Top Programming Languages for Mobile App Development

Since its advent in 1995, Java is the mainstream programming language that has been used in all areas of computer coding. Its usage includes desktop applications, web services, back-end services and Android applications. Through the means of Java virtual machine (JVM), the designed system works smoothly and with high flexibility. It helps programmers in writing error-free code in less turnaround time. Java is probably the most used programming language in the world. It boosted 7.1 million active software developers as of August 2018.

Introduced in 2014, Swift is the official programming language for iOS, iPadOS and other Apple Inc. powered operating systems. As of August 2018, there are 2.3 million active Swift developers worldwide. Swift is most popular for iOS / iPadOS Mobile App Development and immersive applications for the Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR).

Launched in 1984, Objective-C is an object-oriented programming language that supports general-purpose application domains. Objective-C remained the main language behind iOS and iPadOS operating systems. Apple Inc. replaced it with the new language Swift in 2014. Despite the revocation of the official status, there are still 1.8 million active Objective-C developers world over as of August 2018.

Labeled as the high-level programming language, JavaScript supports object-oriented, functional and multi-patterned programming. The only concern for any Mobile Development Company providing JavaScript services is that it has to be used with CSS, HTML, and Ajax. However, the plus side of JavaScript is that you can build any type of Android, iOS, Windows or hybrid app through it. JavaScript boosts overall most active developers with 10.7 million programmers around the world. This count includes coders using CoffeeScript and TypeScript though. So actual number of pure JavaScript developers is debatable.

Broadly used for web-based and mobile app development, HTML5 is the modern version of HTML. With features including quick market deployment, multimedia support, and multi-platform functionality; HMTL5 is the new favorite programming language for Android and iOS app developers. It provides high flexibility in creating a seamless mobile application development experience for the end-users.

Apart from being the first touch-point for undergrad technology students and junior developers in their learning years, C++ has come a long way to provide low-level memory manipulation. It is a broad-based objected-oriented programming language with wide emphasis on providing the concept of inheritance and classes that help in coding programs with enriched debugging experience. Most of all, it allows mobile application development for Android, iOS and Windows platforms.

Ever since its introduction in 1995, PHP has held its own prominence in the programming world. It is a server-side scripting language that was designed by Zend Technologies. PHP started off as a specific language for coding websites but is now used for other development purposes including web-based and mobile applications. Nowadays, PHP is widely used for the development of flawless Graphical user interfaces and even creation of Facebook apps. It is a huge domain for companies and their overall expansion in the digital world.

Part of the .NET Framework, C# is an object-oriented programing language that was developed by Microsoft in 2000. It is a multi-purpose programming language that is used for the development of a broad spectrum of programs including server-side apps, games, mobile apps, web services etc. Thanks to the Xamarin platform, C Sharp has been welcomed as one of the top programming languages for mobile apps for both Android and iOS fronts.

First appearing in 1990, Python remains a favorite in the programming world as the fore-runner for machine learning, big data, and Internet of Things (IoT) based applications. It provides agility and a higher user experience to the customers. For the benefit of developers, Python has an English look-alike syntax which is easier for even beginner-level coders to take up for learning. Programmers are using Python to build mobile apps through the help of frameworks like Kivy and BeeWare.

Released in 1995, Ruby is one of those programming languages that are favorites for beginners, as it allows flexibility in coding. Broadly used for web development, Ruby has a very strong developer community that is always here to support newcomers in any coding issues faced during their coding excursion. Ruby on Rails is a web framework that helps programmers in building highly efficient websites and web applications. Ruby is being used for mobile app development through frameworks like RubyMotion and Rhodes.

Although not as popular as its other mobile application development programming counterparts, Kotlin is a highly understandable language that is even compatible with Java. This is a rather new language that was released in 2011. It is slowly gaining momentum with a core emphasis on the mobile app development area.