Apple is one of the top manufacturers of smartphones, and Objective-C is one of the native programming languages used for iOS devices. Thanks to the high demand for Apple OS X and iOS devices, Objective-C has become increasingly popular over the last two decades. If you intend to dive into iOS application development, learning how to use Objective-C is the first step.
In this article, you are going to find out what Objective-C is, how it works, and why it is important for iOS application development. Most importantly, you will find the best online Objective-C courses, classes, and training.
What Is Objective-C?
Objective-C is a general-purpose, object oriented programming language that is primarily used to add dynamic messaging to C programming. The Objective-C programming language was designed to bridge the gap between C and Smalltalk, two programming languages that were in demand before Objective-C was created.
Before the invention of Swift in 2014, Objective-C was Apple’s flagship programming language for application development on macOS. Using Objective-C, a developer can add syntax and semantics to a programming interface, making object-oriented programming a success. It is important to note that Objective-C is still in high demand despite the popularity of Swift.
Why Online Objective-C Courses Are Important for Professional Development
Any developer who wants to explore iOS or OS X needs to learn Objective-C for professional development. One of the best ways to learn is through an online course. Online courses can be accessed by anyone, anywhere in the world. Apart from accessibility, online courses don’t set rigid admission requirements like traditional schools.
Another great benefit of learning Objective-C online is that you can take multiple courses at the same time. You can even learn another programming language like Swift at the same time as Objective-C.
Should You Attend a Coding Bootcamp to Learn Objective-C?
Yes, you should attend a coding bootcamp to learn Objective-C. Coding bootcamps have gained recognition in the tech industry over the last decade because they provide fast-paced, job-specific training to anyone interested. The best Objective-C bootcamps cover all the core subjects you need to build iOS applications from scratch.
Most bootcamps also provide career services and mentorship. Some might help you prepare for interviews and search for jobs. When looking for a bootcamp to join, make sure to find out what special benefits are offered to students.
Overview: The Best Online Objective-C Courses, Classes, or Training
The table below lists the top 10 online courses for Objective-C. You can take these courses at bootcamps, massive open online courses (MOOCs), or regular universities. Most institutions offer a certificate of completion after the program as proof that you took it.
| Provider | Course | Price | Length | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera | iOS Development for Creative Entrepreneurs Specialization | $49 Per Month | 7 Months | Yes |
| Coursera | Foundations of Objective-C App Development | $49 Per Month | 15 Hours | Yes |
| Coursera | Toward the Future of iOS Development with Swift | $49 Per Month | 21 Hours | Yes |
| DevMountain | iOS Development Course | $7,900 | 16 Weeks | Yes |
| LinkedIn Learning | Objective-C Essential Training | $20 – $30 Per Month | 6 Hours, 2 Minutes | Yes |
| The Tech Academy | Mobile App Developer Boot Camp | $9,540 – $11,900 |
18 Weeks 34 Weeks |
Yes |
| Udemy | iOS 11 & Objective-C – Complete Developer Course | $100 | 25 Hours, 36 Minutes | Yes |
| Udemy | Objective-C Crash Course for Swift Developers | $25 | 8 Hours, 19 Minutes | Yes |
| Udemy | The Complete iOS Swift & Objective-C Developer Course | $85 | 60 Hours, 10 Minutes | Yes |
| Udemy | iOS 12 & Xcode 10 – Complete Swift 4.2 & Objective-C Course | $100 | 72 Hours, 27 Minutes | Yes |
In Detail: The Best Online Objective-C Classes, Courses, or Training
iOS Development for Creative Entrepreneurs Specialization | Coursera
- Learning Format: Six-course specialization
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Xcode, computer programming, iOS app development, UI design, Swift, Objective-C
By devoting just three hours to learning weekly, you can become a master of iOS development in about seven months. The program is offered by the University of California, Irvine in partnership with Coursera and it has a flexible schedule.
Before you can get the shareable certificate, you need to complete the six courses in the specialization. These courses are Foundations of Objective-C App Development; Networking and Security in iOS Applications; Best Practices for iOS User Interface Design; iOS Project: Transreality Game; Toward the Future of iOS Development with Swift; and Games, Sensors, and Media.
Key Takeaway: This specialization is available in multiple languages.
Foundations of Objective-C App Development | Coursera
- Learning Format: Self-paced course
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Xcode, Objective-C, iOS app development, computer programming
Each of the six courses in Coursera’s iOS Development for Creative Entrepreneurs Specialization can be taken as standalone courses. So if you don’t have seven months to spare, you can just take this beginner course and learn the fundamentals of Objective-C and Apple’s Xcode. The program is divided into four weeks but you can complete it at your own pace.
The first week is primarily an overview of what will be taught in the subsequent weeks. Week two covers the theoretical part of Objective-C. You are expected to make your first iOS app by the end of the week. This app will be subjected to peer review. Week three covers Objective-C proper and week four covers app features that are used for managing memory and data structures.
Key Takeaway: Peer review is a vital part of the coursework, allowing you to interact with and learn from other students.
Toward the Future of iOS Development with Swift | Coursera
- Learning Format: Self-paced course
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Objective-C, Swift
This is also one of the courses in the iOS Development for Creative Entrepreneurs Specialization. It covers the recent pivot in iOS development from Objective-C to Swift and how each of these two programming languages can still be used for iOS and OS X.
As part of the course, you will be required to develop a client-server iPhone application with location services. This can be added to your portfolio and presented to your prospective employer during a job interview.
Key Takeaway: You can change your deadlines at any time to fit your schedule.
iOS Development Course | Devmountain
- Learning Format: Bootcamp program
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Objective-C, XCode, Swift, UX Design, Swift, GitHub, debugging, app publication
Devmountain is another reliable bootcamp where you can learn Objective-C for iOS development. The 16-week-long course is designed for both entry-level and mid-level experts who want to add new skills to their portfolios. You will learn how to design, develop, and publish iOS applications on the app store. App architecture and debugging are also vital parts of the program.
Apart from learning iOS app development, you will learn how to optimize your resume and create a solid brand identity. There is also a department dedicated to providing career advice interview prep and connecting you to a network of prospective employers.
Key Takeaway: The program is available in both full-time and part-time formats.
Objective-C Essential Training | LinkedIn Learning
- Learning Format: Self-paced course with hands-on training
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Xcode, Objective-C frameworks, basic Objective-C syntax, Objective-C objects, variables, data types, memory management, custom classes, collections, files, errors and debugging
Programming languages go in and out of style, but some courses never do. Eight years after Simon Allardice built and released this course for the LinkedIn Learning platform, it remains one of the best and most thorough Objective-C tutorials on the Internet. Its 11 digestible modules cover the essential skills that go into writing clean Objective-C code.
Each of the Objective-C Essential Training video lectures gets right to the point, and none of them is longer than 13 minutes. Learning the Objective-C language has never been more easy and understandable, and once you make it to the end of the course and pass all of the quizzes, you will get a certificate of completion that you can put on your LinkedIn profile.
Key Takeaway: Coding newbies with no programming experience will benefit greatly from this complete Objective-C guide.
Mobile App Developer Boot Camp | The Tech Academy
- Learning Format: Bootcamp program
- Level: Intermediate
- Subjects Covered: Objective-C, app security, app store publishing, object oriented programming, UI/UX design, project management
Objective-C is one of the classes in the mobile app development bootcamp at The Tech Academy. You will learn how to use Objective-C for iOS app development, along with Swift, Xamarin, and C#. During this course, you will learn everything it takes to build an iOS application from the ground up.
The program is divided into 112 hours of study time, eight hours of project management training, and 80 hours of live projects. Toward the end of the program, you will also need to dedicate about 40 hours to the job placement module.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Key Takeaway: The course covers all-around mobile app development, so it is not restricted to one operating system.
iOS 11 & Objective-C – Complete Developer Course | Udemy
- Learning Format: Self-paced course
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Objective-C, IOS 11, Xcode 9, social integration
This is a 13-section course with 108 lectures on iOS development using Objective-C. Following the introduction, you will learn the basics of XCode 9 before you dive into Objective-C and all its attributes. By the end of the course, you should be able to design iOS 11 applications for iPhone and iPad.
As part of the program, you will develop a fully functional game, create sticker pack applications, and make a total of 25 applications for iOS devices. After payment, you will get lifetime access to about 25 hours of on-demand videos.
Key Takeaway: With the knowledge of iOS 11 you’ll acquire in this course, you’ll be able to easily pivot to developing apps for other Apple operating systems.
Objective-C Crash Course for Swift Developers | Udemy
- Learning Format: Self-paced course
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Swift, Objective-C, APIs, Express, Node.js, JavaScript
If you are just learning entry-level iOS development and you want to learn the importance of Objective-C, this eight-section course is for you. You will learn how to use Objective-C and other Apple tools to communicate between iOS apps and servers. Apart from Objective-C, the course also covers JavaScript. Node.js, Express, and Swift. There are about 53 video lectures in the six-section course.
Key Takeaway: You will learn how to use other popular programming languages, not just Objective-C.
The Complete iOS Swift & Objective-C Developer Course | Udemy
- Learning Format: Self-paced course
- Level: Intermediate
- Subjects Covered: Objective-C, Swift
This course teaches students Objective-C and Swift. It starts with intermediate-level Objective-C and Swift but progresses to more advanced subjects like protocol-oriented programming. You will also learn the basics of C.
By the end of the program, you should be able to build fully functional and dynamic iOS apps from the ground up. There are about 60 hours of on-demand videos, five programming articles, and four downloadable resources available.
Key Takeaway: Learning Objective-C and Swift together offers more versatility than learning just one by itself.
iOS 12 & Xcode 10 – Complete Swift 4.2 & Objective-C Course | Udemy
- Learning Format: Self-paced course
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: iOS 12, Xcode 10, Swift 4.2
If you want to learn Swift and Objective-C at the same time, this course is for you. The extensive 48-section course is divided into 280 lectures, which run for a total of 72 hours 27 minutes. You are going to learn how to use Objective-C for mobile and web-friendly application development.
The course comes with 268 downloadable resources, one article, and lifetime access after payment is made. To enroll, you will need to download the Xcode developer software on your Mac computer.
Key Takeaway: You will learn Swift and Objective-C at the same time.
Online Objective-C Classes, Training, or Courses: Which Is the Right Option?
Objective-C classes, training, and courses are all designed to educate you on the subject. If you don’t have any development experience, you should go for a course that combines classes and training sessions. This is the best way to get a well-rounded knowledge of Objective-C.
Classes are usually part of courses. However, it is possible to find a standalone class that isn’t attached to a larger program. A single class isn’t enough to give you the knowledge you need to become an Objective-C developer. It is ideal for anyone who wants to learn about one particular aspect of development.
If you have a fundamental understanding of Objective-C but haven’t gathered enough hands-on coding hours yet, go for a training program or workshop. Training focuses primarily on learning by doing rather than by reading. Apart from individual, hands-on coding, you will also complete peer programming tasks during group coding sessions.
Courses are often a combination of readings and hands-on activities. The Objective-C courses listed above give you a chance to build your portfolio after you have completed the theoretical development topics. Each course is usually divided into short, manageable classes, each of which could last for as little as ten minutes or as long as two hours.
How to Choose the Right Online Objective-C Course, Class, or Training Program
First Factor: Career Services
If your primary goal for learning Objective-C programming is to find a job, you should consider enrolling in a program that offers mentorship and career services. Programs that are recognized and trusted by top companies in the tech industry are the best.
The best place to find a program like this is at an Objective-C bootcamp. Bootcamps like The Tech Academy and DevMountain offer iOS app development programs, with Objective-C as one of the topics covered.
Second Factor: Program Variety
Objective-C is slowly dying out in place of Swift. However, it still has some value in the iOS app development industry. In any case, you should choose a program that covers Swift and any other programming language along with Objective-C.
This way, you will have two major Apple app development programming languages as part of your skillset instead of just one. It will allow you to take advantage of more job opportunities than someone who only knows Swift.
Third Factor: Learning Outcomes
Another helpful tip is to review how many students have taken the course successfully. It’s easy to get this information directly by reading course reviews on platforms like Udemy and Coursera. This allows you to understand students’ experiences firsthand.
You can also look for a program that has good job placement outcomes. Bootcamps usually post their acceptance rates. The higher the job placement rate, the more likely you are to secure a job after the course.
Objective-C Course Certificates vs Certifications
A course certificate is typically awarded upon completion of an Objective-C program. These courses are designed to give you the knowledge required to use the programming language for iOS app development and usually come with a certificate of completion.
A certification is a professional attestation of your skills as an Objective-C developer. Some courses can be used directly to prepare for a certification exam. Certifications are awarded by an accredited body after a student passes an extensive exam.
Importance of Objective-C Certifications
Objective-C certifications are a physical or digital acknowledgment of your qualifications as an Objective-C developer. With certification, you can get more opportunities in the job market and apply for positions that would have been impossible to get otherwise.
The difficulty level of the certification you choose should depend on your level of understanding. There are entry-level, intermediate, and advanced Objective-C certifications. Even if you can’t find a direct Objective-C certification, you can earn any other iOS certification.
Why You Should Take Online Objective-C Courses or Classes
Online Objective-C courses allow you to explore this programming language without making a long-term commitment. With the right course, you can learn everything you need to build an iOS app with Objective-C. Learning this programming language comes with significant salary benefits. The average Objective-C developer earns $123,422 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Note that while Objective-C is still in use, Swift is a faster and more efficient language for iOS app development. Most advanced programmers prefer to use Swift because of the unique advantages it has over Objective-C. You may benefit from taking a course that teaches the Objective-C and Swift programming languages as a unit.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
