The market for mobile applications has been growing rapidly in recent years. It was possible to note the growing interest in the market from the companies, individual entrepreneurs, and IT professionals. In this regard, determining the best language for app development can contribute to the quality of the offered solutions.

Before considering the most popular app development language, it is crucial to contemplate the main types of apps developed today.

The importance of programming language selection for mobile app development

The programming language is the first thing you should consider when start developing a mobile app. Why is it so important? Because the chosen language determines the success of your project, its performance, and scalability. Basically, a programming language is a way of communication between a human and an app or computer. To execute our commands, we need to tell it in its own language, in other words in the programming language. Let’s analyze the importance of this choice step by step. 

• Different programming languages have different performance. Applications written in native languages (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android) are usually faster and have access to all the platform features. Those that use cross-platform solutions sometimes have limited capabilities. 
• If the application needs to be expanded, integrated with other systems, or increase the number of users, it’s important to choose a language that supports easy scalability.
• The chosen language should be such that it is easy to maintain the application after launch. This means easy updates and no risk of bugs when adding new features.

The efficiency and competitiveness of your mobile app depend on the right choice. Therefore, make this decision carefully, considering all technical and business aspects.

Overview of commonly used programming languages

Today, the technology market offers tons of options for developers to work with. The choice of programming language depends on business goals and requirements for productivity, development speed, and support capabilities. Let’s take a look at the commonly used ones.

Ruby

This is a dynamic language well-known for its Ruby on Rails framework. Its main advantage is the ease and speed of web application development and user-friendly syntax as well. Commonly, programmers use this language for web app development and prototyping. 

PHP

A server-side programming language that is widely used to develop dynamic websites and applications. It is easy to use and has a large number of solutions such as CMS and frameworks. It is well-suited for web development, server applications, and database integration.

TypeScript

This is a kind of add-on to JavaScript that adds typing to improve code stability. It provides reliability and the ability to control any errors in the code. A separate advantage is its compatibility with JavaScript. It’s most often used for web development, front-end and back-end, and large JavaScript projects.

Go (Golang)

A language developed by Google for high-performance server programs. It’s known among developers for its simplicity and performance. It has a high execution speed, simple syntax, and efficient memory management. Golang used to work with server applications, cloud, and distributed systems.

SQL

This is a specialized language for working with databases that allows you to extract, modify, and store data. It’s usually standardized and supported by almost all database management systems. SQL is used to work with databases, analytics, websites, and enterprise systems.

How to choose the best programming language for mobile app development

So, you’ve decided what the functions mobile app should perform and written down the business values it will convey. Let’s move on to the stage of choosing a programming language. It all depends on several key factors, which we’ll explain in detail in this section.

First, determine the type of mobile app you plan to create. There are two options – a mobile app for iOS and Android. If you’re working with iOS, Swift is the best choice because it works perfectly with the Apple ecosystem. For Android, we recommend choosing Kotlin, which provides high performance and ease of development.

The next important factor is cross-platform compatibility. Here you need to understand whether you plan to create an application that will work on both iOS and Android or separate applications for each platform using their native languages. In the first case, it is advisable to use Flutter or React Native. In the second case – Swift and Kotlin. 

Now let’s talk about the scalability and performance of the finished product. If your application requires high data processing speed or works with a large number of users, you should choose the languages that provide mass adoption and all the above criteria. 

Finally, you should also consider the project budget. The complexity or lack of experts in some languages requires more time and resources. A good choice will let you create a high-quality app while minimizing time and cost.

Best programming languages

When considering the best programming language for mobile app development, it is possible to assess them based on their global use rankings.

1. Java

Many refer to Java as the best coding language for app development based on its features. It has the most open-source projects completed by developers. Java is robust and powerful from the standpoint of its capabilities. The most common use for Java is the development of apps for Android. At the same time, the programming language also allows the development of iOS apps. Android has a range of development tools for Java.

2. JavaScript

JavaScript is a strong contender for the first place because of its long life and popularity among developers. The React.js and Vue frameworks contributed to its popularity and growth. It is possible to run JavaScript on the server-side and client-side, regardless of the device type. The language has a large community behind it with a substantial number of frameworks and plugins streamlining and simplifying the development process. It is common to use JavaScript for developing native mobile apps.

3. Swift

Swift managed to surpass Objective C as the primary app development language for iOS after its introduction by Apple. The developers prefer Swift for making iPhone and iPad apps because of its relative simplicity, readability, and safety. Furthermore, Swift is an interactive language that allows seeing the output during the coding stage. Such an approach contributes to the efficiency of the iOS development workflow. Furthermore, Swift also allows minimization of the potential security risks associated with Objective-C.

4. Kotlin

Kotlin is a relatively new language set as a potential alternative to Java because of its innovative nature and relative stability. It also contributes to higher levels of productivity. Google created Kotlin to become the official language for Android app development. Android Studio and IntelliJ IDEA offer support to Kotlin in addition to the native support available. The language may continue competing with Java given a substantial promotion by Google.

5. Python

Python is consistently in the top charts as the all-purpose programming language. The language uses dynamic words, built-in data arrangement, and active typing. The scripting process supports the simplification of the development. Since the language is not native to iOS or Android, its deployment process may remain difficult and slow. Thus, it is possible to find alternative programming languages, such as Dart by Google that uses C Syntax and trans-compiles it into JavaScript.

What is the best programming language for mobile app development?

While it is clear which programming language is used for mobile app development, depending on its characteristics, it remains unclear which one holds the “best” title. It may be difficult to determine the language for developing a custom delivery app or an education app. The answer lies in choosing the right programming language, rather than the best one. Using practical and popular language simplifies the development process. TRIARE offers insights and is ready to help whenever the time comes to turn the idea into reality.