object-oriented, functional, and imperative. Thus, developers can build cross-platform native applications using this technology with ease as it has functionalities that offer a standard structure for mobile app development.

Python

Python is the most popular programming language and is widely used for building robust and secure mobile applications. This language has the potential to be used for building mobile applications, APIs for mobile applications, web applications, desktop GUIs, and software. Applications like Dropbox, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, BitTorrent, Spotify, OpenStack, Quora, and so many more have been created in Python.

C++

C++ is a simple language if you have worked with C, as both the languages share almost all the features, except that C++ is more comprehensive. You can write code easily in C++ for your Android mobile application using the Android Native Development Kit (NDK). However, you cannot build complete applications using only C++. Thus, NDA is used to build parts of the app in C++ native code. For this purpose, developers require C++ code libraries for the app. Applications like Photoshop, Google Chrome, PayPal, Amazon, and many more are written in C++.

Conclusion

Whether it is Android app development or iOS app development, there are a lot of programming languages that you can choose to build mobile applications. All these languages listed in this guide are good and valid choices to consider for any kind of mobile application. However, they each have pros and cons. You just need to find out what’s best for you, your business, and your goals. Choose the language that meets your budget and requirements.

Written By

Ajay Goyal is co-founder & director at Endive Software. He works dedicatedly with client’s aspects to deliver industry-specific results. He runs development services like mobile app development and website development for enterprises and startups.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You May Also Like

Tech

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment. This means it allows developers to utilize JavaScript, a familiar and widely used language, to build...

Mobile

App development has revolutionized the world of business and technology. From small companies to multinational corporations, a majority of businesses are turning towards app...

Tech

The FinTech app market is rapidly growing, and even launching new innovative mobile applications regularly to advance the market standards. However, cash advance apps...

Tech

Aren’t you overwhelmed by the rising demand for grocery delivery apps like Shipt? Without any question, individuals get addicted to applications to fulfill their...