The iOS platform is renowned for churning exceptional apps to match the latest cutting edge technologies that are continually developing. Every year, we are surprised by new technological developments and developers are very well paid for iOS app development compared to other platforms. This ensures that there are a large number of innovative minds working to bring out the best new apps and updates.
With the emergence of new technologies, the trends in iOS app development also undergo a dramatic developments and drastic transformations. While some trends aim to make things faster, others increase app security or make apps more user-friendly. Let’s take a look at the most important trends of iOS app development that we’ve seen in 2020.
More Secure Apps
Entering any information online is riskier than ever these days, with more and more hackers and cybercriminals on the prowl, and their hacking techniques are becoming more innovative all the time. For this reason, iOS app development always has been serious about app security. Apple has long been well-known for its hard-core security layers and policies. Therefore, regardless of the iPhone deals you find or the model of the iPhone, you’ll have a device in your hand that boasts of one of the highest levels of security around.
iOS app development is continually working to improve security. One important security feature in iOS app development this year has been AS Web Authentication sessions, which link cookies and website data for secure password authentication. Another important security feature is the App Transport Security (ATS) which enhances privacy and information integrity while on a network.
Cloud-based Apps
More and more people are relying on cloud storage and cloud-based operations these days as they offer a range of benefits. Apple iOS apps are also following in this trend, introducing a variety of cloud-based apps. These apps have a lot of advantages, including that you require less storage space on your device as the app can function directly from the cloud.
iCloud is one such application that helps you store your files, including images and multimedia, in the cloud and access them whenever you need them. You can also directly share them with others. Besides acting as storage space, there are also a number of apps that fully functions from the cloud.
AI and Chatbots
With the explosion of online-based businesses in recent years, remote customer orders of many businesses have suffered, as customer service staff struggle to attend to all customer queries at the same time. Chatbots have come to the rescue, being able to talk with any number of customers, answer their questions, and take orders efficiently, thanks to technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence) and NLP (Natural Language Processing). Frustrating wait times are gradually being phased out as the number of dedicated chatbots for various organizations is increasing with a large number of such apps being developed for iOS.
IoT-related Apps
People are becoming more and more connected through their devices thanks to IoT (Internet of Things) technology. The IoT market worldwide is forecast to grow from $151 billion in 2018, to be worth $1567 billion in 2025. The trend is has been closely reflected on iOS app development in 2020, with a marked increase in the number of IoT-related apps on iOS. These apps are advantageous to any user, whether they are at the office, home, or outside, to control their large and small devices remotely.
Augmented Reality (AR) Apps
With the advent of ArKit, apps with Augmented Reality have got a boost with iOS. AR has already been in use for games and many other applications. With better tools to work on AR being developed all the time, more enhanced apps are underway. This technology is particularly useful for online purchasing, as consumers can examine the physical parameters of a product and its features thoroughly on a virtual platform with the help of an AR app. With more and more consumers preferring to shop online, this technology is finding more applications.
Swift-5 Coding Language
Another trend this year has been the growth of the Swift programming language for coding iOS apps. Apple released the Swift 5 version along with the Application Binary Interface (ABI). Swift language has many advantages over other programming languages, and Swift libraries are being incorporated into every Apple system. Its code migration feature helps in modifying code automatically when required. Moreover, Swift 5 is compatible with its earlier versions and also X code, as well as being compatible with Linux, which helps developers in gathering more knowledge while developing apps.
It is clear from the above list that the app development trends we’ve seen in 2020 have been very consumer-centric. These trends are all focused on making things better, more convenient, and more advantageous for users. As the world witnesses new technologies emerging every year, the number of iOS apps also increases in step with state-of-the-art innovations.