When you want to get started in the world of development for Apple devices, choosing the right framework is essential for the success of your project. Developers often face a very common question: SwiftUI or UIKit? Both frameworks offer very powerful tools for creating incredible applications. In this article, we’ll look at the main differences between SwiftUI and UIKit, as well as the advantages and disadvantages, and we’ll see which one you should learn or choose for your project.
First, let’s provide a brief introduction to what SwiftUI and UIKit are. SwiftUI is Apple’s modern, declarative framework, introduced in 2019, designed to simplify UI creation on all Apple devices. UIKit is the older, more established framework for creating iOS applications. It uses imperative programming and comes with many components for creating very complex UIs.
Both frameworks are endorsed by Apple and can be used to create iOS applications, but they adapt to different development philosophies and needs.
Key Differences Between SwiftUI and UIKit
When comparing SwiftUI and UIKit, there are important factors to consider that may influence your choice. Let’s review the main differences:
Programming Style: SwiftUI uses a declarative syntax, meaning you describe how the UI should look and the system handles the details. UIKit follows an imperative style, where you write explicit instructions on how to build the UI and how to handle updates.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: One of SwiftUI‘s main advantages is its ability to work seamlessly across multiple platforms such as iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. UIKit, on the other hand, is limited to iOS and iPadOS, although some components can be used on tvOS.
Learning Curve: SwiftUI has a simpler and more intuitive syntax, making it easier for beginners to learn and use. UIKit, although powerful, has a steeper learning curve, requiring developers to manage the more complex lifecycle and use imperative code.
State Management: SwiftUI introduces modern state management tools, such as property wrappers (@State or @Binding), which make managing user interface state easier. UIKit, on the other hand, requires manual state management using tools such as delegates, NotificationCenter, or observers.
Backward Compatibility: SwiftUI is only available for iOS 13 and later, which means your app won’t work on older devices. UIKit, on the other hand, has been available since iOS 2 and supports a much wider range of devices, making it a better choice for apps that need compatibility with legacy systems.
Code Readability: SwiftUI allows you to create user interfaces with much less code, improving readability and maintainability. UIKit, although more detailed, gives developers greater control over all aspects of the user interface.
Advantages and Disadvantages of UIKit
Advantages of UIKit
Greater Device Compatibility: UIKit is compatible with versions as far back as iOS 2, offering a much larger user base, especially for older projects.
Extensive Documentation and Community Support: Given its age, UIKit has extensive documentation, tutorials, and third-party tools to help you troubleshoot any issues.
Mature and Stable: UIKit has been on the market for over a decade, making it stable and reliable. It’s a proven framework used by countless iOS apps.
Fine Control: UIKit gives developers greater control over every aspect of the user interface, which is important for complex app designs or animations.
Disadvantages of UIKit
Imperative Syntax: UIKit‘s imperative nature requires more code and explicit instructions to manage views, states, and UI updates, making development slower and more complex.
Difficulty for Beginners: UIKit‘s complexity, especially in managing view controllers and an app’s lifecycle, makes it difficult for new developers to learn.
No Cross-Platform Support: Unlike SwiftUI, UIKit is limited to iOS, iPadOS, and some elements of tvOS, restricting code reuse across platforms.
Advantages and Disadvantages of SwiftUI
Advantages of SwiftUI
Declarative syntax: SwiftUI‘s declarative style allows developers to write more intuitive code. Simply declare how the user interface should look, and the system takes care of the rest.
Unification across platforms: With SwiftUI, you can share a significant portion of your code between iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, streamlining cross-platform development.
Automatic support for dark mode and accessibility: SwiftUI includes built-in support for modern features like dark mode and VoiceOver, making your apps more accessible by default.
Less code, faster development: SwiftUI allows you to create complex user interfaces with less code compared to UIKit, speeding up the development process.
Disadvantages of SwiftUI
Limited backward compatibility: SwiftUI only supports iOS 13 and later, which could make it difficult for your app to reach users with older devices.
Constantly evolving: SwiftUI is relatively new and is constantly evolving. It still has some functionality shortcomings compared to UIKit, especially for complex and custom user interface requirements.
Less mature ecosystem: While the SwiftUI community is growing, its ecosystem is not as mature as UIKit‘s, meaning fewer third-party libraries and tutorials.
SwiftUI vs. UIKit: Which should you choose to build your next app?
Apple is investing heavily in SwiftUI and is quickly catching up with UIKit in terms of functionality and maturity. For most new apps, SwiftUI will be the better choice. However, UIKit still offers value for developers working on older projects or requiring deep customization.
The introduction of SwiftUI had a major impact on both iOS developers and those interested in learning iOS app development. It undoubtedly represented the most significant shift in iOS app development in recent years. However, this shift can confuse beginners about which UI framework to choose. The question arises: which one should you learn or which one to start with?
To make a decision, it’s essential to reflect on your motivation for learning iOS programming and determine your goals.
Would you like to become a professional iOS developer and find a job? Or are you simply interested in learning something new as a hobby?
If you aspire to develop a professional career as an iOS developer and land job opportunities, it’s advisable to learn both frameworks, UIKit and SwiftUI.
Most apps on the App Store are developed using UIKit. Therefore, it’s very likely that you’ll work with UIKit-based apps in a professional environment. In that case, starting with UIKit and then migrating to SwiftUI would be a suitable strategy.
On the other hand, if you’re coding as a hobby or working on an app as a side project, I recommend diving headfirst into SwiftUI.
