iOS app development is the process of creating mobile applications for the Apple iPhone. iOS and Google’s Android operating system power nearly all of the smartphones in the world today; however, unlike Android phones produced by a vast ecosystem of manufacturers at a variety of price points, iOS only runs on relatively expensive, Apple-produced iPhones. But because of their excellent performance and build quality, clean user interface, and family of apps that work together seamlessly, the iPhone is the most popular smartphone in America, making learning iOS programming very important for mobile app developers.

For much of its history, iOS app development relied upon Objective-C, an object-oriented programming language built on the C programming language. In 2014 however, Apple introduced Swift, a faster and more concise programming language used across iOS as well as macOS. Swift remains the main programming language for iOS, and is often used in conjunction with the Core Data framework for data functionality and other tools built into the Xcode integrated development environment (IDE).

Since the majority of smartphone users in the United States have iPhones, iOS app development is a vital skill for a career in mobile app development. The ability to build fast, engaging iOS apps in Swift and Xcode is always in demand nowadays, as companies of all kinds increasingly recognize that mobile apps are essential to growing their business. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers of all kinds earned a median annual wage of $107,510 in 2019, and these jobs are expected to grow much faster than the economy-wide average over the next decade.

Absolutely! Coursera is a terrific place to learn about a wide range of computer science and computer programming topics, including iOS app development. You can choose to learn from top-ranked universities like the University of Toronto and the University of California, Irvine, or by taking courses and Specializations spanning multiple courses from leading IT training provider LearnQuest. Regardless of what learning options best fit your needs, Coursera lets you learn about iOS app development on a flexible schedule, allowing you to fit this valuable, job-ready education into your existing work or student life.