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Choosing the right mobile app development language is an important step when you’re creating a mobile app. No wonder it can be overwhelming to figure out which language best suits your needs. Some work for both iOS and Android, while others are better for just one platform.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 best languages for mobile app development, explain their pros and cons, and why developers like them.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, we will help you pick the best language for your project.
Key Takeaways
- Choosing the right language can make a big difference in how well your app performs and how easy it is to build it.
- Some programming languages work with iOS and Android, while others are better for a particular platform.
- Each language has its own strengths, so the best choice depends on your app’s needs and your goals.
- Swift is Apple’s official iOS programming language, primarily used for creating apps on iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.
- Kotlin is Google’s favorite programming language for building Android apps.
Top 10 Programming Languages for Mobile App Development
| Language | Platform | Features | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java | Android | Great for strong and scalable mobile apps, including social media, e-commerce, healthcare, gaming, and financial apps. | James Gosling at Sun Microsystems |
| Kotlin | Android | Has useful features, such as null safety and extension functions, that make it easier and faster for developers to write clean and reliable code for Android apps. | JetBrains |
| Swift | iOS | Perfect for creating fast and efficient apps for iPhones and iPads because its simple and modern code style makes coding easier and reduces mistakes. | Chris Lattner at Apple |
| JavaScript | iOS & Android | Lets developers build apps for both iOS and Android using one codebase, making it a fast and efficient choice for simple to moderately complex apps. | Brendan Eich |
| C# | iOS & Android | C# works well with the .NET framework, making it a great choice for large, enterprise-level apps. | Microsoft |
| Python | iOS & Android | Not usually used for the front end of mobile apps, but it’s great for backend development and adding AI or machine learning features to apps. | Guido van Rossum |
| C++ | iOS & Android | High-performance language often used to create mobile games and apps for iOS and Android that need a lot of processing power. | Bjarne Stroustrup |
| Ruby | iOS & Android | Mainly a backend language used to handle the behind-the-scenes infrastructure of iOS and Android mobile apps. | Yukihiro Matsumoto |
| Rust | iOS & Android | Often used for system-level programming, such as creating operating systems, game engines, and high-performance software. | Graydon Hoare at Mozilla Research |
| Dart | iOS & Android | Created by Google, it’s the programming language behind the Flutter framework that helps developers build beautiful, fast apps. |
Let’s take a detailed look at the top 10 programming languages for mobile app development. Each one has its own pros and cons, depending on your experience and what you plan to use it for.
1. Java
Java is a popular and reliable Android programming language that has been essential for Android app development for a long time.
It’s flexible and has a strong community, which makes it great for creating strong and scalable mobile apps, including social media, e-commerce, healthcare, gaming, and financial apps.
- A mature language with lots of tutorials and guides
- Fully compatible with most Android tools and APIs
- Large community offers plenty of help and resources
- Wordy code slows down development
- Less efficient than Kotlin for modern Android development
- Requires more repetitive code than newer languages
2. Kotlin
Kotlin is Google’s favorite programming language for building Android apps. It was created by JetBrains in 2011 and became officially supported by Google in 2017.
Kotlin is modern, simple, and powerful, making it a better option than Java in many cases. It still works perfectly with Java so that developers can use both languages for the same project.
Kotlin has useful features, such as null safety and extension functions, that help developers write clean, reliable code more easily and quickly when developing Android apps.
- Has a cleaner and simpler code style than Java, making it easier to work with
- Google officially supports it, so it’s reliable for the long term
- It works well with existing Java code, making it useful for updates and new projects
- Doesn’t work across multiple platforms
- Smaller community and fewer learning resources compared to Java
- Developers moving from Java might find it takes time to learn
3. Swift
Swift is Apple’s official iOS programming language, primarily used for creating apps on iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.
It was introduced in 2014 to replace Objective-C. Swift is designed to be fast, safe, and user-friendly.
It’s perfect for creating fast and efficient apps for iPhones and iPads because its simple and modern code style makes coding easier and reduces mistakes.
- Runs quickly and performs well on Apple devices
- Easier to read and write than older languages like Objective-C
- Regular updates and strong support from Apple
- While Swift is open-source, its ecosystem outside Apple is still developing
- Smaller developer community compared to Android languages
- Frequent updates can sometimes break compatibility with older code
4. JavaScript
JavaScript is a web development language that can also be used to create mobile apps with frameworks such as React Native.
It lets developers build apps for both iOS and Android using one codebase, making it a fast and efficient choice for simple to moderately complex apps.
- Large community and plenty of resources available
- Quick development using tools such as React Native
- Web developers can easily learn it for mobile app development
- Slower than languages built specifically for mobile apps
- Debugging can be tricky because of runtime errors
- Needs extra frameworks to work well for mobile apps
5. C#
C# is a modern, object-oriented programming language created by Microsoft. It’s commonly used to build mobile apps for both iOS and Android using Xamarin, which lets developers write one set of code for both platforms.
C# works well with the .NET framework, making it a great choice for large, enterprise-level apps.
- Easy-to-understand syntax, good for beginners
- Works well with cross-platform tools, such as Xamarin
- Backed by Microsoft, so it has reliable support
- Slower for apps that need a lot of resources
- Depends on .NET, which can reduce flexibility
- Community is substantial but may be smaller than those of JavaScript and Java
6. Python
Python isn’t usually used for the front end of mobile apps, but it’s great for backend development and adding artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning features to apps.
Python frameworks, such as Kivy and BeeWare, let you create basic apps that work on iOS and Android platforms.
- Easy-to-learn syntax, great for beginners
- Excellent for AI, data analysis, and backend work
- Ideal for quickly creating and testing concepts
- Few frameworks designed specifically for mobile app development
- Runs slower compared to compiled languages
- Not the best choice for tasks that need high performance or focus on an app’s front end
7. C++
C++ is a high-performance language often used to create mobile games and apps for iOS and Android that need a lot of processing power.
However, it often works with other frameworks. For example, Android uses C++ with the native development kit, and iOS combines it with Swift.
- Delivers excellent performance and speed
- Very flexible, can be used for many kinds of apps
- Well-established with lots of community support
- The syntax is complicated, so it’s harder to learn
- Finding and fixing errors can be tough
- Takes more time to learn compared to newer languages
8. Ruby
Ruby is mainly a backend language used to handle the behind-the-scenes infrastructure of iOS and Android mobile apps.
With frameworks, such as Ruby on Rails, developers can manage application programming interfaces (APIs), databases, and authentication systems efficiently.
While Ruby isn’t the best for creating app interfaces, it’s great for handling the backend of mobile apps.
- Easy to read and understand
- Good for building apps quickly
- Large community with lots of tools
- While not ideal for the entire UI, Ruby can build parts within its framework
- Slower than some other languages
- Limited tools for mobile development
9. Rust
Rust is a modern programming language that is fast, reliable, and safe. It’s often used for system-level programming, such as creating operating systems, game engines, and high-performance software.
While it works on both iOS and Android, it’s less common than native languages, such as Swift or Kotlin. Rust is ideal for parts of an app that need high speed and efficiency.
- High performance
- Strong memory safety
- Cross-platform support
- Steep learning curve
- Slower development
- Smaller library ecosystem
10. Dart
Dart, created by Google, is the programming language behind the Flutter framework. Flutter helps developers build beautiful, fast apps for both iOS and Android using just one codebase. It’s becoming popular with startups and businesses that want to develop apps quickly.
- Makes it easy to create beautiful designs with smooth animations
- One codebase works for both iOS and Android
- Supported by Google, so it gets regular updates and improvements
- Less established than older languages, such as Java or C++, so a smaller community and fewer resources available
- Apps built with Flutter, which uses Dart, are larger in size than native apps
- Might not be the best choice for very complex tasks
Additional Programming Languages & Frameworks
Programming Languages
- Objective-C: Used to create apps for iOS and macOS, focused on working with objects and how they interact. However, Swift has largely replaced Objective-C.
- Lua: A small and quick language often used for making games and controlling devices.
- Scala: A language that works with Java, used to create all kinds of programs.
- Go: A simple and fast language great for handling tasks that run at the same time.
- PHP: Mainly used for websites, but you can also make mobile apps with it using various frameworks, such as React Native.
Frameworks
- Flutter: Made by Google, it helps you create apps for Android and iOS with one set of code.
- React Native: Made by Meta, it lets you build apps for Android and iOS using JavaScript.
- Xamarin: A Microsoft tool that uses C# to create apps that work well on Android and iOS.
- SwiftUI: Apple’s tool for creating iOS apps quickly and easily.
- NativeScript: Allows you to build mobile apps for iOS and Android using JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular that can directly use your device’s features.
The Bottom Line
Many developers start a new project by finding the best programming language that fits their app’s needs.
Choosing the right language can make a big difference in how well your app performs and how easy it is to build. Each language has its own strengths, so the best choice depends on your app’s needs and your goals.
Whether you need a language that works on both iOS and Android or one designed for a specific platform, there’s an option to meet your needs.
FAQs
Is Python good for mobile app development?
What are the top five programming languages for Android app development?
Is Python or Java better for apps?
Can I use C++ for mobile development?
What languages are used for mobile app development?
References
- Dart programming language (Dart)
