Swift was built to support native iOS applications, but you can use it for a broad range of web development projects.
You can use Swift for web development. Swift is a server-side language that you can use to provide the backend of a web or mobile application or website. Many developers prefer Swift to JavaScript because of its straightforward nature and simplicity, although the languages are similar.
Read on to learn more about using Swift for web development. This article will discuss its pros and cons, comparing Swift to other popular protocol-oriented programming languages.
When To Use Swift in Web Development
Swift is often used for iOS development, but it was opened up for use outside of Apple products in 2015. You can now use it for other cases where a powerful, readable backend is necessary. It’s especially attractive if you’re interested in being a part of the early development of new technology.
Can Swift Be Used as a Backend?
Swift can be used as a backend language ever since it was announced as an open-source language in 2015. It is a general-purpose language that can be implemented server-side to communicate with databases.
However, this use of Swift is new, so expect a few bugs if you’re using Swift as your primary backend language. It doesn’t have quite the community support that JavaScript has as a backend language, although the two languages have a similar function when implemented on the backend. Go is also a similar language.
Should I Learn Swift or Go?
If you’re looking to write iOS apps, you should learn Swift; if you’re looking to write servers or develop websites, you’re more likely to find what you need in Go.
The main difference between the two languages is that Swift is very Apple-centered, despite being technically Linux-based and open source.
On the other hand, Go is less specific to any operating system and therefore more versatile. Go is also a better language for most web development needs than Swift, whereas Swift is better used for writing applications.
Finally, Go is also a more stable language than Swift because it has been more thoroughly developed. Swift, being in its early stages, is more subject to change.
Is Swift Harder Than JavaScript?
Swift is about as simple as JavaScript in terms of intuitiveness, but it lacks the community of developers that JavaScript has, helping each other learn and work through problems.
For that reason, Swift will likely feel harder to work with and learn than JavaScript. That said, it’s also closer to plain English than JavaScript, which influences its overall readability.
If you are in a hurry to get a job, then web development is a smart choice. It doesn’t take long to learn JavaScript. In this article I let you know exactly how much JavaScript you should know to get the first job in web development. And here is an explanation of how fast can you become a front-end developer with practical tips that I took to get a job as a front-end developer.
Comparing Swift and Python
Swift runs significantly faster than Python, but Python is built specifically for backend development. Python is also much more widely used than Swift in the web development field, which means that learning it will make you more marketable than learning Swift.
Advantages of Using Swift for Web Development
The following are advantages of using Swift as a backend web development language:
- The easy-to-read syntax makes Swift simple to read and write. As a result, Swift typically requires fewer lines of code to accomplish the same things as other languages. The syntax and language are also similar to plain English, which makes it easier to learn.
- Swift has fewer dependencies. Where other languages are built on changing building blocks and must continually adapt, Swift evolves on its own. There’s no need to update or upgrade in response to changes in dependencies.
- Swift is less prone to crashes and security breaches than many other languages. The way that the language is constructed supports secure and accurate exchanges of information.
- Swift executes logic very quickly. This leads to faster apps and better performance than web projects built in other languages.
However, Swift does have fewer custom features and libraries compared to JavaScript. It’s more straightforward in that once you learn the language, you don’t need to keep teaching yourself to use the next new library or framework.
How To Teach Yourself Swift for Web Development
To learn Swift for web development, you can attend a course or use a book to teach yourself the basics, then practice the principles of the language by creating a simple application or web page.
An example book that you might use to teach yourself swift is Learning Swift by Manning, Buttfield-Addison, and Nugent. This book, available on Amazon, can teach you everything you need to know about building applications for macOS and iOS with Swift. It will teach you the fundamentals that you need to know to use Swift as a broad backend language.
You might also pursue the Udacity nanodegree in iOS development; this set of courses teaches you everything you need to know to get started developing with Swift. The Udacity nanodegree is built for working professionals, promising a 10 hr/week curriculum to be completed over six months.
Tips for Learning Swift on Your Own
Learning Swift on your own can be tricky. Whether you’re learning to use Swift for the first time or just learning to adapt your skills to web development, you should take these tips into account:
- Make sure that you understand the fundamentals of backend development before you get started. The more you understand how servers, databases, and clients communicate, the more you’ll be able to adapt your coding know-how.
- Practice by making small sites or applications. These projects will allow you to learn what you need to know in pieces rather than taking on the whole language at once.
- Talk to people who have used Swift for web development. Getting advice from people who have used Swift as a backend language will give you a leg up on our projects.
Conclusion
Swift can be used for web development, although it was created just for native iOS apps. Swift works as a backend language, comparable to JavaScript or Go. It is used to communicate between the server and databases. Learning Swift may be more challenging than learning JavaScript simply because there is a bigger community of JavaScript developers.