Top 7 Popular Programming Languages in 2022 for Mobile App Development

People are getting smarter thanks to constantly changing technology and increased smartphone use. They can access any application they need on their mobile phones. You need to have a team of skilled developers that are familiar with different programming languages in order to build high-end mobile apps.

App development is a great way to grow your business. 90% of mobile users spend their time on apps. You just need to choose the best programming languages that will dominate the industry.

Although you may be an expert in mobile application development, your job is not done if there aren’t familiar with the most popular programming languages for app development. To help you develop a mobile app that is successful, I have compiled a list of the top programming languages in 2022.

Top 7 Popular Programming Languages for Mobile App Development in 2022

After extensive research, I’ve compiled a list of 7 top programming languages for mobile app development in 2022. Let me show you.

JavaScript (React Native)

React Native, an open-source JavaScript-based framework created by Facebook is used to create mobile apps for iOS and Android. JavaScript, a programming language, is preferred for cross-platform solutions. It allows you to reuse code to create iOS and Android apps.

JavaScript is the most widely used programming language in the world and is known as the backbone for mobile app languages. According to data, 12.7 million JavaScript developers were active worldwide as of 2021.

Pros of JavaScript (React Native):

• An open-source framework.
• This helps in the creation of faster, more affordable apps.
• This saves time and reduces the cost of coding overheads.
• Code reuse.
• It is easy to learn.
• It can be easily integrated with other languages.
• It is accessible to a large number of developers.

Cons of JavaScript (React Native):

• Compromises data security.
• Some functions won’t work with older browsers.
• Mangel of debugging facilities
• Only one inheritance is supported
• Slow bitwise function
• Even a single code error can stop rendering.

Java (Android)

Java is a highly sought-after programming language in the world of mobile app development. Java is the most widely used programming language for Android application development. Java uses JVM, which works in all systems.

VersionEye tracks open-source software libraries and Java is the top-performing open-source project. According to the data, there were 7.1 million Java developers worldwide as of 2018.

Pros of Java (Android):

• Has efficient open-source development tools.
• It is easy to understand and learn.
• It works in all systems.
• Supports the vibrant and large user community.
• Flexibility, versatility, and portability are all important.

Cons of Java (Android):

• Memory management can be expensive.
• Performance issues
• Higher prices.
• No support for low-level programming.
• The lack of templates can make it difficult to develop high-quality data structures.

Kotlin (Android)

Kotlin is a statically-typed programming language. It was created to overcome the shortcomings of Java when developing Android apps. Kotlin can be used to create more efficient and faster apps. Developers can now focus on their ideas and not write mediocre code.

Kotlin, although it is still relatively young, is rapidly evolving. In 2018, 1.4 million Kotlin developers were estimated to exist around the globe.

Pros of Kotlin (Android):

• Simple syntax and clean code.
• Simple code means easy maintenance
• Eliminates all null references
• Generates a smaller and cleaner code than Java.
• Java code is cleaner and has less code.

Cons of Kotlin (Android):

• Fluctuating compilation speeds
• There are not enough learning resources.
• It is still different than Java.

Swift (iOS)

Apple introduced Swift in 2014, a powerful programming language that allows for the development of iOS apps. It is not only compatible with iOS apps but also works for macOS and tvOS. Swift is an excellent choice to build high-performance iOS applications. Swift language is a great choice for developers because it allows them to write cleaner code, and provides expressive syntax.

Swift, a promising iOS programming language that is still young, is growing faster than ever and will be the future of iOS app development.

Pros of Swift (iOS):

• An open-source language.
• Offers interactive code, expressive syntax, and safe design.
• Modern, fast, and powerful.
• Easy to read codes.
• The code written in Swift runs lightning-fast.
• Offers multiple features to add seamless design to apps.

Cons of Swift (iOS):

• Its regular updates make it unstable.
• Poor interoperability with third-party tools and IDEs.
• Lacks support for earlier iOS versions.

Objective-C (iOS)

Prior to Apple’s Swift launch, Objective-C dominated iOS app development. Objective-C, the core language for iOS mobile apps is object-oriented and general-purpose programming. It offers object-oriented performance and active runtime. Additionally, it acquires syntax and flows control statements.

The best part about Object-C is that developers can use C++ and C++ simultaneously, which is not possible with Swift. Although Swift is now more popular than Objective-C, many still prefer Objective-C.

Pros of Objective-C (iOS):

• A well-tested, basic language.
• Provides object-oriented performance and an active runtime.
• Objective-C is more stable than Swift.
• Easier usage of private APIs.
• Objective-C adds language-level support.
• Compatible with C and C++ language.

Cons of Objective-C (iOS):

• Has a steep learning curve.
• Comes with limited functionality.
• Carries more security issues.

C# Language

C# (pronounced C-sharp) is a higher-level object-oriented language that uses the C programming language. It is widely used in mobile app development. C#’s cross-platform capabilities make it suitable for app development. It is primarily used for creating native apps for Microsoft platforms. However, it can also help to create native iOS and Android applications.

Pros of C# Language:

• Its similar syntax gives developers easy learning.
• Integration with the .NET library.
• Pointer types are not permitted.
• Integrates well with Windows with no special configurations.

Cons of C# Language:

• Allows pointers in unsafe blocks.
• Code compilation issues.
• Microsoft stopped supporting. NET.

C/C++

C/C++ is considered a good choice for Android app development. C++ is a good choice because of its syntactical analogy to C# and C. It is one of the most popular programming languages and has created some of the most powerful tools such as Photoshop, World of Warcraft, and Google Chrome.

Pros of C/C++:

• Exceptionally fast and efficient native code.
• Gives an easy way to access the hardware.
• A vast and rich ecosystem of libraries and tools.
• Variety of data types and powerful operators.
• A vast and knowledgeable community of users.

Cons of C/C++:

• No runtime checking in language.
• Crude and primitive language that lacks a safety net.
• C++ is horrendously large, complex, and complicated.

The key takeaway: You now have many options for choosing the programming language to use in mobile app development. It is important to consider the career you are interested in before choosing your programming language.

What programming language do you believe is best for creating mobile apps? We want to hear your opinions!